Wills Mountain Church of Christ had planned a continental style breakfast for anyone who came to the family seminar on Saturday and then lunch afterward. Starla and I made 30 mini breakfast casseroles in muffin pans to take. It consisted of 4 tator tots per muffin cup and then crumbled bacon, sausage or ham, I used ham, then crack an egg into each cup and sprinkle some cheese on top of that. Then you bake them at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. After cooling for a few minutes, pop them out of the cups and then they will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator. But because they were hot when we left the house and the drive is about 30 minutes they were difficult to get out of the muffin cups, so everyone had to scoop them out with a spoon and eat them in a bowl. Oh well, they still tasted good. I have made them with stove top stuffing instead of tator tots as well. Pops and I eat them a lot for breakfast.
Kendall got started on the seminar this time speaking about the childrens role in the family and then we took a break and then next he spoke about the grandparents role in the family. We took another break and then he spoke about our Forever Family, our church family. This was probably my favorite part because Pops and I have so many forever family members all across the U.S. During this seminar he also touched on families with step kids and step parents.
I really enjoyed this seminar and Kendall did such a good job. He is so full of wisdom and knowledge.
After lunch he stayed around answering questions and actually waiting for the rain to let up because he brought his motorcycle the whole way from Indianapolis. Once the rain let up he left.
Bill, Starla, Pops and I decided to take a ride to look at some used automobiles. Bill and Starla needed another vehicle and Pops and I are going to help them get one.
We drove up the road to Cove Auto Sales. We have purchased several cars here in the past. The business owner had several vehicles that caught the interest of Bill and Starla but none would be available until Tuesday. So we drove up to Bedford, PA and looked at some other cars. But one from Cove Auto was still the favorite.
So then we drove home and Pops and I worked some more in the 2 trucks. Then closer to evening, Bill P. cooked some bacon cheeseburgers on the grill and then we relaxed until time to get ready for bed.
Wow, our time at home is going by quickly as it usually does. I still need to see my boys. But tomorrow I get to spend some more time with some of my Forever Family at Wills Mt.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Friday
Friday was moving day. Ugh! This is the part I was dreading. Both trucks were sitting side by side, doing this does make it easier as I can pack a box or two and then move it over and unpack it and put it away right away, and repeat as many times as necessary.
Believe me, we have a lot of stuff.
Pops worked outside and in the boxes of the trucks while I did the inside, house part of our truck.
Once when we moved we had to pack all our stuff and then wait a week or so to move into another truck so we put all our packed stuff on the back of our pickup truck and then into our garage. We had over 2 pickup loads of stuff. Well, you figure that we have all our clothes and personal items. We have books, movies, music. We have computers, ipods, ipads, phones and all the accessories. We have crockpots, toasters, electric skillets, electric pots, and a mixer. I even have an all purpose pan for the cooktop burner. We have a winter coat, a raincoat, and a vest along with a hoodie. And then some cupboards of food.
We have a stove, oven, refrigerator, sink and a toilet. Not to mention the full sized bed and all the sheets and comforter for that. We have boots, workshoes, church shoes and flipflops. We have one cupboard just for gallon jugs and bottles of drinking water.
WE HAVE ALOT OF STUFF!
So we worked and worked and got a lot done but didn't get finished. We had to quit by supper time because we need to shower and get ready to go to the church for the family seminar by Kendall Faull. Kendall is from Indianapolis, IN. He was asked by Chad, our evangelist to come in and do a seminar that would speak to the families of the church. Many of the sister congregations were planning on attending also.
Kendall did a fantastic job. He spoke this evening on the father's role in the family and then we took a break and we started up again he talked about the mother's role in the family. It was really good. I wish that more people would show up for these things. They are so helpful and informative.
The seminar lasted from 6pm until around 9:30. It would start up again in the morning and go until about noon.
We drove home and it wasn't long before all of us went to bed.
It was a long tiring day. but a good one.
Believe me, we have a lot of stuff.
Pops worked outside and in the boxes of the trucks while I did the inside, house part of our truck.
