It's been a l-o-n-g time

Can't believe it's been almost four years since I posted to my blog!

I guess my only reason for that could be that it revolved around my travels as an over the road (OTR) truck driver.  When I left that job, I stopped blogging.  It's certainly not because I didn't have anything to share.  I could have easily turned this into a geocaching blog...but for some odd reason, I didn't.  Not sure if that was a good move, or a bad move.

Well, long story short, I'm going to make an attempt to resurrect my blog.  What will I post about?  At this time I have no idea...but I'm open to suggestions.  :)

My 1st time in the snow...

As I drove into Rolling Prairie, IN last night I was following the single set of tire tracks through the snow at around 30 mph. Suddenly, there were vehicles in both lanes and traffic had crawled to 5 mph as they merged back into the right lane. Then I saw why...a pickup truck, flipped on its side, in the median, with emergency crews pulling it out. I had already decided, a few miles earlier, that I was going to pull off the road at the next exit...that scene sealed the deal for me.

So, I've been sitting at the Knute Rockne Plaza, on I-80 East, since last night. There's a few inches of snow on the ground...and it's still flurrying. The weather report is calling for up to an inch of snow per hour. Other vehicles are moving, some have been here since last night...since it's my first Winter driving this truck, I think I'm going to wait a little longer before I move out.

On the road again...

I dropped my trailer in Umatilla last week, so I could spend a few days at home with Jane and the cats. Well, I'm back! I have a feeling that Florida's Natural is going to be my home away from home from now on...last stop on my way home, to drop my trailer, and first stop on the way out, to pick up a load.

I'm supposed to be running this load to Tracy, CA; however, it needs to be there in 4 days and there's simply no way I can get it there in time. So, I'm sure they're planning a repower very soon.

Seems that the load won't be ready 'til the morning, so I took a walk into town to grab a few geocaches and grab a bite to eat...then I came back to the truck to enjoy a movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Dropping my trailer...

...so I can go home for a few days.

My 1st solo delivery...

I showed up in West Memphis two hours early for my delivery, hoping to get out of there early and on my way to my next assignment. Unfortunately, they had a couple of "rush" orders to unload, as a result I spent almost six hours there.

My 1st solo assignment...

I got my 1st load assignment yesterday! Some frozen food that crossed the border from Mexico and is heading to West Memphis, AR. I picked up the loaded trailer at the Dallas yard and I'm currently about 15 miles outside of West Memphis waiting for my appointment in the morning.

Snapped this pic just before I rolled off the yard.

Going solo...

Finished my trainee/trainee phase last week and went back to the Dallas yard. We were going to stay out for extended trainee team for a couple of weeks, but my training partner had a family emergency and needed to get home ASAP. So, he took our training truck and I waited on the yard for another truck.

After a few days waiting, my truck was finally assigned. When I first saw it, I was shocked! Apparently the previous driver didn't take the best care of his ride. But it sure cleaned up nice! :)

I should be getting my first load assignment tomorrow (Thursday)...and will hopefully be heading toward Florida.

They call me The Muffin Man

We picked up a load of Uncle Wally's Muffins (chocolate chip, banana nut and blueberry to name a few of my favorites) in Shirley, NY which is heading to WalMart in Mississippi and Louisiana. Man, they smell great!

On the way there, we were given explicit instructions by the New York routing staff to stay in the center lane, and it's very clear why. 12' 10" and we're 13' 6" so you know what would have happened if we were in the right lane, our trailer would have been peeled open like a can of sardines...Ouch!!!

Also, on the way there we passed over the Throg's Neck Bridge, which gave us a spectacular view of the Bronx Whitestone Bridge, with Manhattan in the background.

I-95 Southbound

Well, I spent the better part of my day heading South on I-95. It was exciting to be heading in a direction that would take me back home to Florida. Sadly, I'm only going as far as New Jersey tonight, and heading into The Bronx, NY tomorrow for a delivery.

It's rather funny that I should end up in New Jersey on my birthday, since I was born here.

No telling where our next load will take us...I'm hoping it will be further South. Hey, I know it's a long shot, but I can hope...right? ;)

An afternoon in Methuen, Massachusetts

Well, we arrived in Methuen today, with a few hours to kill before our 8am delivery appointment. So, we took a short walk to grab a bite to eat and mail a letter. Saw the Nevins Memorial Library (established 1883) and the Spicket River Falls Dam. It has been years since I was up North in the fall...the colors of the fall foliage are even more spectacular than I remember.

Nebraska to Connecticut

We picked up a load of beef in Nebraska a couple of days ago and headed for the East coast (CT, MA and NYC). It's been quite a journey, to say the least. Passed by the PayPal home office in Omaha, NE. Got to stop at a truck stop that was right next door to the gas station I worked at back in high school (the gas station is gone and the truck stop has been completely redone), just outside of Dupont, PA (the scenic shot was actually taken a few hours earlier in Lamar, PA). And then we took a short break in Wallingford, CT.

Looks like we're going to be sitting here for a few hours as the dock doesn't start unloading until 11:00pm and we've been here since 5 o'clock. :(

Dallas to Denver

After completing my Orientation II classes in Dallas, my training partner (Blake Carrol) and I picked up our tractor and a loaded trailer then headed for Denver. That's Blake at the wheel of our tractor, a Kenworth T2000.

Not sure where we'll be heading next...but I do know that we'll be on the road for 3 weeks and 7,000+ miles.

Orientation II begins tomorrow...

