FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Colorado Springs, Colorado)
I had talked with a security person at the pickup point and was told shipping would open at 8 QM MST. Well, I then set my alarm to wake me at 7:30 AM MST. I woke at 7 AM MST and was sitting in my drivers seat when I noticed a fellow walking toward me. The guy was from the shipping department. He told me to pull up next to the shipping building and the item that was being shipped would be brought out to my trailer. I opened my trailer doors and about 9 AM MST a fork truck came out with a piece of equipment on it. They placed the "thing" in the trailer and asked where I wanted in nailed to the floor. I asked how much it weighed and was told 2550 lbs. I then thought a second and thought it would be better if it were over my trailer wheels---reduce sliding. I then asked what it was. I was told that it was a mold for a new jet engine. Cool!!! The total weight of the load was 2550 lbs and that is like nothing for this truck. Anyway, two guys positioned the unit over my trailer wheels(tandems) and nailed the "thing" down to the floor. I was gone by 10 AM MST. After signing the paperwork, updating my logbook and getting dispatched and sat and looked at my map for a little while.
I decided to follow Hwy 94 due east out of Colorado Springs. I could go to Limon and get fuel but then I have the Colorado and Kansas scales to go over. The two lane country road speed limits are good in these two states so I chose to go Hwy 94 to Hwy 40 to Oakley, Kansas meeting up I-70 eastbound...I traveled through the "back roads" to Oakley and enjoyed it greatly even though it was flat and treeless. I stopped at the rest area on I-70 eastbound about 25 miles east of Oakley for a short break. Headed on east around 3:45 PM CST and stopped again at the Hays exit at 4:45 PM CST for dinner at the buffet I like. After eating, I went to Wal-Mart that was across the street and picked up a few things. I was on my way again at 6:30 PM CST headed toward Kansas City.
I stopped at our fuel stop in Salina, Kansas as I wanted to take on a few gallons of fuel. Since I had been running real light, I probably had enough to make it to our Kansas City terminal but I didn't want to take a chance. At the fuel stop, I only put on 25 gallons to guarantee I get to the terminal. I was back on the road at 8 PM CST.
I was pulling into our KC terminal at 11 PM where I just parked, checked in with dispatch and went to bed...
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...
February 25, 2011
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- 666--Highway (2)
- A Trucker Tale-introduction (1)
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