Once when we moved we had to pack all our stuff and then wait a week or so to move into another truck so we put all our packed stuff on the back of our pickup truck and then into our garage. We had over 2 pickup loads of stuff. Well, you figure that we have all our clothes and personal items. We have books, movies, music. We have computers, ipods, ipads, phones and all the accessories. We have crockpots, toasters, electric skillets, electric pots, and a mixer. I even have an all purpose pan for the cooktop burner. We have a winter coat, a raincoat, and a vest along with a hoodie. And then some cupboards of food.
We have a stove, oven, refrigerator, sink and a toilet. Not to mention the full sized bed and all the sheets and comforter for that. We have boots, workshoes, church shoes and flipflops. We have one cupboard just for gallon jugs and bottles of drinking water.
WE HAVE ALOT OF STUFF!
So we worked and worked and got a lot done but didn't get finished. We had to quit by supper time because we need to shower and get ready to go to the church for the family seminar by Kendall Faull. Kendall is from Indianapolis, IN. He was asked by Chad, our evangelist to come in and do a seminar that would speak to the families of the church. Many of the sister congregations were planning on attending also.
Kendall did a fantastic job. He spoke this evening on the father's role in the family and then we took a break and we started up again he talked about the mother's role in the family. It was really good. I wish that more people would show up for these things. They are so helpful and informative.
The seminar lasted from 6pm until around 9:30. It would start up again in the morning and go until about noon.
We drove home and it wasn't long before all of us went to bed.
It was a long tiring day. but a good one.
Thursday at Home
We got up early on Thursday because we had told Tate and Shirley that we would drive out to Canton, Ohio and pick up our truck. So after drinking some coffee and making some to take along we got on the road by 7:30am.
I was driving my car and we made our way into Somerset and then on to the PA turnpike. We would follow the turnpike all the way to the Ohio line and then take the Ohio turnpike for awhile.
Once we got off the Ohio turnpike we stopped for a quick break at a rest area. It seemed strange to be pulling onto the car side of the rest area.
We were walking inside and I saw a black cat walking around. It was really friendly, so I picked him up and petted him for a minute and then sat him down on a park bench outside the building. When I came out there was a man there talking to the cat that was still on the bench. Pops got out there before me and he was talking to the man. The man pointed to me and said, "it belongs to her." Pops quickly told him that it indeed was not my cat. The man liked it and we thought that maybe he would claim it and take it home but his wife? quickly vetoed that.
So we were back in the car and almost there. We got off our exit and drove to the business that had our truck. At first glance I was a little disappointed in the front bumper. It had been wrecked and the paint was all cracked and ugly, but the rest of the truck looked really good. The inside looked good too. It is similar to what we just had. The layout is just a little different but the difference makes more floor room. The dash of the truck is all different too. So we got the keys from the business and Pops went next door to the truckstop for fuel. I got us some sandwiches and water and we were now on our way home.
I followed Pops. We stopped once at a service plaza to use the restroom and we talked about what Pops liked about the truck. He said how nice and smooth it drove and rode. And in fact some of the items that I had laid on the counter were still riding there without even moving.
We got going again and made it home by a little after 5pm.
I had planned on going over to Salisbury to get our DOT physicals which were about to expire. So I called them and if we could come right away we could go now. When I mentioned to Pops that we needed to get back in the car and go to the Dr he was not too happy. I know we had a long busy day and I would like to shower and rest too, but our physicals were one of the main reasons we were home now. So he and I did go and get that done.
Neither of us had any issues and I am glad considering the very first thing I did when I got there was to be handed a plastic cup and was told to go pee so he could see if I was pregnant. haha
Pops wasn't pregnant either.
By the time we got home from there, Bill P. was home and Starla had a big pan of Lasagna, sausage stuffed zucchini, garlic bread and salad ready. Oh yeah, She is such a good girl.
After supper we are relaxed in the living room, not really watching tv or anything, just talking and enjoying being home. Oh, it was good.
I was driving my car and we made our way into Somerset and then on to the PA turnpike. We would follow the turnpike all the way to the Ohio line and then take the Ohio turnpike for awhile.
Once we got off the Ohio turnpike we stopped for a quick break at a rest area. It seemed strange to be pulling onto the car side of the rest area.
We were walking inside and I saw a black cat walking around. It was really friendly, so I picked him up and petted him for a minute and then sat him down on a park bench outside the building. When I came out there was a man there talking to the cat that was still on the bench. Pops got out there before me and he was talking to the man. The man pointed to me and said, "it belongs to her." Pops quickly told him that it indeed was not my cat. The man liked it and we thought that maybe he would claim it and take it home but his wife? quickly vetoed that.
