Monday February 8, 2021
Everything went as scheduled, but it was 20 below zero during the night, and -18 when I arrived at the yard. Because it was so cold, they had ordered the permits for the loaded width (15′), so we could drive it into one of the heated garage bays, and expand it before we left. That way we wouldn’t have to expand it in the cold and in the dark when we got there tonight. We pulled out of the yard at 12:30 with the empty trailer. It is the same trailer that we had on the last trip, which was it’s maiden voyage. This time, I am lead, and a company pilot is the steerman. We all have worked together several times, and make a good team. It was an uneventful trip to Colombus WI, and took us about 6 hours to make the 320 mile trip. Since we were empty, the trip was all highway until the last 30 miles or so. We got there after dark and parked. They did not have a second shift working, so no one was there. Since I am HP this time, I could sleep in and arrive at 7 AM after they load, and help chain down and tarp it. With the temps expected to be well below zero again, I got a hotel room.
Tuesday February 9, 2021
I arrived at the site at 7, and was glad they were already inside, because it was 11 below zero. They were just about to set the piece onto the trailer. I took this picture, because I wanted you to see how large the piece actually is. The fuel tank/base extends the full length of the frame, which you don’t notice once it is loaded.
And of course, that huge radiator. . .
It took us several hours to chain it down and tarp the load, but we were finished by 11:30.
We pulled outside in the cold, and waited for them to bring out the paperwork for the drivers to sign. I am parked behind our enclosure unit and his HP, and you can see our steerman on the left side of our trailer.
After an hour of waiting, we got the paperwork signed, and left at 12:30. We drove as far as we could before the sunset curfew, which was 175 miles, and parked in a truck stop at the WI/IA line at Praire Du Chain. The hotel was just across the street, so after I checked in, we all went back over to the restaurant at the truck stop for supper together. I did not know the other driver or his HP, so got to know them a little.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
It was 8 below zero when we met at the trucks. I enjoyed the clear view up front . . .
because I haven’t run HP in a while. It comes natural to me, and I feel right at home doing what I did for the first 4 years of my Pilot Car career. But what I loved most was the new windshield! I didn’t realize how damaged my first windshield was. When you’re in the rear a lot, it gets sand blasted by the truck you follow, so never comes clean, reflects the light, and every one of the thousands of tiny pings holds water as the wiper blades pass, so never wipes clean either. This one is now strikingly clear! I was looking forward to this nice long trip up front before the windshield gets sand blasted!
Oh, I forgot to tell you.
CHANGE OF PLANS! There is another driver back at the shop who needs to leave for Columbus WI tomorrow in order to load Friday, and take that generator to Omaha – but he needs a steerman. It will be easier to find a HP to replace me than it will be to find a steerman that he can trust and work with. So, when we reached Forest City IA today after 180 miles, we pulled into the truck stop and parked. A driver met us there with the repaired truck to swap out, and a HP met us there to replace me. Both trucks filled with fuel
while the pilot cars waited
Both the loaner truck and I then left to return 180 miles to the shop (about 3 hour dive) and that team drove on toward Salt Lake City.
I arrived at the shop at about 3 PM and met with the dispatcher. Though we are contracted to load Friday, and must do that, we have just been told that due to the below zero temperatures in Omaha, work has been suspended, and we can not unload until NEXT Friday! But, it only takes about 2 or three days to get there! So tomorrow we will find out if we can change that schedule. Otherwise, we will have to load, drive as close to the site as we can, and park there for 4 – 5 days and wait! I’m getting very tired of the hotels, and really want to get back to sleeping in my van and saving $80/day! Speaking of that, it is supposed to get down to 15 below tonight, so I checked in to the hotel where they know me by my first name, and can spell my last name by memory!
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