Enjoying North America while earning a living...

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

My photo
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...

June 6, 2010

June 6, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Kansas City, Missouri)
My hopes of getting out of Kansas City today made me get up and check with dispatch before 6:30 AM CST. I just had the urge to keep traveling!!!

I started the day off as number 7 on the truckers' ready board for the area. At 8:30 AM CST dispatch had a load for me. They gave me a choice of three loads-Nashville, Oklahoma City or Laredo-and I took Laredo, Texas.

My trip this day started with the load being found in the Kansas City terminal yard. Doing my vehicle inspection I had trouble tightening one of my trailer brakes. Since my load only weighed 17,000 lbs(not that heavy for a semi truck) I decided to go through our Joplin terminal with the untightened brake where if there was a problem, they would fix it. I got to the Joplin terminal at 12:30 PM CST by way of Hwy 71. The brake was OK and the inspection crew in Joplin adjusted it just fine. I was only in the Joplin yard about an hour and left after I fueled(108 gallons).

I headed west(southwest) on I-44 into Oklahoma where I grabbed Hwy 69 south. I stopped at the truckstop in Big Cabin, Oklahoma for a short look around and break and then continued on down Hwy 69. This Hwy 69 is pretty boring to me but for some weird reason I like traveling it. Got south of Muskogee, Oklahoma and was able to pick up speed as the roads and speed limits improved. Once south on I-40 the small mountains make their appearance and are dealt with by the drivers.

Got to McAlester, Oklahoma and stopped in the Wal-Mart parking lot and got me a couple "Whoppers" from Burger King. Back south I headed and Hwy 75 joined Hwy 69. After Durant, Oklahoma I traveled over the Red River into Texas. Stayed on Hwy 75 into the Dallas, Texas City and took I-35E to Red Oak, Texas where I stopped at 8:30 PM CST at our terminal for the Dallas area. There I called it a night...
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