January 31, 2010

Greetings fellow travelers!

We are currently in Dallas, Texas delivering a load in the morning, and from here, I have no idea where we'll go. My last post was from Dry Ridge, Kentucky and from there we went to Dayton, Ohio where we picked up a load that went to Kansas City, Kansas and then we switched trailers and headed south where we hoped to find warmer weather.

I have lived in SE Oklahoma since 1989 and have seen snow here twice. This winter is really making up for all those warm winters I am so fond of! Usually, this time of year we see the temps warming toward the mid to high 40's and by March we are back into the 60's, and come April, we are in the upper 70's. At this rate I'm beginning to wonder if we'll see those warm temps as early this year.

I've taken some pictures to share, so enjoy, comment, and follow me! I hope everyone is well and staying warm!

Welcome to Ohio!

                                                                        

                                       Crossing the Ohio River

Cincinnati, Ohio

                                                   Bengals Stadium

January 28, 2010

Greetings from Dry Ridge, Kentucky!

After a very long, tiring trip from Nogales, Arizona to Dry Ridge, we got some sleep, were able to do laundry and a little housekeeping! Nothing changes on the road except the location!

Yesterday, as we drove through Oklahoma and Missouri I ran into a truck driver named Dave from Noble, Oklahoma who is a Marine Corps Combat Veteran who served during the first Gulf War from 1983-1992. He has been a truck driver since his discharge from the Corps.

A lot of veterans are now driving trucks cross country and I'd like to take the opportunity to say thank you to each and every person who has served their country in the military, and to the families who have supported them and continue to support our military today.

As most of you who know me know, my youngest son, Cody, is a combat vet in the Marine Corps as well. He served as a sniper in Afghanistan, where he was shot in the back by an enemy sniper. Thank God for SAPPY plates! He then served in Iraq where he and his First Lt. were blown up by an IED. This time the SAPPY plates saved both of their lives, but not their exposed skin on face, neck, arms, and hands. Both suffered second and third degree burns, but recovered and continued to serve. Unfortunately for my son, the flash burn to his eyes kept him from returning to duty as a sniper, and the blast also permanently damaged his hearing. (Like the heavy metal music he listens to wasn't bad enough!) Cody was discharged the end of October 2009 and is now home where he belongs.

So many others are still in harms way and for them I ask for your prayers and support for all the branches of the United States military.

United States Marine Combat Veteran, Dave from Nobel, Oklahoma Semper Fi, Dave & Thank you

                                                
                                      

         Dave's Truck-A little blurry but we were rollin' by!

       Back of Dave's truck, has USMC plate, but hard to see.

The back of the cab of Dave's truck. He is a proud Marine!

January 26, 2010

After two drops in Phoenix, Arizona we headed to Nogales and picked up a load of tomatoes going to Dry Ridge, Kentucky. Afterward, we went to the Pilot truck stop and got hemmed in because a Swift truck missed the driveway, dumped his trailer in the ditch and took out a light pole. There was no power, which meant no fuel pumps, no cash registers, and no scale. While trying to get out of the parking lot to find another scale, we were stuck behind other trucks attempting to do the same. Finally, we were able to leave the Pilot and find another scale to weigh the load on and headed for New Mexico.

We spent the night on a mountain north of Las Cruces, NM, just south of the White Sands Missile Range. After a breakfast of sausage, egg and cheese croissant with coffee, we were back on the road. Traveling with us is Sonya, a Chihuahua, who hates anyone in border patrol uniforms, and Harley Davidson, a French bulldog who hates anyone who looks in his direction!

Traveling with two dogs isn’t as difficult as one might think, especially in a big truck. They have food and water available at all times, are able to play with one another, sleep on our bed, or ride in our laps. When we stop, they get to go outside, do their business and then sniff every bush, post and tree in the area. They sleep with us when we stop at night, and when we are in a dock being loaded or unloaded, they have other truckers to intimidate!

We stopped in Tucumcari, NM to shower and fill up the thermos and coffee mugs, walk the doggies one more time and head east. After feeding Harley and Sonya a supper of popcorn chicken we headed into the Texas panhandle and are now in our home state of Oklahoma getting ready to bed down for the night, since it's 3 AM on the 27th! Good night!

 

Harley Davidson likes to drive too!

Sonya isn't so sure Harley knows what he's doing!

I thought this mountain top looked cool!
Located on I-17 south as we headed to Nogales, AZ.

January 24, 2010

Here I am in Phoenix, AZ! Traveling through Texas brought rain, New Mexico and Arizona brought snow, but down here in Phoenix it's a balmy 78 degrees with blue skies and a light breeze.

The trip was pleasant with little drama, and the snow made for some beautiful photos. And being the gabby girl I am, I met a few truck drivers along the way!

Evan from Nebraska

                                                              Mike from San Antonio, TX

Here Speeder, Speeder, Speeder!

This is on I-40 where it was snowing, south of the freeway the skies were clear and the sun reflected off the clouds.

  

                                                   Canyon east of Albuquerque, NM

Prickly Pear Cactus (north of Phoenix)

The parking lot of the LOVE'S truck stop in Phoenix, AZ.

                                                                                    




This truck carrying vehicles is also called a "parking lot".

Here We Go!

After getting showered, dressed and even putting on make-up and shoes, no load was available so we didn't go anywhere! Woke up this morning with, "Get dressed, we gotta load in Oklahoma City and have to be there before two!" It was ten and I had fallen back asleep while watching Maury. I rolled out of bed, dressed, ran a brush through my hair and brushed my teeth. Then I chugged some coffee and grabbed Harley Davidson and we were on our way.

We picked up syrup in OKC going to the Phoenix, AZ area, fueled, got more coffee and by 10:30 p.m. we were in Tucumcari, NM to spend the night. This is where I am now after spending nearly an hour trying to figure out how to get connected to the Love's wi-fi service. I'm such a technological retard that those who know me just shake their heads and wonder how I mange a computer at all!

Tomorrow: Phoenix or bust!

January 21, 2010

Today I'm leaving for a road trip across the United States. I'll be blogging about the trip and posting whenever I can get a wi-fi signal! I hope everyone will follow along, ask questions, post comments and let me know what you think! 


My starting point is SE Oklahoma where I live and eventually, I'll end up back here too. I'll report on how many miles I travel each day, points of interest, cities and states, as well as weather and road conditions! It's still pretty cold in much of the country, so hopefully, Harley Davidson and I will survive the freezing weather!
Harley & me