So we were back in the car and almost there. We got off our exit and drove to the business that had our truck. At first glance I was a little disappointed in the front bumper. It had been wrecked and the paint was all cracked and ugly, but the rest of the truck looked really good. The inside looked good too. It is similar to what we just had. The layout is just a little different but the difference makes more floor room. The dash of the truck is all different too. So we got the keys from the business and Pops went next door to the truckstop for fuel. I got us some sandwiches and water and we were now on our way home.
I followed Pops. We stopped once at a service plaza to use the restroom and we talked about what Pops liked about the truck. He said how nice and smooth it drove and rode. And in fact some of the items that I had laid on the counter were still riding there without even moving.
We got going again and made it home by a little after 5pm.
I had planned on going over to Salisbury to get our DOT physicals which were about to expire. So I called them and if we could come right away we could go now. When I mentioned to Pops that we needed to get back in the car and go to the Dr he was not too happy. I know we had a long busy day and I would like to shower and rest too, but our physicals were one of the main reasons we were home now. So he and I did go and get that done.
Neither of us had any issues and I am glad considering the very first thing I did when I got there was to be handed a plastic cup and was told to go pee so he could see if I was pregnant. haha
Pops wasn't pregnant either.
By the time we got home from there, Bill P. was home and Starla had a big pan of Lasagna, sausage stuffed zucchini, garlic bread and salad ready. Oh yeah, She is such a good girl.
After supper we are relaxed in the living room, not really watching tv or anything, just talking and enjoying being home. Oh, it was good.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Wednesday
It always seems like such a long drive home once we know we are headed that way.
We got empty and went out of service right away. We didn't want our company looking for other loads for us.
I was driving and we had good roads the whole way. I had to stop for coffe about halfway and I took the dogs out and stretched my legs for a bit.
As I was getting off the turnpike at Breezewood I noticed that there were several DOT inspectors standing there with a couple of trucks pulled over to the side of the road. When I saw one of them walk out toward the highway I knew they were going to pull me over too. And they did. It was just a routine random inspection. They checked my lisence, my cards, my paperwork and my logs. Then I was free to go.
Now the long part of the drive. It was all just two-lane roads now. But it was a beautiful, sunny day nd the trip was nice especially once I turned onto Glen Savage Road and we were really on the country roads. It seems like once we reach this point the dogs know where e re and where we are going. They begin to get excited nd stand at the window watching. I don't know if they recognize certain country smells, or if the winding, slow roads alert them or if maybe they just sense my excitement, but they know.
It was later in the afternoon by the time we got to the house. Starla wasn't home and Bill P. was t work. So Pops nd I gathered up what we knew we would be taking into the house and went inside.
The dogs ran around the yard with Boots, Starla's dog. I got some laundry started and Pops brought some more stuff into the house.
I was dreading the moving all our stuff from one truck to another. It is unbelievable how much stuff we have. But that worry didn't have to be thought of this day so I put it out of my mind.
It wasn't long before Starla returned home. And once we kind of got settled in, I asked her if she wanted to ride along with me to take care of some business that needed attended to. So we left Pops t home with the dogs and took off.
Later that evening when we got home we fixed some supper and Bill P got home from work and we relaxed, watched some tv, and just enjoyed being at home. Of all the places we get to see and go to, there really is no place like home.
We got empty and went out of service right away. We didn't want our company looking for other loads for us.
I was driving and we had good roads the whole way. I had to stop for coffe about halfway and I took the dogs out and stretched my legs for a bit.
As I was getting off the turnpike at Breezewood I noticed that there were several DOT inspectors standing there with a couple of trucks pulled over to the side of the road. When I saw one of them walk out toward the highway I knew they were going to pull me over too. And they did. It was just a routine random inspection. They checked my lisence, my cards, my paperwork and my logs. Then I was free to go.
Now the long part of the drive. It was all just two-lane roads now. But it was a beautiful, sunny day nd the trip was nice especially once I turned onto Glen Savage Road and we were really on the country roads. It seems like once we reach this point the dogs know where e re and where we are going. They begin to get excited nd stand at the window watching. I don't know if they recognize certain country smells, or if the winding, slow roads alert them or if maybe they just sense my excitement, but they know.
