FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-New Buffalo, Michigan)
I was in no hurry so I didn't set my alarm clock to get up this morning. I did wake up at a little after 7:30 AM ESTand went into the restaurant. I didn't feel like eating but this was a good place to eat if I felt like it. Took my time as I can't deliver this load until tomorrow. Did my vehicle inspection and logbook before heading east on I-94 at 8:30 AM EST. I ready like this area of the country until the interstate goes straight east. I got to our Taylor(Detroit) terminal a little before 12:30 PM and checked in with local dispatch for any paperwork I would need to take this load over the border. I was kind of hoping dispatch would tell me to drop the load in the yard and give me another one; they didn't. I left the terminal and before heading for the border, I stopped and ate at the Swedish buffet that I liked. I took off for the border and got over it , and the Ambassador Bridge with no problems,. Got on the Queen's Highway(now the King's Highway) 401 and headed for London, Ontario. I stopped at the first rest area on the 401 and got my free dozen donuts(bought with a $20 bill and got Canadian change-about $23 Canadian- and then pay my toll in Canadian money...figured out to be a free dozen donuts) Continued up 401 to the truckstop by London that I was planning on stopping at for the night. Got there to find four other drivers from my company there. I went into the restaurant and found the drivers sitting at one of the tables. I joined them and found I knew two of them. We enjoyed ourselves for about 1 1/2 hours and tipped the waitress very well . After a fun evening, I went to my bunk and went to sleep...
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...
May 15, 2011
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What's in my blog...???
- 666--Highway (2)
- A Trucker Tale-introduction (1)
- A Trucker's Tale (33)
- abandonment of truck (1)
- accidents (12)
- animals (3)
- backing (2)
- buffalo burgers (1)
- bull haulers (1)
- Catch 22 (1)
- caught but... (2)
- caught-almost (3)
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- diabetes and driving (3)
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- interesting (3)
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- logbook violation-see violation (1)
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- mining--me??? (1)
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- places to see (13)
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- restaurants-good ones (5)
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- ripped off... (1)
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- trucker want-to-be's (2)
- Trucking Student Questions (4)
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- violation (51)
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- weapons-weird ones (1)
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