FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Goddard, Kansas)
Rolled over in bed this morning and just happened to see the clock: 6:48 AM CST. I got up and made my daily check call, vehicle inspection and logbook update. Taking my time, at 7:30 AM CST, I headed east on Hwy 54 throught the streets of southend Wichita(Kansas). The tollroad (I-35) finally came into sight and I jumped on it going north(northeast). Passing El Dorado, Kansas, the scenery became buildingless as the grass-grazing terrane took over. A cow "here & there" could be seen between the low cliffs--geological outcrops-- that dot the landscape. I loved it....At Emporia, Kansas, I got off the toll road and continued to follow I-35 north. It seemed like the Kansas City area came up rather quickly, as I entered Missouri. I got to our Kansas City terminal at 11:30 AM CST and dropped my trailer in the terminal yard. I parked my tractor in the row of tractors by the terminal building. I wasn't planning on going to see my "home town" and kids until tomorrow so I called Carol, my Kansas City girl friend. We went to a great place, The Hereford House(Kansas City location), for an early dinner and then went to see a live stage play: "Shear Madness". We talked until about 11 PM CST and then she left for home. I went to bed in my tractor...
SECOND 5 YEARS:(Bull Haulers...a breed apart...)
I would deliver loads to the Wal-Mart warehouse in Loveland, Colorado. After delivery, I would be deadheaded to meat slaughterhouses for loads. I was once deadheaded to Holcomb, Kansas to pick up some beef. In going to Holcomb, I would always pass through Hugo, Colorado. This trip, I stopped at the Hugo conveniance store(I always stopped here) and got a large soda pop(soft drink in Canada). There were two empty bull haulers parked in front of me and they were getting ready to leave as I was. Since they are known to speed--travel normally over the speed limit(these roads-60 miles/hr)--, I decided to use them as bear bait. Well...we were all empty and took off to the southeast on Hwy 40. I kept up with them for about 5 minutes and then they just kept getting further from me. I was doing well into the 70s but they were soon out of my sight and too far ahead to be bear bait. I just couldn't keep up so I went back to 60 miles per hour and enjoyed to ride...
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 2, 2011
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- 666--Highway (2)
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