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