February 27, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Pleasant View, Tennessee)
Decent day after a good breakfast. I was up before 6 AM CST wanting to go. Sometimes that "GO BUG" just gets to ya...I left Pleasant View and was going through Nashville(Tennessee) shortly. After downtown Nashville, I stopped at the "BIG BALL" truckstop at exit 62 for the breakfast buffet and left going southeast on I-24 at 8 AM CST.

I went through Tennessee and after ascending Monteagle( famous "Rocky Top") I decided to get fuel(102 gallons) at our fuel stop, which I did. I then went down the steep grade going toward Chattanooga. Before getting to Chattanooga(Tennessee)--to get around the mountains apparently--I-24 goes into Georgia a few miles and then back into Tennessee. Getting to Chattanooga, I grabbed I-75 south into Georgia following it Atlanta.

I thought about the rules for trucks--Can't go inside the I-285 loop--and decided to ignore it. I decided to take a chance. Inside the loop, I followed I-75 through the downtown area to I-20. Got on I-20 eastbound and stopped at a convienent store before passing I-285 on the est side. I didn't have directions for the receiver of this engine mold so I stopped to call them up. I was not due there until tomorrow but they said to bring it today if I could.

Headed out I-20 to the east to Hwy 441 and went south. I love traveling through the back roads of the south, especially South Carolina and Georgia. I enjoyed it this time also.

The receiver was off of Hwy 441 so was easy to find. Had to go past a guard shack and sign in. The guard told me where to go and pointed the direction. I got to the receiver and checked in. I was told to just open my and wait. It was a few minutes and three guys--one on a forklift--came out to the truck. We opened the doors and found the the engine mold had partially come out of it's floor mounting; no damage found to the mold. The two "walking" guys got in the trailer and took out the blocks and nails used to support the mold while the fork lift gut took the mold somewhere. After I was empty, I called dispatch to let them know I was empty. Time was now 4 PM EST. Dispatch told me to go to Phenix City, Alabama to pick up a load to Lorain, Ohio.

I did updated my logbook and it looked like I had time to get to Phenix City; I did. I went west on Hwy 49 to Macon where I took Hwy 80 straight to Phenix City. The drive was partially after dark but I still enjoyed it. I found the shipper before 7:30 and will have to wait until tomorrow to get loaded; they have a second shift working and shipping was only done on day shift. They told me to open my trailer doors and back up to the dock I was to be loaded at. I did and went to slept while watching my TV. I was never impressed with Phenix City--don't really know why...