FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-"Little" Bonanza, Utah)
I was up before anyone showed up to work. This little Bonanza here only a mining operation as the population is "0"(Big Bonanza had a population of "9"). I was up and walking around when the bus carrying the workers came in. I was the only truck until they finished loading me. As they were finishing unloading me, another truck from my company pulled in. It was being driven by "Rain Man"--his handle--and what was interesting was that he hadn't brought anything to eat or drink...I ended up giving him water and some munchies...
We both were loaded and given the directions(I had them before when I stopped here)to take a mining road(still not on the map and saved us at least 50 miles) over to Hwy 64 in Colorado. We followed Hwy 64 southeast to Rangely and then into Meeker(Colorado) where we were hoping to get something to eat. We found a bar that served lunch and it was about 11:30 AM MST. We walked in and found the place empty of customers. We were told that lunch started at noon. For some reason we did not want to wait; we pressed on down Hwy 13. It was 12:45 PM MST when we pulled into Rifle(Colorado) and stopped at a fast food restaurant. We were heading east on I-70, through the mountains at 1:30 PM MST.
It was a rough afternoon as both Rain Man and I had full loads--each truck weighing around 79,600 lbs--and the mountains almost became a game that we had to win. Up and down--seemed to never end-- on the truck's gears was the order of the day. Went past Vail(Colorado) and didn't enjoy it at all(I usually enjoy the scenery).
As we were getting close to the steep downgrade before Denver(Colorado), Rain Man informed me that he may have been having brake problems with his trailer. Since the downgrade before Denver isn't the place to find out there was a problem, Rain Man pulled into a truck parking area and--I guess, as I didn't stop--checked things out. We had no Jake brakes on our trucks.
The downgrade was long and slow. I had good control of my unit--even with the weight--until the last six miles. I got thinking we were close to being done and kind of took liberties that could have cost me dearly. By the time I got to the bottom of the mountain, I showed signs my brakes were beginning to fade badly. Luckily there were few vehicles in front and I hadn't been going too fast. I believe my brakes were smoking but not bad...
Got through the Denver area and went on to Bennett, Colorado where we had a fuel stop. It had been a wild day so I called it quits for the day 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...
September 5, 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)
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- animals (3)
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