December 15 – 22, 2021

Wednesday, December 15, 2022

We all met our respective trucks at about 6:45. Eddie and his steerman and HP met in the load yard, and my driver and I met on the side of the road where our truck was. Our steerman returned at suppertime last night, so she also joined us. We waited there until Eddie’s truck was loaded, and they pulled out with their trooper escort. It was about 10 AM, so our steerman drove over to see when they wanted us. We were concerned when they told us they would not be ready to load us until noon. It takes about 2+ hours to load, and if we don’t leave before about 1:30, we will be pushing the sunset curfew by the time we reach our only good parking spot at the rest area in Horse Cave. We’d have no room at all for any delays,

But we waited patiently, partly because we had no choice! We pulled out at 11:45, and drove over. I blocked traffic as they backed him up and under the crane at noon. These are easy to load, and I was extra help, so we had him loaded in record time and chained down by 1:15 as the trooper who took the first load to the line returned. But this place is always slow with the paperwork, and final touchups. They touch up the paint around our chains, and add extra shrink wrap and tape where we slit it to put the chins on. It seemed like forever, but they finally brought the paperwork down for my driver to sign, and we pulled out at 2:30. An hour behind our tightest schedule.

I led us, with the trooper following the steerman as we drove our 45 miles out of the state. The trooper held all the traffic behind the steerman, as he did for me the last trip, and we crossed their two special bridges alone as the permit required. Our third car met us at the line so we could enter KY with our three cars as required. We surprised ourselves, as we beat the sunset curfew by driving 197 miles into the rest area just after the sun went down. Whew! We remained on schedule!

Once again I stayed in my van for the night at the truck stop. On our last night at our friend’s house in TN, there were some violent storms that brought some tornados through our travel area. We noticed it last week on our way over here, and realized tonight that the hotel we usually stay at when we are here is closed due to some wind damage that needs to be repaired.

Thursday, December 16, 2021

We were up and ready to roll at sunrise. Eddie went first, so I followed them and led our truck. We made it through the rest of KY, dropped our third cars, and got into TN,

making it 318 miles to Whiteville TN by sunset. I have taken drone shots of this small truck stop before. With both of our trucks parked here, we pretty much fill the parking area. No drone shots tonight, as it was pouring down rain. The two drivers had leftovers to eat, so I went to a small restaurant by myself, had supper, and slept in my van beside another truck.

Friday, December 17, 2021

It was still pouring down rain as we all got up and got ready. I can stay dryer as a HP, because I just drive under the fuel island roof to set up my van, as opposed to working on the trailer in the rain as steerman. We left at about 8 so we would not hit Memphis before curfew lifted. During the day, we heard from the site that they will be ready for us on Tuesday morning, and will unload us both right away. So we need to keep pushing ahead to stay on schedule.

However, we had a lot of small roads today, with stop lights, and then the shrink wrap on our unit tore open, and began to expand up and out. So, both trucks had to pull off when we found a gravel wide spot big enough. We all pitched in as my driver went up on a ladder to tape up the top, while the rest of us went to work on the sides where there were tares. We also had to stop for the trucks to fuel, all of which cost us time. As the sun began to set, we all were looking for possible places to park. It would have to big enough for both trucks to be well off the road, not private property, and not somewhere where our weight is likely to damage the surface, and where we won’t block traffic or access to any business. Right! Where is THAT?? But just as darkness was setting in, Eddie’s HP gal found an asphalt wide area used as a temporary weight station, and we both pulled right in!  As a result, we only made it 260 miles to Prattsville AR. We all went to the hotel in the next town for the night.

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Today we knew we had to make up for lost time in order to get back on schedule, so we were pulling out as the sun was coming up. Even though it was raining,

and we had several detours, we made pretty good time. We made it out of Arkansas, and into Texas before noon,

and the rain stopped. I love those Texas bridges!

