As my day started, I was close to entering Greensboro, North Carolina and my destination. I did not have directions. I stopped at a couple convenient stores and didn't find the place. I finally pulled up behind a police car and asked the officer; he gave me the directions and I was on my way. I finally found the place around 2 AM EST. I just parked and then laid in my bunk and went to sleep.
At 5:30 AM EST, I was awaken by a tapping on my tractor. The fellow said he would be unloading me and that it would be a few more hours before he could back me to the docks. He said that he would can out and get me so I could go back to bed. He woke me again at 8:30 AM EST and told me to go down to the end of the street and circle around so I could back in the gate. I did and when I saw the gate I had to back in with this little street........(see picture)
I stood outside my truck and looked at the situation. I unloader came out and I verified that it was the right gate. He said yes. I ask if he really wanted this 67 1/2 foot truck in that little gate. He said yes. He asked if I wanted him to put my truck in the "hole". NO WAY! If it goes it that hole, I will put it in!
I first moved my trailer tandems up as far as they could go. I started the backing and the opposite curb was hitting my tires before I knew it. I really worked at it and went over the opposite curb a couple times. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT I COULDN'T LINE THE UNIT UP STRAIGHT TO GO THROUGH THE GATE. I HAD TO BE GOING THROUGH THE GATE AS I WAS TURNING AND BACKING.
I finally got it inside the gate and lined up. I backed to the dock where the fellow unloaded me. He didn't take too long and I was unloaded. As he handed me my paperwork, he smiled and said,"You were the first 67 1/2 truck to back in that gate. I just smiles back and took my paperwork. I then moved the truck up and then closed my trailer doors. He didn't have anyone waiting for the dock so I went in the made my calls to dispatch. I had a load from Lexington, North Carolina to Quebec.
I had trouble getting out the gate though it wasn't as much trouble as getting in. Finally, when I got out, I saw an older fellow sitting in a lawn chair across the street watching me. I got out and
talked to him. He said he always likes to sit and watch the trucks back in that gate. He said some drivers take alot of time and hold traffic up, some a long time. He then said I was one of the best backers as it only took me 12 minutes and that I was the longest truck he'd seen go in.
I left down I-85 toward Lexington; got to Hwy 64 and went west to the pick up point. Lexington sits right on Hwy 52 so when I was loaded I just headed up it at 1:30 PM EST. Passed Winston-Salem and at Mt Airy took Hwy 89 to I-77, and into Virginia I went. Yesterday I came down the long mountain from Ft. Chiswell to North Carolina; today I am going up the mountain. The trip up went well as my load northbound was 22,780 lbs. I got to Ft. Chiswell at 3:30 PM EST and decided to eat. After eating, I decided to fuel my tanks as I don't know where I will fuel next. I fueled(42 gallons) and then headed up I-81.
On I-81 north, I dropped out of the mountains into the famous Shenandoah Valley and followed it up through Virginia stopping at a rest area outside Timberville for a short break. Went across the panhandle of Maryland into Pennsylvania. Stopped in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the night at 1o:30 PM EST. Really tired so I went right to sleep. Didn't set my alarm...
