May 19 – 22, 2021

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

I got up at 6, went in the restaurant for breakfast, and after a western omelet and bacon, I was at the site before 7. They were just finishing up loading the second truck, which was to be mine. There were several issues to deal with, so while the driver and steerman did that, I put the routes into both my GPS systems from the permits, and got my flags, signs, and HPs set up.

We drove out at 9 with me in the lead of the parade of two trucks, two HP cars, and two steermen. We all know each other, and have worked well together many times.

It was a pretty normal day, on a very normal and familiar route for all of us. It was a mix of highway and back roads. We drove in to the Iowa 80 Truck Srop (the world’s largest truck stop) at about 5 PM.

With the second truck right behind us. . .

---

We all met together after the trucks were parked, and I found out that the other truck was leaving tomorrow and scheduled to park on site Saturday, and unload Monday. However, since we are not allowed on the site til Wednesday, with our unload scheduled for June 1st, we will be staying right here until Monday. That way my driver has food and facilities rather than sitting somewhere at a rest area or weigh station along the way.

Therefore, my “weekend” stuck in IA actually starts tonight and is for four days. FOUR DAYS! So I booked a room for the night, and planned to figure out tomorrow where and what I will do for the next FOUR DAYS! I easily came up with a list long enough for 5 days. My plan was to get the major things done on and in my van so that when I got to NC I could just concentrate on doing things with Annalou. But that night I prayed, “Lord, I’d really rather just get there, and have these extra four days at home with Annalou!”

Our steerman left for her home in Chicago 3 hours away, but I walked to the restaurant with the two drivers and we had supper together. I have known both drivers for several years. One I have worked with many times, but this is only the second time I have worked with my driver. It was a great discussion about the equipment – you know, talking shop. I enjoy those talks a lot.

I checked in to the normal hotel there, and even got the same room Annalou and I have stayed in several times when working here togther.

Thursday, May 20,2021

I slept in, made up a list of things I wanted to get done today, tomorrow, and Sunday, and prioritized it. While I was on the phone with Annalou, dispatched called, so I took the call. “Ahhhhh, Dave?” “Yes, sir!” “We have a problem. I just found out that starting Monday there is a construction restriction on one of our routes to the site.”

I know what that means. If we have to avoid that particular road, someone would have to go out and find us another way to get there. Then it would have to be approved by the state, which means every new bridge we need to cross must be studied to know if it can take our weight. Then a new route survey would have to be done. Then once that is approved, we would need to apply for another permit from the state. Aside from all that would cost the company, time is the major factor! Becauae of the holiday, all that could take 3 weeks!

“So, we need you guys to hurry up and travel the route before Saturday. Where are you? Can you leave with the truck as soon as your steerman drives back from Chicago?” “Absolutely! I’m just hanging at the hotel!”

I quickly took a shower, packed up, checked out, topped off my van, and was at the truck helping my driver as if I was the steerman, until she arrived back at noon. We put the wire skidders up, and I steered him in and out of the fuel island as he topped off his truck. When she arrived, I was just setting my second High Pole to height, so we pulled right out.

We drove until after 7 and actually caught the other truck that left at 7 AM, who had stopped early and saved us a spot at a truck stop. We were there about 5 hours later, that’s all. This picture was actually taken the next morning after all the trucks around us had left. We were tucked in very close all night.

We also got word from dispatch that they contacted the site and gave them a choice. Due to the state’s route conflict:

• Either find us a place on site to park the trailer from Saturday until June 1st, or
• Wait for several weeks until the state gives us a new permit before they receive the unit.

They chose the first option. I consider that an answered prayer! Now I get to spend those extra 4 days with Annalou instead of at the hotel in Walcott, IA.

Friday, May 21, 2021

Because we were the second truck into the tight parking spot last night, we needed to be the first truck out, so I led the parade again today. Although we had a lot of small roads, we also had a good stretch of highway today as well.

There were a few low wires to sneak under and get good use out of our wire skids, and a few RR tracks to raise up for. We knew they didn’t want us at the site today, even though we would have had the time to get there. The biggest problem would have been traffic, though.

So one of the drivers called ahead to a weigh station close to Columbus to see if we could park there. They said we could after 3. So we took a 40 minute break on an exit ramp just after lunch, and arrived at the scale right at 3.

It was hot. Very hot. High 80’s which is extremely uncomfortable for me. But fortunately I was not steerman on this trip, so jist had to take my poles down along with my signs and flags before driving to the truck stop for the night.

I found a shade tree to park under, and with the cross breeze and van doors open, it was bearable while I sat on my couch and entered receipts into my laptop, and cooked supper. The closest hotel was 20 miles away, and I was anxious to try my generator out to run my AC through the night.

So once the sun began to set behind the tall trees, I filled up with fuel, and went to find a better parking spot for the night in a truck parking area.

I quickly set up my generator so I could try it out for the night. I locked it to the frame of my van, hooked up the gas line from my fuel tank, turned it on, plugged in my van, and turned on my AC! The generator is pretty quiet, so doesn’t disturb those around me, and with the AC fan running inside, I really can not hear it at all. Oh, and yes, I have a carbon monoxide detector working inside.

It was a very comfortable night, and when I went to top off the van in the morning, I had used only $5.11 of fuel for the night. So even if I had to pay for a shower, nights in my van will still be cheaper than getting a site at a campground! That will save me a lot of money going forward, and will more than pay for the cost of that generator in less than a month.

Saturday, May 22, 2021

We were scheduled to meet our police escort at 8, so all of us were there well before 7:30. He was not there by 8, so several calls were made, with no success in reaching him, or his dispatch. Finally, at about 8:45 he pulled up and apologized for being late, ran all of our licenses, and we were on our way by 9:30.

He ran in front, but really did nothing at all for us, except provide some pretty blue lights. I was leading the second truck, which left all traffic control to the HP for that first truck. After a little while, I asked if I could just run up front and help her. I was getting bored in the middle, which frustrates me when someone else is overloaded with work! She has been doing this for almost 20 years I think, and we have worked together many times.

So I let her take the lead, find the low wires, push traffic over, which means getting out sometimes to make that happen, and warn us of issues ahead. The Police car was next, who just putted along, and then I came along, marking the low wires by sitting under them to let the first driver know which one it was, and which side is higher, getting out to move parked cars in the way of the trucks taking the oncoming lane to clear them, getting out to hold intersections, and even lifted a bunch of really low wires.

It was 125 miles to the site, and took us about 6 hours. Once we reached the security gate, I was free to leave,

so took my signs, flags and poles down, and headed for North Carloina!

It was a 400 mile trip, and took me just over 6 hours including the stop for fuel. Even then, I didn’t make it there before Annalou had to leave for work. I’m looking forward to seeing her in the morning, and going to church together! We will be together for 9 days!