After having a week off, and returning to Texas for a few days of workshops and review boards, I'll be back in classes tomorrow morning for Orientation II. Since I had the day off, I took a nice long walk...found a few geocaches along the way...and had an early dinner at Chili's. As usual, I had the ribs...with broccoli and cinnamon apples, so Jane will be very happy.

I've attached a few pictures from my geocaching adventures. Saw some wildlife and a few flowers along the way.

Baker's Ribs

We had pizza for lunch today, so I decided to get some BBQ for dinner. There's a Baker's Ribs just a couple of doors down from the hotel, so that's where I headed. Figured if I ate dinner early enough that I could head to Dairy Queen for some ice cream later tonight. :)

Their menu is a little different than I'm used to, having spent my fair share of time at Sonny's and Woody's back home. Since they only had pulled pork, I prefer mine sliced, I finally settled on the pork ribs. The girl at the counter put a bottle of BBQ sauce on my tray, I'm used to having a selection of sauces on the table, so I asked, "Is that hot or sweet BBQ sauce." To which she responded, "It's just regular BBQ sauce." Gee, that was real helpful...thanks. ;)

The ribs were great...and the sauce turned out to be a little on the sweet side, just how I like it. So, if you find yourself in Garland, TX...and are in the mood for BBQ...stop by Baker's Ribs just off I-30.

Back in Dallas, TX

Well, after five weeks on the road I took a week off to spend time with Jane and the cats. It was so nice to be home! ;) Things weren't all peaches and cream on the road and my travel plans to get home kept falling apart...but everything worked out in the end. Got to visit with a few of my friends while I was home...btw, next time lunch is on me. :) And got to spend a day with my Mom, too!

Found a few geocaches, including an FTF (first to find)...and was able to help one of the travel bugs I was carrying meet one of its goals by visiting Daytona International Speedway.

Now that all that's over, I jumped on an AirTran flight and, after a brief layover in Atlanta (where I got to play Scoop's "Island of Atlanta" game) I'm back in Dallas...actually staying in Garland...to complete my training. I'll be taking a few classes while I'm here, then I'll be back on the road for three more weeks.

After doing a little 'administrative' stuff at the office today, I was given the afternoon off to relax...so I went back to the hotel and configured my laptop & iPod for the FREE WiFi at the hotel, then took a walk (which for me means that I went geocaching...yes, I found one). I've heard the pool is much nicer here than the HoJo I stayed at last time. If any of you know how to use Google Maps, here are the coordinates for my hotel: N 32 50.331 W 96 35.645

Oh yeah, while I was taking that walk I ate at Whataburger for the first time. I must say, what I've been hearing is true...that was a great burger. I've always felt Wendy's was better than McDonalds or Burger King...now Whataburger may have Wendy's beat.

Well, it's raining now...so I'm glad I took my walk earlier.

Heading into Kansas

Passing through Texas, then Oklahoma, on US54 and going to be in Kansas very soon...the weather isn't looking good up ahead. We are heading to Harrisonville, Missouri, with this load to drop off early in the morning, then over to Nebraska to pick up a load Monday morning which will take us back to Texas...where I'll be getting off in Dallas to head home for a week.

By Monday afternoon I will have driven 8,000 miles. It sounds like a lot, but I'll be driving more than that each and every month once I get my own truck.

Really looking forward to some time off. Already making plans to meet a few of you for lunch while I'm home. Sure will be nice to see some familiar faces for a change.

The truck...

Here's the Peterbilt I've been driving the past few weeks. I took this photo in Flagstaff, AZ a few mornings ago.

Just a few more days and I'll be heading home

No photos for this blog entry.

Just a reminder to those friends of mine back in Florida that I only have a few more days in this phase of my training...then I'll be heading back to Florida for a week of much needed time off. I'm really looking forward to a few days off and hope to see many/all of you while I'm there.

Going back to Cali...

Actually, this post is a little late as we're already on the way out of Cali...kinda like the train in the photo.

The sunset was taken on our way throught New Mexico the evening before arriving in California...as is typical, it looked even better that the photo does justice. The other shots were taken passing through the desert after crossing the Arizona/California state line.

While we were in Cali, the sunlight was hitting the truck just right and I thought the Peterbilt logo looked pretty cool in that golden sunset light.

Passing through Iowa

Stopped at the world's largest truck stop on the way through Iowa along I-80. There are a couple of tractors, one even has a trailer, inside the truckstop. Oh yeah, there are a couple of geocaches there, too. ;)

Passing through Wyoming

Well, before I got behind the wheel we made it into Wyoming. I grabbed a few pics, then got behind the wheel and drove across the rest of Wyoming...now my trainer is back behind the wheel as we make our way through Nebraska.

Some nice mountains, didn't get pictures of most of them (because I was driving), more windmills (haven't seen them since we were in California) and a little cattle round-up action.

Passing through Utah

Left California yesterday, on the way to Indiana. On today's list...Utah, Wyoming and Nebraska. As we were driving through Utah, on I-80, we passed right by the Olympic village and I got a few pics of the slopes and jumps. As usual, no time to stop for a visit...just passing through. Shortly after passing the Olympic village, we saw some awesome rock formations...as usual, they were huge (the passing tractor-trailer should put things into perspective).

Then into Nevada

After we descended from Donner Pass we entered into Nevada. I didn't get any shots as we passed through Reno...but started snapping shortly afterward. I started driving when we reached Fernley and continued on into Wendover.