As we were passing around Dallas on Interstate 20, it was just after 2 PM, and the traffic was getting pretty think on the 4 lane road. Once again, we were the second truck, and all of us were traveling in the middle, splitting the center two lanes. We did occasionally stop, but most of the time were traveling between 20 and 30 MPH. We were driving a steady 25, and I could see my truck about a quarter mile behind me. I had plenty of space in front of me as I saw the car ahead hit his brakes. As I took my foot off the gas pedal, WHAM! I got thrown against my steering wheel! I looked in all my mirrors and dash cam monitors and saw nothing, so said on the radio “I just got rear ended!” and my driver said, “Yes, I saw that” I saw the car behind me had slowed way down, and my driver confirmed that he was the one who slammed into me. We began to discuss that I could not pull over and leave him without me in front. And, there was no place for us to pull over because we are almost 16′ wide. Within a minute, that car hit the gas, and passed me on the right side as my driver said “Get his plate number – he’s running!!” I got it, and as he passed buy each of us, they all called back to confirm the make, model, and plate. Here is the video. It is several minutes long, so you can see what traffic was like before impact, and watch him run!

Traffic slowed again as he was passing Eddie’s HP gal, so she asked him to roll down his window. “You know you hit that van back there!” “Yeah, but there is no place to pull over, so I’m just gonna go.” And he hit the gas and took the next exit.

So we kept on going, and stopped for the night at a small truck stop several hours later in Gordon, TX. We had driven 434 miles. As we pulled in to park, there was a local Sheriff parked there, just watching the traffic go by. I got out and looked at the damage. Bumper demolished, and neither door will open. So I drove up and explained my situation to him. He chuckled, and said “Well, of any officers in this area, you have certainly asked the right one! I worked in Dallas for 31 years before coming over here. Here is how it works. . . .” Isn’t the Lord good? I watched my dash cams, and determined exactly what mile marker and exit it was near, and he determined which police department it was in, and gave me their phone number! I called, and explained what happened, and the officer gave me the guy’s name, insurance company, policy number, as well as his name and badge number. BUT, since an officer was not dispatched, there would be no police report, so my insurance company may not accept a claim, and I may be on my own for this one. They do that now because there has been so much fraud. Basically, in my situation, it was illegal for me to stop, and it was illegal for me not to stop. Oh well, at least I chose the safest illegal choice!! LOL

All that took several hours, so I checked into the last small, old motel room the others had saved for me. They were now coming back from supper, so I brought in my supplies, made a pizza, cooked it on the counter in my hot plate, and went to bed.

Sunday, December 19, 2021

We left as early as possible, so we could make today a high mileage day! Everyone was amazed at the way it turned out for me! What are we supposed to do in that circumstance? But, I have not given up yet!

After about 6 hours, we stopped for the Pilot Cars to top off with fuel.

Tomorrow, I will be on the phone to plead my case with the insurance company. I have all the information I need, and have the entire thing on 3 dash cam angles, with a clear shot of his plate, and what he was doing before impact. I have no idea why he put his right foot onto the passenger seat up against the door just before impact, so had to be driving with his left foot at that point! Any ideas? I have none. Check it out. . . .

The damage does not look bad, but I will need the bumper rebuilt, some structure straightened, door repair, or possible replacement.

We made our way almost through Texas,

and drove on until dusk, and made it 533 miles to Clint TX, and are now back on schedule again!

We were parked at a truck stop, so I stayed there in my van for the night.

Monday, December 20, 2021

Because of the time difference, and since I was still leading the second truck, I was able to call my insurance company right away, just after we got on the road. Because of my situation, and because I have High Definition dash cam footage from three angles that clearly show when and where it happened, and clearly show the plate number, and the hit and run, there is no need for a Police report to file a claim! So it has been filed. Once again, the Lord had covered me, and the dash cam system has paid for itself several times over – AGAIN!

We slept in, because we couldn’t leave until 8:30 so we would drive through El Paso just as the curfew lifted at 9. Right there, we turned west and entered New Mexico. I have not driven past the Trump Wall for several months, and it seems as if there has been progress made! I thought it had stopped once the new administration took over. But there seems to be less gaps in the wall.

New Mexico has it’s own beauty, and I love the open scenery in this section north of the Mexican border.

