June 5-8, 2021

Saturday, June 5, 2021

I was up before 4, and the bull frogs were still croaking as I packed up and pulled off the site. I drove up to the shower house, took a shower, and was on my way before 5, stopping only to top off my fuel before arriving at the truck just before 5:30.

I was the first one there, with the others not far behind. We did our pre trip checks and met together. I have worked with both of these guys several times over the past 4 years. They are professionals. Usually when we do this run we have multiple trucks, which gives us lots of pilot cars for directing traffic and lifting lines. So this trip will be a little different.

We pulled out just after 6AM and were on our way. Our overnight stops are pretty well scripted on this run because there aren’t a lot of choices along the route. So we easily made it the 305 miles to Forest City Iowa. I backed him into the parking spot by 2:30 and it was 102°. It was just a few weeks ago when I backed another truck into the same spot at 22 below zero! Which do I prefer? With no hesitation at all, I’d choose the cold day for sure! I’m already ready for winter. Bring it on!

I brought my driver to the hotel, and made supper in my room. I cooked up a few hamburg patties and heated some green beans.

Sunday, June 6, 2021

We were the first to ĺeave the hotel, and it was already hot as we pulled into the truck stop. I got fuel while he started up his truck.

We pulled out at 6:30 knowing traffic would be lightest in the morning. It was light all day, with strong winds, and very hot temperatures hovering around 100°. Fortunately I didn’t need to steer any turns, but did have to get out and raise the load several times to clear RR tracks.

The last time we came this way, we had several trucks, and came up on a construction area where they had half the road coned off. We had to move at least a mile of barrels over, and I had to put half of them back. Today my driver called the police and they said the area was even worse, since they were now working on the other side, and even if we move all the barrels again, we likely will not fit. So thwy asked us to please find a way around the construction. I knew that with just the two guys up front, I’d be putting all the barrels back!

So we pulled off at a truck stop, sent the wire lifter ahead to find a way around the construction, which he did. We asked for approval for the route change, and actually got approval before we got there, so sailed right on around it and to the truck stop by 3 PM.

Once again, with the temperature near 100°, I took my driver to a hotel, and also checked in. I am tired of hotels, and tired of summer! I have to carry all my refrigerator items in every night, so will not buy groceries until it cools off. In addition to that, I have to bring in my laptops and drone just to protect them from the heat. Sometimes it takes more than one trip!

As soon as I got in my room, I turned the AC down to 60, and we had supper together at the restaurant in the hotel. It was pretty comfy in my room when I got back, so I didn’t touch the dial, took a shower and went to bed.

Monday, June 7, 2021

It was a pleasant 60° in my room when I got up, so felt hot in the hallways and outside. Once again, we were up early so we could get some miles in while it was not as hot. We left the hotel at 5:15 and made our way back to the truck stop, and pulling out by 6:30.

These two guys up front are great! I have had to do the job of lifting the lines in the winter and also in the summer. Winter is much more comfortable. You just leave the heater off in your vehicle so you can keep your coat on as you jump in and out. That’s alao easier on the coolers. And all the movement keeps you warm. In the summer its just miserable.

But they never backed down. They lifted the wires and got out to direct traffic. We drove just 181 miles to our familiar spot at the tiny truck stop in Weston NE where the power company will meet us in the morning.

We all went to the local hotel just 5 miles down the road because of the temperature, which was again close to 100°. But one of the guys parked in the back, brought out his generator and pellet smoker. I pitched in 4 burger patties, mustard, and pickles, and one of the other guys had some buns, and another had some baked beans and ketchup, and another had more hamburger patties, so all 4 of us had supper at their picnic table, and told oversize load stories!

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

We thought they were going to be here by 8:30, so all arrived by 8. But the electric company guys didn’t arrive until 9:30. A bucket truck, a pickup truck, and 4 guys.

We pulled right out, and made our way toward Omaha. The state changed our route slightly, which made it shorter, but also with less wires to lift, so we made it to the site in record time! Just 2 hours for the 48 miles instead of 3.5 hours for the 51. Works for us! We all get paid the same either way, but this was certainly a lot less stressful.

I was checked into my hotel just after noon,  and my cousin Ken and his wife Ellen picked me up and took me out for lunch. We had an excellent visit! This job has been wonderful for keeping me in touch with family like this! Before I started this job, I had never met Ellen, and hadn’t seen Ken in probably 35 or 40 years!! I have been blessed with a wonderful family!

I spent the rest of the day catching up on my blogs and doing book work. Oh, I actually turned on the TV in my hotel room that night, but I couldn’t get the audio to work, so just kept a general eye on a baseball game as I did my work. I watch so little TV these days, that I didn’t call the desk because I figured it was probably something I was doing wrong. LOL

After we unload tomorrow, we are scheduled to run back up to Columbus WI and pick up another generator, and take it down near Albuquerque NM. I hope it’s cooler down south!!!