It was later in the afternoon by the time we got to the house. Starla wasn't home and Bill P. was t work. So Pops nd I gathered up what we knew we would be taking into the house and went inside.
The dogs ran around the yard with Boots, Starla's dog. I got some laundry started and Pops brought some more stuff into the house.
I was dreading the moving all our stuff from one truck to another. It is unbelievable how much stuff we have. But that worry didn't have to be thought of this day so I put it out of my mind.
It wasn't long before Starla returned home. And once we kind of got settled in, I asked her if she wanted to ride along with me to take care of some business that needed attended to. So we left Pops t home with the dogs and took off.
Later that evening when we got home we fixed some supper and Bill P got home from work and we relaxed, watched some tv, and just enjoyed being at home. Of all the places we get to see and go to, there really is no place like home.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Going Home
We did sit at the truckstop in Racine, WI all day Sunday and because Monday was Labor Day we were there all that day too. We did get and accept a load offer that was picking up on Tuesday though.
It was a high security load that was picking up in Chicago and going to an Air Force Base in New Jersey. So we were settled in with the knowledge that we did have a trip that would get us home on Wednesday sometime. That made us both feel better knowing that we would be able to attend the Family Seminar that Wills Mountain was having on the weekend with Kendall Faull.
We watched a few movies and I read a lot and we basically just relaxed and hung out. Of course all of the ususal stuff like laundry and showers too.
Our Tuesday load was not picking up until 2pm but since it was Chicago we wanted to go in early, taking a chance that it would be ready and we could get loaded and get out of Chicago before afternoon traffic got too heavy. So we left in the morning and it was only about 57 miles to our pickup so we got there right around noon. Our load was ready and it was only one pallet of items so it was quickly loaded and secured and once the paperwork was completed we were out of there.
We did drive fairly quickly through downtown Chicago and was on the interstate making good time by the time we were supposed to just be picking the load up. I was driving and Pops was sitting up front talking to me. We had gotten plenty of rest over the weekend although he knew that he would have to be driving throughout the night so he needed to try to at least get a nap. We also had about 5 extra hours built into this trip so that he could stop and take a break if he needed to.
I drove out my time and was near Paineville, Ohio when we switched over and he began to drive.
My friend, Deby, who also drives for Fedex CC and her team partner are going to start to drive for our truck owners and needed to get back to Atlanta by Thursday were having a hard time getting back from a trip they took to the west coast. I was talking to her and trying to cheer them on as they slowly and at their own expense traveled from Las Vegas clear to Atlanta. But they finally made it with absolutely no extra fuel or money to spare.
They were both taking a week or so off too and all of us would be changing trucks. We were moving into another truck that doesn't have a refrigerated unit that is in use and Deby and Alice would be moving into our old truck. So I wasn't looking forward to all of the work involved in moving all our stuff but I was excited to have them working for Tate and Shirley.
Pops drove all through the night and I woke up when we were only about 7 miles from the base. I took the dogs out and then we went on over.
This base has three seperate checkpoints before you are even onto the base, it takes a little over an hour to go through the process. But once inside we got unloaded and then we were done.
Whew who! Now we are going home.
It was a high security load that was picking up in Chicago and going to an Air Force Base in New Jersey. So we were settled in with the knowledge that we did have a trip that would get us home on Wednesday sometime. That made us both feel better knowing that we would be able to attend the Family Seminar that Wills Mountain was having on the weekend with Kendall Faull.
We watched a few movies and I read a lot and we basically just relaxed and hung out. Of course all of the ususal stuff like laundry and showers too.
Our Tuesday load was not picking up until 2pm but since it was Chicago we wanted to go in early, taking a chance that it would be ready and we could get loaded and get out of Chicago before afternoon traffic got too heavy. So we left in the morning and it was only about 57 miles to our pickup so we got there right around noon. Our load was ready and it was only one pallet of items so it was quickly loaded and secured and once the paperwork was completed we were out of there.
We did drive fairly quickly through downtown Chicago and was on the interstate making good time by the time we were supposed to just be picking the load up. I was driving and Pops was sitting up front talking to me. We had gotten plenty of rest over the weekend although he knew that he would have to be driving throughout the night so he needed to try to at least get a nap. We also had about 5 extra hours built into this trip so that he could stop and take a break if he needed to.
