FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Houston, Texas)
Woke up around 5 AM CST and found my windows frosted over with the humidity on the outside. I was really cool inside and it was hot and humid outside even at the early hour. I wiped the outside of the windows off and ran my windshield wipers; it didn't get far.
At 7 AM CST the guard came out and got me to back up to the docks; he told me which one. After opening my doors I backed up to the assigned dock. I was unloaded by 7:45 AM CST and I called in to find I was going to Port Neches, Texas for a load to Tennessee for tomorrow.
Got moving. Took I-10 east to Beaumont, Texas and took Hwy 287 south to Port Neches. The pick up company was easy to find and I checked in. I backed up to the assigned dock and they started loading at 10 AM CST. After two pallets, they stopped loading me. I asked why and was told I was getting my destination changed. At 11:15 AM CST the loader took out the two pallets and started loading me with other pallets going to Ft. Wayne, Indiana(FOR MONDAY!).
I was loaded and moving out of the parking lot by 2 PM CST.
I had alot of time so I will do most back roads to Ft Wayne, Indiana. I took Hwy 287 north to I-10 and went east into Louisiana. Went past the beautiful community of Lake Charles, Louisiana to Hwy 165 north. The skies were gray with dark clouds but the area was still really nice to visit. I got to Alexandria, Louisiana and stopped at the Wal-Mart store to get some things around 5:30 PM CST. I stopped in the pharmacy department as the gal behind the counter had such a fantastic Cajun accent. I stood looking at the selves as I listened to her. I actually was there long enough for another employee(associate???) to think I needed help. I told the asker that I was OK and listened to the gal a little longer...Just loved it!!!
I left Alexandria around 8 PM CST and continued up Hwy 165 toward Monroe, Louisiana. Darkness totally set in before I got to Monroe probably because of the cloud covering. The smell of the area-petroleum production-was pretty strong as I wasn't use to it. When I got to I-10, I took it east to Vicksburg, Mississippi. I hit rain until I got close to Vicksburg and the rain made the night really seen dark.
After Vicksburg I took I took Hwy 61 north and as I was passing Onward. Mississippi(Yep, the name of the town is Onward.) midnight hit and my Thursday ended...
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...
May 31, 2010
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- 666--Highway (2)
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