Special Post February 12, 2010

Today I have a special post because we kind of got stuck in Nogales, AZ while on our way to pick up a load of corn going to Florida. Our anniversary is on the 17th and this trip to Florida was supposed to be a little honeymoon trip for us. We were going to be able to take some time off, park the truck, rent a car and drive down to Key West to play in the ocean and take a little break. We haven't had a honeymoon vacation since we got married 10 years ago. Because of what happened the load was cancelled, we spent the night in a WalMart parking lot and the load we are picking up today is going to the Syracuse, NY area--so much for a honeymoon!

Now, I am not placing fault here, it's just one of those things that happens sometimes and you deal with and move on. It was really just our turn I suppose you could say. While on I-19 headed from Eloy to Nogales we were pulled over by a State Trooper because he noticed a mud flap on the outside of the DOT bumper. This is called a "courtesy check" but when it happens all paper work is scrutinized, including log books, fuel receipts, registration of the tractor and trailer, plus insurance, bills of lading, etc.

For the first time in eight years, Nathan received a ticket for a log book violation because while we were in Eloy, we stopped at the Pilot Truck Stop and I did laundry while he took the truck for a PM (Preventative Maintenance), which occurs about every 25,000 miles because this truck is equipped with a Tri-Pak, and then he took the truck through the truck wash to get some of the salt removed since we'd been on the east coast. While doing his log book, he didn't mark the PM or wash as "on duty, not driving", and then, stupidly, he inadvertently marked the day as the 10th, which was actually the previous day, so he had two days dated as 2/10. That's considered falsification of a log book and got him a ticket, along with a fix it ticket for the DOT bumper being bent, AND he got a warning about an Arizona requirement that trailers have a reflective "L" in the upper corners of the trailer doors that isn't required anywhere else. And we were put out of service for ten hours!

The trooper was very nice, and very cute. I could be a cougar for this cutie-pie!

Cost of a PM $236.00
Cost of a truck wash $77.00
Seeing the look on my husbands face when he got ticketed: PRICELESS

Officer Azbill writing the ticket!

Signing the ticket!

"Look, you stupid truck driver, just sign the damn thing!"

"Hey, I have a gun, you know!"

This is my view of them at the trooper's truck.

I kept waiting for the handcuffs to come out, but again, I was disappointed!

February 10, 2010-Part Duex

Ever get the feeling you're going in circles? I certainly do and it's not just a feeling either. From Oklahoma to Kansas to Phoenix, AZ to Kentucky to Kansas City to Massachusetts to Kansas City to Phoenix, AZ! We delivered in Phoenix this morning, then got a PM, a truck wash, did laundry, took a shower, and we'll load tomorrow going....where she goes no one knows!

Here's a few things we saw as we ran in circles!

Hello! It's me on the road and that's a Marten truck we're passing that you can see out the window!

The TA Truck Stop Corfu, NY. This driver, Ken from Holladay, TN is adding diesel treatment to keep his fuel from jelling because of the cold temps. It was about 19 degrees.

This parking lot slid on ice and lost some of the cars he was carrying outside of Cleveland, Ohio.

 We ran into a little snow west of Santa Rosa, NM

                                         Phoenix, AZ

             I thought this looked cool! Near Phoenix.

If you don't know how to drive a truck, don't get in one--even a moving truck!

February 5, 2010

After picking up a load in Kansas City, MO we crossed Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and spent the night in Ohio. Continuing across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, we spent the second night in Massachusetts, eleven miles from the receiver in Hatfield, a small town north of Springfield, MA. As of this writing, we are in New York once again on our way to Baldwinsville, just northeast of Syracuse, NY, to pick up a load going to Lenexa, Kansas. That’s right, the place we dropped the load we’d picked up in OK, just before picking up the load heading to MA!


Todays photos come to you from the various states mentioned above. I hope you enjoy them!

 St. Louis, MO (rush hour traffic)








                                                      

                                                                          Illinois

 Indiana

Columbus, Ohio

                               Heading East!

                                                               Pennsylvania Creek


The following are the aftermath of a truck wreck three miles inside of Pennsylvania:

Truck in ditch (lower left corner-the driver walked away a little dizzy, but otherwise unharmed)

Ice flows on the rocks in New York

        

             Truck pulling two 53' trailers

Hudson River, NY

                                                                                                                              Frozen lake

Some signs along the way...

              I love the little pilgrim hats on all the MA signs!

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!