I drove out my time and was near Paineville, Ohio when we switched over and he began to drive.
My friend, Deby, who also drives for Fedex CC and her team partner are going to start to drive for our truck owners and needed to get back to Atlanta by Thursday were having a hard time getting back from a trip they took to the west coast. I was talking to her and trying to cheer them on as they slowly and at their own expense traveled from Las Vegas clear to Atlanta. But they finally made it with absolutely no extra fuel or money to spare.
They were both taking a week or so off too and all of us would be changing trucks. We were moving into another truck that doesn't have a refrigerated unit that is in use and Deby and Alice would be moving into our old truck. So I wasn't looking forward to all of the work involved in moving all our stuff but I was excited to have them working for Tate and Shirley.
Pops drove all through the night and I woke up when we were only about 7 miles from the base. I took the dogs out and then we went on over.
This base has three seperate checkpoints before you are even onto the base, it takes a little over an hour to go through the process. But once inside we got unloaded and then we were done.
Whew who! Now we are going home.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
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Saturday, September 1, 2012
Hurricane Issac
We woke up on Monday morning still sitting in Memphis and I couldn't believe we were here this long without a load. That never happens to us.
I figured I better get outside walking around looking for our penny on the ground. We seem to always get a good load right after I find a penny.
I took the dogs out for a walk but didn't go too far away from the truck. We had a lot of grass right beside us and it was pretty hot so the dogs didn't want to be on the pavement. That was ok with me. So I looked around a little bit but didn't find a penny around the truck.
We did get a load offer though just before lunch time. We would have to go back to Little Rock to pick it up and it was going to Charleston, South Carolina. So we got our selves ready and headed that direction. I drove the whole way there.
We got loaded and started our trip across the southern part of the US. We went south through back to Memphis and then south through Mississippi and then Alabama and then a little of Georgia and into South Carolina.
It began to rain, and then it continued to rain hard. We had been listening to the radio and the weather channel was talking a lot about Hurricane Issac and predicting that it would be hitting Louisiana sometime that day. I wondered if this rain had anything to do with that.
By the time we did get to Charleston many of the streets were flooding.
Pops got so soaking wet while getting the load off of our truck. I could not believe how wet he was. I was sure that he would catch a horrible cold. But he didn't.
After we got unloaded we were going to head back to Columbia, SC for layover. We saw many cars sitting in water up to their door handles.
We didn't make it to Columbia before we were offered another load. We were going north to a place called Cheraw, SC for a pickup that was going to Laredo.
While we were at the pickup getting our load on, we heard that the Hurricane was hitting hard and causing a lot of flooding and indeed the flooding we saw today was attributed to Issac. Our truck owners called us and told us to re-route and not go the southern route that would take us through Slidell, LA and Baton Rouge. They told us to go Route 20 across to Dallas and then go south to Laredo. We figured that would add about 100 more miles to the trip, but it did make me feel better. It took us all that night, all the next day and that night as well to get to Laredo. We did not encounter any bad weather and I was grateful. We were listening to the coverage on the radio and it sounded terrible for the people of Louisiana and Mississippi. Our trip across was pretty uneventful.
After we got unloaded in Laredo we were heading back to San Antonio. We were meeting up with Tate and Shirley. We needed some parts for our generator and our back door that we were having trouble locating or waiting for. Tate had found them and had them for us. They met us at the truckstop as we were coming back from getting a shower.
We went to lunch and enjoyed a quick visit. We got a good load offer so we couldn't stay any longer. They took us back to our truck and once again we were on our way.
We were picking up at a huge chemical plant just south of Houston. It was a hazmat load going to Knoxville, TN.
We knew that we would be traveling and skimming right around the Gulf states.
We made our pickup at the chemical plant but before we could, we had to have our truck inspected and searched. We had to watch a safety video and be certified. Then we were allowed to enter the plant and get our load. It was now late, around 11 pm.
We left Houston and was on our way to Knoxville. It wasn't long before I was asleep in the bunk. Pops drove us through Louisiana and part way through Mississippi. I began to drive when I woke up. He was telling me about the flooded areas and downed trees. I saw a lot of that type of thing too. We kept seeing signs warning of water across the highway, but we never actually saw any on the highway although we saw a lot of high rivers.
