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...
April 10, 2011
April 10, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling) Winds blowing and rains pouring: my day starts in Indiana with driving west on I-70. Rain is coming down so hard that speed is radically reduced and many cars had pulled off to the side of the interstate. The radio was reporting a tornado warning and what can I do; I did't know where the radio station was or where it was talking about. All I know is that my truck was getting blown around--it seemed like all over the road--and safety of my load, and me, was in question if I pulled over or kept going. I figured that if I kept going that I would drive out of the really bad weather in a couple minutes, which I did. The winds and heavy rain did deminish and I resumed my speed. Boy, what fun. I didn't see any blown over rigs and I was surprised. If my load hadn't been over 32,000 lbs, I feel I may have been on my side. The rains had stopped by the time I got to Indianapolis(Indiana) and the stars could be seen by the time I got to Illinois. Through Effingham, Illinois I went and got to Pocahontas(Illinois) at 3:30 AM CST. I parked next to the tractor I was assigned to give my load to and went to knock on his tractor. I found him up and waiting for me. We made the switch and I went to sleep. At 9:30 AM CST I got woken up by a driver that claimed to have a load for me going to Laredo, Texas. I had been put on a relay schedule when I was not even on the TRB for the area. I told dispatch that I hadn't gone on the TRB and that I would take the load but finish my legal 8 hour break before leaving for Laredo. I did just that. I left Pocahontas at 12:30 PM CST and took I-70 west to the St. Louis downtown area and got on I-55 south. I had decided to go through Little Rock, Arkansas rather than Joplin, Missouri. I had traveled I-55 southbound a little over 35 miles when I got on Hwy 67 southbound. I had been on Hwy 67 for awhile when I started noticing the spring flowers blooming. I decided to stop around the highway and pick three bouquets--for Arlena, Cathy and Hortens(from Arkansas)--of the blooming Dogwoods and Wild Plum. I got three nice bouquets and headed on down the road. I don't know why but I never liked that Hwy 67 through Missouri. I got to Newport, Arkansas around 6:45 PM CST and had to take a short break. I got me some munchies at our fuel stop in Newport and then headed on. The road was "quite" and driving was easy. Just kept movin' right straight through Little Rock(Arkansas) on Hwy 67, I-40 and then south on I-30. It was dark and the moon didn't give much light being that it was at only about a quarter. I crossed into Texas and was close to my planned stopping place as my day ended...Tomorrow, another trucker tale about the New York City Police...
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- 666--Highway (2)
- A Trucker Tale-introduction (1)
- A Trucker's Tale (33)
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