FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday- Kansas City, Missouri)
Woke up at 6 AM CST and got ready to go to Lexington, Nebraska. Was told to bobtail(go with no trailer) to destination and pick up loaded trailer that's waiting for me. Filled my fuel tanks(124 gallons) and left north on I-435 to north I-29. I-29 “travels” through the Missouri “highlands”(hills or mountains)until about exit 78 where the road drops to the Missouri River flood plain. I feel this Missouri River flood plain is a very interesting part of the country to travel. I mention this as I once talked with a person that found this area extremely boring...everyone to their own beliefs and feelings. Went into Iowa only 10 miles and then took Hwy 2 west into Nebraska.
In 1990, Hwy 2 was a main trucking route and much of it was a 2 lane road. In 2010, Hwy 2 is a 4 lane road all the way to Lincoln(Nebraska) with a state weigh station outside Nebraska City, Nebraska.
Followed Hwy 2 to Lincoln, where just before downtown the trucking route is diverted to Hwy 77 to I-80. I-80 I took west to the rest area by Goehner, Nebraska. I was only at the rest area less than 15 minutes and then back on the road heading west.
A lot of western Nebraska's 400 miles, along I-80, is as flat as western Kansas and eastern Colorado but you never hear about how “boring” the drive is. I think is is because Nebraska has more trees and green grass along the interstate; western Kansas and eastern Colorado seem like just cattle glazing land covered with brownish, treeless terrain.
On to Lexington, Nebraska where I arrived about 1 PM CST. I found the shipper and my trailer. Checked with security and got my trailer's paperwork, hooked up, did vehicle inspection and my logbook. Load weight was 28,457 lbs. Stopped at KFC restaurant and got a bucket of fried chicken to eat along the way back to Kansas City. Hit the road going east on I-80. Took Hwy 2 east out of Lincoln, Nebraska into Iowa where, just over the border, I took I-29 south. I was running out of legal driving time as I entered Missouri but decided to keep going (VIOLATION). I stopped at the first rest area in Missouri for a very short stop and then I was on the road again. I have always been one who wanted to get the load to it's destination as soon as possible. I rolled into the Kansas City(Missouri) terminal at 8:30 PM CST.
I had a busy day so I checked with dispatch. Was told to drop my load in the yard and was given a load to Ridgway, Illinois—the popcorn capitol of the world-- for Monday. I went out and went to bed...
I kept a day by day journal the first 5 years I was enjoying North America. While earning a living,I kept track of where I went, often what I did, feelings I had and various other details. I am writing this blog day by day as I lived it. The month/day I lived it is the same as the month/day I write about it. The years are obviously different...thus the days title: ie: August 30, 1989, 2009.
About Me
- The Protraveller...
- Starting as a preschooler, I remember my Grandfather bringing me rocks from his trips he took after he retired. Each rock had a story to tell. In the sixth grade, I watched a freeway be built and then wondered where all the trucks would go. I remember in high school looking at the mountains and wanting to travel. I did many jobs BEFORE trucking but I always wondered what driving would by like. I really wanted to see things and drive a big truck. So after almost finishing nursing school, a divorce and three cute little kids, I became a truck driver. While earning a living, I found myself enjoying North America and seeing the land and people. NO ONE ENJOYED TRAVELING MORE THAN ME. There are two things I have enjoyed in this life and they are traveling and writing. I use to call myself "Protourist" but my Mother-in-law and Wife would become upset with me as they know I really love THE "travel" and not THE stopping to see things. I now call myself "protraveller"(I like it with a double "L") and my Mother-in-law and Wife are now happy!!! I love to write and this blog gives me the opportunity to share my past and thoughts with the public.
About this blog's layout...BLOG UPDATED ONCE PER DAY...
I follow my journal daily by writing under the daily title, "FIRST 5 YEARS:" The first five years will strictly follow my 5 year journal. If I find the day I am writing about to be boring, I will either write about thoughts I remember(placed under the title of "SECOND 5 YEARS"), write a trucker tale(placed under "A Trucker's Tale"), give a helpful trucker hint, ask a "student driver" question or do something.....When a location appears after the day of the week after "FIRST 5 YEARS:", it is where I am at the start of that day((IE: FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Kansas City, Missouri))..... I would encourage those that find themselves enjoying North America to follow me day by day.....REMEMBER: THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A TRUCKER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE ROUTE(called a "dedicated" route). THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE SIMILAR(boring???) TO PREVIOUS DAYS; THAT'S TRUCKING! THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TOTALLY NEW; THAT'S TRUCKING. Frustrations? I mention the frustrations I had as a driver. I loved my job while earning a living and realized that all jobs have frustrations; truck driving is, and was, no different..... Many pictures on this blog can be left-clicked and made larger.....Questions?...Please E-mail PT at fabalt2000@centurylink.net
Blog Dictionaries...
The Trucking Dictionary...words in this dictionary will many times appear highlighted. If a word isn't highlighted or in the blog dictionary and sounds "different", check it out in this dictionary. Please note: Many times when clicking on these dictionaries anywhere in the blog, the first thing that comes up is an advertisement which I have no control over.
The Blog Dictionary...This dictionary contains words I use that aren't "trucker" words and thus not in the "trucking dictionary". I separate them--the dictionaries--in case someone wants to copy the trucking dictionary for personal use. This dictionary also contains names of people(not real names) that I dealt with many times through my trucking career. Blog word found in this dictionary often will be licked to it.
DAILY UPDATES SHOULD BE UP BY NOON CST...
April 14, 2010
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- 666--Highway (2)
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