We were offered a predispatch load and accepted it. But that meant that we would have to hurry after our delivery to Richmond, KY for another pickup.
We got to our delivery site at Knoxville. It was a chemical plant also and they did not want to hurry. It seemed we were there quite a while but I know that is just because I knew we were limited on time. We got unloaded and found our way back to the interstate and was hurrying to KY.
I drove us the whole way there. It wasn't too far though about 3 hours.
We found that delivery and got there about 9:15 pm. It was Friday evening and this is Labor Day weekend so I am sure that these men were very glad to see us.
They quickly loaded our truck and now we were on our way to Sturgeon Bay, WI. I didn't know where that was so I got the map and looked it up. It is north of Milwaukee, way north. Once you get to Green Bay, WI then we had to go east out onto a penninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. We drove for about 40 miles onto the Penninsula.
It was a beautiful sunny day and the ride was very nice. At one point, Pops and saw watched 5 skydivers fall from the sky with their parachutes and land in a field along the interstate just as we were passing by. That was pretty cool.
When we reached the outskirts of Sturgeon Bay, we found our delivery site and unloaded the truck. We asked about a Walmart so that we could get some groceries. We were told that we would need to go into town.
Well to get to town we had to go a little further out and then across a drawbridge that crossed Sturgeon Bay. We saw many boats. It was so pretty. It made me jealous of those people who were having such a great last summer fling.
We got our groceries and then headed back toward Milwaukee. The drive back was just as nice. Every once in a while I could catch of glimpse of Green Bay through the trees. It was so shimmery and sparkling.
Towards evening it began to get cloudy. And by the time we reached the truckstop at Racine, which is south of Milwaukee and near Kenosha, it was down to 70 degrees and was breezy. After spending so much time in the south these temperatures felt chilly to me.
So here we are for layover. We have a load but it is a military load that doesn't pick up until Tuesday after the holiday. It delivers in New Jersey on Wednesday so we'll be heading home for some time off right after that.
There is a church here that we did attend once before. The Jelly Belly jellybean factory is near here too. They give free tours. I might be able to talk Pops into that. Well, maybe not. We'll see, I guess. We do need to get some minor repairs done to our truck too. But we have all day tomorrow and all day on Monday.
We may get to meet up with our cousin Sandy and her husband, Ernie on Monday. Maybe. That would be nice. I hope it works out.
The SF Giants are playing at Wrigley Field tomorrow. I sure wish I could figure out where to park to go see that. I did research it some and it seems highly unlikely to find any parking. Oh well, we can hear the game on the radio. But how awesome would it be to actually get to go to Wrigley Field? Too bad I didn't have more time to plan it.
But I'm sure we won't be bored. We always find something to do.
I figured I better get outside walking around looking for our penny on the ground. We seem to always get a good load right after I find a penny.
I took the dogs out for a walk but didn't go too far away from the truck. We had a lot of grass right beside us and it was pretty hot so the dogs didn't want to be on the pavement. That was ok with me. So I looked around a little bit but didn't find a penny around the truck.
We did get a load offer though just before lunch time. We would have to go back to Little Rock to pick it up and it was going to Charleston, South Carolina. So we got our selves ready and headed that direction. I drove the whole way there.
We got loaded and started our trip across the southern part of the US. We went south through back to Memphis and then south through Mississippi and then Alabama and then a little of Georgia and into South Carolina.
It began to rain, and then it continued to rain hard. We had been listening to the radio and the weather channel was talking a lot about Hurricane Issac and predicting that it would be hitting Louisiana sometime that day. I wondered if this rain had anything to do with that.
By the time we did get to Charleston many of the streets were flooding.
Pops got so soaking wet while getting the load off of our truck. I could not believe how wet he was. I was sure that he would catch a horrible cold. But he didn't.
After we got unloaded we were going to head back to Columbia, SC for layover. We saw many cars sitting in water up to their door handles.
We didn't make it to Columbia before we were offered another load. We were going north to a place called Cheraw, SC for a pickup that was going to Laredo.
