FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Joplin, Missouri)
Just leaving Joplin as the new day started. It was a beautiful night and the traffic was very light, being Sunday morning. As the morning progressed, the traffic even got less. I had thought of going down Hwy 69 at Big Cabin, Oklahoma but I was enjoying the smooth driving and not worrying about all the little towns, stoplights and speed limit changes. Since I was enjoying the constant speed of the "Big Road", I decided to go through Oklahoma City and down to Dallas; it will be further and a little more time but more enjoyable. I took the I-44 toll road to Oklahoma City and then got on I-35 south. Stopped for a short break at the last rest area in Oklahoma. On to Dallas and into Texas I went. The sun was making it's appearance as I entered Texas. When I got to the I-35 split into I-35W & I-35E, I stayed on I-35W. If this hadn't been Sunday morning I would have taken I-35E so I could stop at our Red Oak(Dallas) terminal and say, "HI". Went past Ft. Worth and on south. South of Ft. Worth, I saw an overturned Semi that was being worked on. I was doing pretty good as I was passing Waco(Texas) by 8 AM EST and I stopped at Temple(Texas) at a convenient store and got some munchies for breakfast. On I went to the south on I-35. Took the lower level of the duel level interstate at Austin.
Getting to the rest area before San Marcos at around 10:45 AM CST I stopped for a short time. I figured my logbook-not writing in it-and I was right at the 10 hour rule. I sure didn't want to stay here for 8 hours so I kept going and didn't fill in my logbook. I got to the "Just a Truckstop" in San Antonio and took a long break. I had lunch and filled my fuel tanks(106 gallons). I was feeling fine and I not tired so I went on to Laredo, Texas. I got to Laredo at 4:30 PM CST and was told to drop my trailer in the yard and turn my paperwork into dispatch. I "took" care of my logbook...
I called my church friends-the Mortons- and they said to come and stay with them. They have an extra room and love company. I got over to their place at 5:30 PM CST and their daughter Pam was there with Cathy, a girl friend of mine. They had had their big Sunday dinner and I was offered leftovers. I accepted as Reida and Pam really were great cooks and their leftovers were better than anything I would find in a truckstop.
I went with Cathy to her ranch-south of Laredo-and helped take care of her animals. I went back to the Mortons and went to my room and went to bed...
Modernizing me starts tomorrow!!!
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...
July 8, 2010
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- 666--Highway (2)
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