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...

August 10, 2010

August 10, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Taylor, Michigan)
Got up at 7 AM EST and went into dispatch for any paperwork needed to cross border into Canada. He gave me what I needed and I got ready to leave. Fueled(189 gallons) and got my logbook all caught up. Took off up I-75 to the Ambassador Bridge, which I went over.

Had to go to the customs broker to get the paperwork checked. When I got to the Canadian side, I went to find the broker and it wasn't easy. They were located about 3 blocks from the bridge but I found them after a lot of looking. The gal running the office on that Saturday was very nice, thank heavens, and got the paperwork done rapidly. After I got the OK from her, it was back to customs to get their OK. Got the Ok to head to Oakville and left.

Traveled east(northeast) up the Queen's Highway(Now the King's Highway) 401 toward London. The way the Canadians lay out their acreages sure is different from the way the Americans do it. Anyway, passed London and onto Oakville(south of Toronto(Ontario) where I dropped my trailer at the assembly plant. The yard trucks at this factory seem to always part their trailers really close together. I found a parking spot but it was too tight for me to get the trailer into. I just parked it in the middle of the drop yard and got me an empty trailer. A yard truck put my trailer in the trailer line.

Called into dispatch and got a load to pick up in Oshawa(Ontario) tomorrow AM. I talked with one of the other drivers from my company and he knew that this "Bumper" factory had night parking for us for tonight. Since I had time today, I went to the Woodbine Mall off of Queen's Highway 427. Bought some sour gummy bears from the candy stores. Enjoyed my visit there.

After the Mall, I went to the factory in Oshawa and checked in. Was told to park for the night and that the gates for our trucks opened up at 6 AM EST....Watched TV(Canadian TV was different from that found in the U S .
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