We pulled into a wide spot on the side of the highway, right at an exit ramp. Looks as if they dumped a huge pile of asphalt the last ime they resurfaced the road, and just spread it out there.

It was a short ride to a hotel, and we all stayed there after super together at a local restaurant. The site still says to hustle right over in the morning, and they will be ready to unload us right away.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

So we left as early as possible!

And drove the 161 miles to the site, arriving there just before 11 AM. The crane crew said they had a snag, and are behind schedule! Their rigging needs to be sent from another site, and will not be here for “a while”. I offered to step in now to replace our steerman, so she could go rent her car, pick her daughter up at the airport, and move into the house they rented for the month. The rest of us waited, and waited, and waited. Just after noon, a third truck that loaded the day after us arrived. He was scheduled too unload today as well, and has a flight out tomorrow. At 2 PM the fourth truck arrived. Like me, they are all staying here, and were scheduled to unload first thing tomorrow.

Finally, at 3:30, they told us the rigging just arrived, but by the time they set it up, it will be quitting time! So they will pick us right at 7:30 in the morning – FOR SURE!

We all went to the local Quality Inn where we normally stay on these runs. At supper, everyone expressed their concerns about their scheduled flights. Two drivers have a flight at 7 PM tomorrow, but need to change after unloading, and get a ride to the airport by 5. Eddie is scheduled to pick up his rental car tomorrow morning, and drive to California. But Eddie offered to stay for the day, and drive the other two trucks under the crane if those drivers had to leave. I offered to help Eddie unload all three if the other steermen had to leave.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

We all got up early, and were there, and ready at 7:30, with engines all warmed up. However, we have learned that when a crane crew says “Be there at …… and we will pick you”, 90% of the time, they really mean “WE will be there at ….. to start rigging, and will be ready to pick you a couple of hours later”. But we always have to plan for what they say – just in case!  Today was a 90% day.

Eddie was first, so they had him pull under the crane. They had him rigged and ready to pick at 9:45.

They asked us to pull right up behind him, so we did. As soon as I got out of my van, I pointed out to the other steerman that they had the rigging wrong, and would damage the building housing if they lifted like that. He hadn’t noticed, but agreed with me. They pulled the cables tight, and I held my breath. . . . . . “Stop. . . . STOP” they shouted over the radio, and the crane stopped and loosened the cables. Yesterday they brought the wrong rigging, so called their office, who will locate the correct rigging, and see IF it can be sent here before the end of the day. Perhaps we will pick tomorrow!

Well, everyone just stood around and waited. And waited. I got talking to the crane crew foreman, and he told me the correct rigging was being used through tomorrow, so their shop was welding up a new spreader bar, would drill the holes in it, and send it out today. LOL Not too reassuring! It did arrive on a small truck before noon,

but of course, even though they had been standing around all morning, they had to break an hour for lunch! That’s union for you!

So they finally got ready to pick Eddie at about 1 :30

At 2:30 we pulled ahead, and they picked us.

Then they wanted to pick the 4th truck next, even though he didn’t need to be picked until tomorrow, because they had to have the serial numbers in order. So my driver, and driver 3 got their things together, and got picked up to head to the airport. Their plan had been to stop at my driver’s parent’s house to freshen up before they left. But now they just had to head directly to the airport in their work clothes. Eddie went and sat in the 3rd truck, and the 3rd steerman had no time frame for visiting his brother in the area, so stayed with him.

That left me free to go to the hotel at about 5PM. The crane crew felt bad, so stayed late to get Eddie in that last truck unloaded. Whew! We did it!

Tomorrow I have an appointment for 10AM with the insurance adjuster will come look at the damage to my van. I also have a list of things to work on before and after that. I’m having trouble with both the CB radio and the company radio reception, and suspect the feed wires are too close to my invertor. So I need to relocate the invertor farther away, and re direct the feed lines to the radios another way. I also want to take my new drone out for a test flight,

Then Friday I will finish that list of things, go do my laundry, and wait at the eye glasses place to see if my new glasses arrive before noon. Either way, I am then leaving to visit a friend in Tuscon in time for their Christmas Eve service, and visit for the weekend.