While we were at the pickup getting our load on, we heard that the Hurricane was hitting hard and causing a lot of flooding and indeed the flooding we saw today was attributed to Issac. Our truck owners called us and told us to re-route and not go the southern route that would take us through Slidell, LA and Baton Rouge. They told us to go Route 20 across to Dallas and then go south to Laredo. We figured that would add about 100 more miles to the trip, but it did make me feel better. It took us all that night, all the next day and that night as well to get to Laredo. We did not encounter any bad weather and I was grateful. We were listening to the coverage on the radio and it sounded terrible for the people of Louisiana and Mississippi. Our trip across was pretty uneventful.
After we got unloaded in Laredo we were heading back to San Antonio. We were meeting up with Tate and Shirley. We needed some parts for our generator and our back door that we were having trouble locating or waiting for. Tate had found them and had them for us. They met us at the truckstop as we were coming back from getting a shower.
We went to lunch and enjoyed a quick visit. We got a good load offer so we couldn't stay any longer. They took us back to our truck and once again we were on our way.
We were picking up at a huge chemical plant just south of Houston. It was a hazmat load going to Knoxville, TN.
We knew that we would be traveling and skimming right around the Gulf states.
We made our pickup at the chemical plant but before we could, we had to have our truck inspected and searched. We had to watch a safety video and be certified. Then we were allowed to enter the plant and get our load. It was now late, around 11 pm.
We left Houston and was on our way to Knoxville. It wasn't long before I was asleep in the bunk. Pops drove us through Louisiana and part way through Mississippi. I began to drive when I woke up. He was telling me about the flooded areas and downed trees. I saw a lot of that type of thing too. We kept seeing signs warning of water across the highway, but we never actually saw any on the highway although we saw a lot of high rivers.
We were offered a predispatch load and accepted it. But that meant that we would have to hurry after our delivery to Richmond, KY for another pickup.
We got to our delivery site at Knoxville. It was a chemical plant also and they did not want to hurry. It seemed we were there quite a while but I know that is just because I knew we were limited on time. We got unloaded and found our way back to the interstate and was hurrying to KY.
I drove us the whole way there. It wasn't too far though about 3 hours.
We found that delivery and got there about 9:15 pm. It was Friday evening and this is Labor Day weekend so I am sure that these men were very glad to see us.
They quickly loaded our truck and now we were on our way to Sturgeon Bay, WI. I didn't know where that was so I got the map and looked it up. It is north of Milwaukee, way north. Once you get to Green Bay, WI then we had to go east out onto a penninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. We drove for about 40 miles onto the Penninsula.
It was a beautiful sunny day and the ride was very nice. At one point, Pops and saw watched 5 skydivers fall from the sky with their parachutes and land in a field along the interstate just as we were passing by. That was pretty cool.
When we reached the outskirts of Sturgeon Bay, we found our delivery site and unloaded the truck. We asked about a Walmart so that we could get some groceries. We were told that we would need to go into town.
Well to get to town we had to go a little further out and then across a drawbridge that crossed Sturgeon Bay. We saw many boats. It was so pretty. It made me jealous of those people who were having such a great last summer fling.
We got our groceries and then headed back toward Milwaukee. The drive back was just as nice. Every once in a while I could catch of glimpse of Green Bay through the trees. It was so shimmery and sparkling.
Towards evening it began to get cloudy. And by the time we reached the truckstop at Racine, which is south of Milwaukee and near Kenosha, it was down to 70 degrees and was breezy. After spending so much time in the south these temperatures felt chilly to me.
So here we are for layover. We have a load but it is a military load that doesn't pick up until Tuesday after the holiday. It delivers in New Jersey on Wednesday so we'll be heading home for some time off right after that.
There is a church here that we did attend once before. The Jelly Belly jellybean factory is near here too. They give free tours. I might be able to talk Pops into that. Well, maybe not. We'll see, I guess. We do need to get some minor repairs done to our truck too. But we have all day tomorrow and all day on Monday.
We may get to meet up with our cousin Sandy and her husband, Ernie on Monday. Maybe. That would be nice. I hope it works out.
The SF Giants are playing at Wrigley Field tomorrow. I sure wish I could figure out where to park to go see that. I did research it some and it seems highly unlikely to find any parking. Oh well, we can hear the game on the radio. But how awesome would it be to actually get to go to Wrigley Field? Too bad I didn't have more time to plan it.
But I'm sure we won't be bored. We always find something to do.
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