Cold temperatures and long days, it must be winter in the truck!

 We had a very long week traveling from Kent, Washington to Washington, DC. First, in Idaho we found ice in the mountains.  Icy pavement and winding mountain roads really makes you think about what could happen if that 53 foot trailer behind you starts sliding one way or the other, trust me on that one.

What we found when we woke up in WY on Thursday!

In Wyoming as you can see from the picture we woke up to snow.  Fortunately, we ran out of the snow in a few hours without any excitement. Our trip through South Dakota allowed me to mark off my 48^th state.  I am now down to only Vermont and Alaska.  I can assure you that seeing Alaska will not be in the truck. I don’t see Vince hauling all the way up there just to let me knock that one off, but Vermont is very likely to be visited while I am in the truck.

SD on Friday! Don't be fooled! It was bitter cold!

 We definitely found winter in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. When we stopped for dinner Friday night the temperature was 7 degrees and the wind chill was -11.  As we were walking from the truck stop and the wind was hitting us in the face I realized how much I love my husband. But more importantly I was wondering why it is that I always manage to make it out in the truck in the winter but not as often in the spring and summer when it is warm.

After five 12-14 hour days of traveling that meant over 2500 miles covered I was unable to answer the bell at 4:00 am Monday morning.  Sunday night we had made it to Breezewood, PA and stopped at the TA.  Vince had told me it wasn’t necessary for me to get up, but I told him I was sure I would.  Despite going to bed by 9:00 pm I just could not wake up when the alarm went off.  My loving husband didn’t even say a word to me; he just got dressed and headed down the road.  Not sure which thing he picked up on first that told him I wasn’t getting up, maybe it was that fact that I didn’t move a muscle when the alarm went off or was it when I didn’t say anything.  Either way he is so wonderful and understanding. 

However, I never made it back to sleep as I bounced around in the bed as we traveled the two hours down to DC. But once Vince backed into the parking lot at the Kennedy Center and shut off the truck I fell sound asleep.  I think the fact that it was finally quiet was what allowed me to go to sleep.  Due to the cold temperatures Vince was unable to shut the truck off for several days, the silence after the truck shut off was truly golden.

After a quick stop in Harrisburg to catch up with the gang at the home office Monday afternoon it was off to Minnesota.  One of the things I love most about trucking with Vince is the interesting and nice people we meet along the way. Today we were in search of a mail box to send off a birthday card.  We stopped at a Pilot in Beloit, WI and trust me the manager there made it clear they didn’t have a mail box. Then Vince learned when he was in the store that this manager thinks her employees are incompetent and was complaining that they don’t do things right.  It amazes me how much complaining you hear in truck stops either from other drivers or the employees.  It really is quite entertaining at times and quite horrifying for me having come from a legal and business background where that kind of complaining would have got someone fired. That manager was the interesting person for the day and the nice person of the day was the very sweet cashier at the St. Charles, MN Amish truck stop.  She offered to take our card to the post office on her way home.  The nice ones always reinforce my faith in humanity.

By now you should know I won't pass up a good Sunset!
This is in MN last night, as expected from this sunset it is a beautiful
day today in MN!

Today we pick up a trailer in Rosemont, MN then it is off to New Orleans.  Once again we were near family but no time to stop. As we traveled through Indianapolis on Saturday night it made me sad that we couldn’t stop long enough to have breakfast with our niece and her family.  Today we couldn’t stop to check in with our newlywed niece in Minneapolis.  These are the times that make me sad while on the road, then I remind myself this is Vince’s job not a vacation and I am very lucky I get to share the time with him. 

Our route today will find us traveling two lane roads and two lane divided highways. I am so glad we have a potty in the truck since truck stops will be sparse.  No more homicidal thought moments at least related to potty breaks. We are both looking forward to warmer temperatures but trust me there will be no time for partying at Mardi Gras. This weekend we are headed to Fort Myers!  No rest for the weary or is that the wicked! J      

Ron White is right! You can’t fix stupid!



Shasta Lake

Yes, I am back on the road.  After flying out to spend a few days in Phoenix with Nancy and Corey, Vince arrived last Tuesday to pick me up.  On Friday we headed to Hollywood to take the final trailers out of the Kodak, so the Oscar organizers could finish there work.

On Saturday as we were at the Cirque storage area I was reminded of Ron White’s routine regarding how you can’t fix stupid.  As we pulled into the area Vince determined that moving vans located near the unit were blocking his ability to turn around. So he would have to back out onto the street turn around and back into the parking lot.  I got out to tell him over the radio when it was safe to back out.  It was a four lane road and while on some occasions I would move out into the road to slow traffic in this case I had no intention of stepping out into LA traffic.  Vince was able to get out and turned around without much trouble and then lined himself up with the driveway.  As he was coming back a guy on a bicycle stopped to wait for him to back in.  After getting lined up, he made a quick pull up to make sure he was completely lined up then started back.  Just as I heard the truck accelerating (there is a sound that the vacuum makes since we replaced our turbo that now lets me know he is moving) the guy on the bike got the bright idea that he was going to go behind the truck.  I yelled at the guy he better hurry up with a few expletives included with it but since I always want my great nieces and friends children to be able to read the blog I have omitted them.  He stopped after I yelled at him and as Vince came back he looked at me like wow I wouldn’t have made it and I looked back at him like you’re an idiot.   Ron White is so very right, you definitely can’t fix stupid. I can’t tell you how many times on the road I have seen people walk in front of or behind the truck then have to start running because suddenly they realize oh no its moving and it might hit me.



Shasta Lake


 

Today, we are at the Jubitz truck stop in Portland (it is one of my favorite truck stops) after a lovely drive through northern California and Oregon.  I have included some photos of Shasta Lake and the moon rising as we traveled through Oregon last evening.  Tomorrow morning we pick up the Washington National Orchestra in Kent, Washington then are headed to Washington DC by next Monday morning.  I am sure that those 2700+ miles should provide a story or two, don’t you?

Moon rising over northwest Oregon

On a side note to this adventure I wanted to share a very special story of friendship.  While in Phoenix we worked with Nancy on a plan to move Vince and her elderly aunt and uncle that live in Pennsylvania to Ohio. Unfortunately their aunt and uncle have no children and their health is failing. Also a move to Ohio would be a much better financial arrangement for them since they have a niece and nephew willing to look after them. After an estimate of several thousand dollars for an ambulance move took that option off the table I recalled that my friend Cynthia and her sisters had moved their Mom across the country in an RV.  Now with that option a real possibility Nancy realized she still needed help with driving since their aunt is very sick and she didn’t know how much attention she would need on the trip.  Vince contacted our friend Jim Walker (who has been a guest blogger on this very blog) who without any hesitation agreed to help. This past Saturday Jim drove Nancy, Aunt Alice and Uncle Bob to Ohio where they are now getting the love and attention they deserve. 

While trying to find words of thanks to share with Jim I was reminded this week of an Orson Welles’ quote: “We are born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we are not alone.”  Thank you Jim for keeping our illusion alive, we are very fortunate to have such wonderful friends like you along with loving family that remind us everyday that we are not alone.