November 11 – 14, 2021

Thursday, November 11, 2021

I had breakfast with the two drivers, because we can not leave the site until after 9 AM. So we met at that little diner next to the hotel. The other truck driver still is not sure what his next assignment is, but he will be dropping his trailer off at another site in Texas in order to save the cost of pulling it back to MN with escorts, and then pulling it back down with escorts after the holiday in about two weeks. He will probably bobtail back to MN to go home in between. We, on the other hand, are taking ours back to the yard in MN, and hope to be there by Monday.

We checked out, and Eddie rode with me back to the site, arriving at the truck and trailer by about 8:10. We got the two stubborn tires aired up and were ready to go in plenty of time. In fact, we swapped some spare tires around because we had borrowed one from that other truck.

We pulled out of the site, and were on the road by 9, traveling alone because the other truck was heading in another direction.

Things were going very well through AZ, and we were making very good time until Eddie called a weigh station in NM just after noon, requesting that we be able to park there tonight. They informed him that there was a very major accident about 50 miles ahead of us that involved 4 semi trucks under a bridge, and the road was shut down, and would be for at least another 3 hours. As you know, we can not get off the highway because we would be off our designated route,

so chose to stop at a truck stop about 40 miles ahead of the road closure. The worst case scenario would be to drive far enough to hit the traffic jamb. If we did that, we would then be stuck right there on the road with no services until they opened the road again. If that was at sunset, we’d have to stay there and could not leave until sunrise. We definitely do not want to park an Oversize Load on the side of the road all night!!!

Eddie parked on the off ramp instead of going into the truck stop because we knew it was going to fill up full, and we might not have room to get back out. We stayed there for about 3 hours. I took my tablet into the truck stop, found an empty table in the trucker lounge, and caught up on the last blog. Within a few hours it got to the point that even if they opened the road, we still would not have time to get anywhere safe to park by sunset. By that time, the traffic was backed up all the way back to where we were. So basically a 40 mile backup!

Eddie and our HP left for hotel rooms, and I just made supper and stayed in my van. So, like it or not, 247 miles was our total for the day.

But I got to thinking, and called the office before they closed. I asked if the Thanksgiving week would be similar to the Labor Day week. Remember that? Instead of spending a week in a hotel room, I drove to NC and spent it with Annalou. Well, they said they can keep me busy, but with multiple days off. That probably means several 1 or 2 day jobs with lots of deadhead driving in between, and several days stuck in a hotel room.  So I asked if it would leave them short handed if I took the time off. No, not at all.

Then I asked if there were any loads going east after I drop Eddie off at the shop in a few days. They will check. Annalou will be in MA for the holiday, so it would be nice to go there!

Friday, November 12, 2021

Believe me, we were anxiously waiting for sunrise today! We wanted to let the horses run!! So right at legal curfew, (30 minutes before sunrise) we were pulling down the ramp and onto the highway!

We passed the sign for the Petrified Forest National Park,

and also for the Painted Desert – both of which bring back such wonderful memories of when our family visited both on our camping trip of a lifetime in 1969 when we drove from MA to CA and back, over 6 weeks and visited all the National Parks and some relatives along the way.

The office called. They found me a job going east that I can take right after I drop Eddie off! It starts near Madison WI and will land me near Richmond Virginia by Tuesday the 23rd!! Wooee! Then I’d only be 600 miles from Cara and Scott’s house where Annalou will be! I’ll be “home” for Thanksgiving!!!!

But what about my certification? My current one expires on the 21st so I will not be certified on the 22nd and 23rd. So I called and arranged for Scott to overnight my certificate to the shop so I can pick it up and have it with me. It will arrive Monday. Whew!

I always enjoy the different landscapes. Here are a few from today.

Now take a close look at this one. We have passed this spot several times in the last few months. It’s right near Tucumcari TX. Notice the hill on the right, and that HUGE boulder on the side that appears ready to slide down the side.

It is just as precarious as it looks, and we are curving left to cross the highway we just got off. If that boulder rolls down, it will land right on the highway! Each time I go by, I try to decide if it has moved or not. I think it has!

Pretty scary!

We traveled 485 miles, stopped again in Vegas TX, and parked in the same spot as we did on the way down.

We all three also went to the same hotel as we did, and the lady there put me in the same room! LOL

Less than 2 miles down the street there is a small Mexican restaurant where we had supper. I can stay Keto when I do Mexican, but I have to be careful. I try to go very light on the chips and salsa, and enjoy the fajitas.  If I skip the wraps, I get full on the fried meat and veggies, lettuce, and cheese – and always have enough left over to make a nice lunch sandwich, or to fry in my hot place for another supper meal.

Saturday, November 13, 2021

We were up and on the road early again.

I have another problem to plan for. Since I have never driven this van in MA, I have never gotten an inspection sticker for it. In fact, I didn’t have a sticker for the last two years I owned the last van, either. So I am illegal as soon as I cross the state line. I need to get a sticker on it at the first place I see. BUT, my windshield has about 4 feet of crack in it, and about 25 stars which are starting to spread, so will not pass the inspection. (Remarkably, this windshield has stayed together for almost 8 months!) I have kept it together by drilling a hole at the end if every crack to stop it from spreading, and filling the stars using the repair kit I bought.

So here is my plan. I’ll be sure it is dark when I cross the MA line, and drive to Cara’s house. The day after Thanksgiving I will go get a failed sticker down the street, so I will be legal to drive and get a new windshield. Then go back and get a passing sticker – and I will be good for a whole year!

The other driver who dropped his trailer off just over the Texas line, caught up with us and followed us the rest of the day. We drove a total of 600 miles to York NE and parked in a truck stop. That is where our HP dropped off. We only need me as a rear escort the rest of the way back to the yard.

I had supper with the two drivers, and we parked together and stayed in our vehicles. We should be able to make it back to the yard tomorrow. A day early.

Sunday, November 14, 2021

I would much rather be going to church today to fellowship with like minded people, worship, and hear a good message, but work must go on!

So we pulled out of the truck stop as the sun was rising.

It is like a maze trying to get around all the trucks parked where they should not be, because they never think about allowing room for trucks like us. But we finally made it to the front without me having to steer.

And we hit the road!

It was 533 miles back to the yard in Becker, and we made it there by about 3:30! The wash bay was full of vehicles, so we could not wash the trailer or truck, or my van. We just unhooked, and parked the trailer with the other ones.

Eddie left for home it is a 50 mile ride for him. I pulled my van into the warehouse

so it would warm up enough for me to get the white tape off..

It has been chilly enough since I left NM (30’s and 40’s) that the tape splits and tares when I try to pull it off. After just a few minutes, it came off pretty well, and I left to go check into the local hotel, knowing I will be there 2 nights until I leave for Wisconsin Tuesday morning.

I have a long list of things to get done tomorrow and Tuesday morning before I leave! I sure hope my certification comes on time tomorrow!!!