October 24, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Bonanza, Utah)
Had my alarm set for 6:30 AM MST as I remember-been here before-these guys are bussed in and I will have enough time to get ready for the day. Nick, the other company driver and his wife also got up as I told them how it worked here. I met his wife and she sure seemed odd for even riding on a big truck; she was small, frail and very quiet. We where talking as the bus of workers from Vernal drove in.

Nick and I checked in and had to wait about an hour so as the workers could start working. Most the workers had to get into protective clothing-head to feet-before they could work. After the workers were ready, we were taken to the loading docks about a quarter mile away. We both backed in and I was loaded first. Loading took awhile and I got done before Nick was started. I decided to wait for Nick at the main office.

I was in signing my paperwork when one the the mine managers came in to talk with the head fellow. I heard them talking and the manager was going down into the mine to take something to a miner. I asked if I could go with him. He asked the head fellow who said I could as long as I wore all the required gear...

We went to a house with gear in it and I was given stuff to put on; a hat with a light on it, a tag with a duplicate tag left above ground and a canister for turning carbon monoxide to oxygen(I asked about how to use the canister and was told not to worry about it as I would be dead by the time I realized I needed it. It was just required to be worn by OSHA). We were lowered into the mine in a cage about 3 x 7 and standing 7 feet. We went down 875 feet and out to the miner. Boy it was dark & cool. After coming up I had to take a shower and get some of that "stuff" off of me. All the miners took showers before returning to home.

Nick was loaded and waiting for me when I was ready to go. It had been an interesting day. We got weighed on their scales as these loads were very heavy. We both were around 78,000 pounds, enough for fuel though. We crossed over to Hwy 64 in Colorado on good roads that weren't on the map, saving us a good 50 miles. We drove up to Dinosaur, Colorado and then followed Hwy 40 east to Streamboat Springs where we stopped after dark for Chinese Food(good stuff!!!). After eating, we had a steep grade to climb; low gear range for what seemed a good 30 minutes. Got over it and took Hwy 14 to Hwy 125 northbound. Beautiful valley by night. Caught Hwy 127 and took it into Wyoming and onto Laramie. In Laramie, we then followed I-80 to the Nebraska border, stopping at Pine Bluff for the night...