Super Moon

While in Arizona there was what is called a "Super Moon." Here are some pictures that I took of it.

And this little humorous shot from across the street.

Week in the West

So what a week it has been. It has been a little laid back and more carefree than what we are used to. But it is like that when you get into the southwest. 

I told you about our Monday in a recent post. It was the day that Pops had his drug test and I spent the majority of the day in the dentist chair. I am pretty much recovered from all of that but I am still taking the antibiotics. Actually, I think that I did pretty well considering all that I had done that day. 

About an hour after I came out of the dentist's office we left Salt Lake City for our dispatch. 

We had to be in Denver the next afternoon, so we left Monday evening because Pops felt bad for me and didn't  want me to have to drive.

We stopped in Park City, Utah at a Walmart and I ran in there to get my prescriptions filled and to pick up something for Pops to eat for supper. Then we got moving again.

He drove to Laramie, WY and we stopped there so he could sleep. 

The next morning, I got us moving. I didn't feel bad at all, but of course I was taking pain meds. So I drove east until Cheyenne and then South toward Denver. 

We reached Denver by afternoon and drove around trying to figure out how to get into our location. It was a Gov't facility that covered many acres right in the heart of the city. The whole place was fenced in. We were intructed by our company to not go into the main gate, but go into gate #2. Now logic told us that the main gate would be gate #1 and it was, so we turned in to the next gate and bingo!, it was wrong. This was gate #3. We got out of there and followed the fence until we had to turn right, then we followed the fence until we had to turn left. Finally Pops spotted someone to ask. 

We were told that gate #2 comes first, then gate#1. Well Of course it does, right?

So we FINALLY got to our gate and the guard laughed because he had been watching us on camera drive around and around the perimeter of the facility. Glad we could bring joy to someone. We sure weren't feeling it right then.

Once we got inside and arrived at our building, it went much smoother. We were hauling a radioactive substance. We had never done that before so we were a little nervous of it, but it was kind of simple really pretty much like a regular hazmat load, except for he had to climb inside our cab and sleeper and take readings to see if the activity was coming inside our cab. It was all ok.

So time to go. I started the drive out of Denver. Pops sat up front for awhile. He got a real nice picture of the city. We drove right past Mile High Stadium where the Colorado Rockies play baseball and we could see the jumbotron was on and showing baseball highlights. It was still 2 hours until game time so it must have been batting practice. Then we drove past the Denver Colossium where the Denver Nuggets play basketball. Pops did get a shot of that too. Then it wasn't long at all until we were away from the city an on our way. 

I drove and drove until my time was up. I found a Walmart and stopped there. I had to go inside to get him something to eat again. I wasn't cooking because I was only eating pudding and eggs and soup. So I would grab him deli foods or Marie Calendar's TV dinners.

After he ate and I slurped, he began his drive and I doped up with pain meds and went to bed. When I woke up it was morning and we were at our destination in Tulsa OK. However, no one there knew anything about this shipment and no one wanted to take responsibility for a radioactive load. AND NO ONE WANTED IT TO BE PARKED NEAR THEIR PART OF THE BUILDING! So they instructed us to park  in some distant parking lot with all kinds of metal scraps and broken wooden skids and junk. And we waited, and waited, and waited. 

We began to get worried because we had a predispatch and didn't want to lose it, but if someone soon didn't come get this stuff off, we would lose our next load. 

Finally someone did come and get it. And we were on our way. Next stop OK City. 

We got there later that afternoon and picked up our load. It was a military load and they take forever sometimes because of all the inspections and checks that we and our truck goes through. It did take us about 3 hours total from the time we arrived until we got our load on actually got off the base and o our way. I was driving and drove us across Oklahoma, and through the panhandle of Texas and parked at the Welcome center of New Mexico. I was all excited because about 4 miles back I had seen 3 elk grazing right along the interstate. I wanted so badly to wake Pops up to see, but figured by the time he looked up we would be past them anyway. I thought about stopping the truck but thought that would spook them into running our in front of traffic. So too bad for Pops. I did manage to squeeze off one camera shot and got one of the elk. Oh well.

After Pops got some food and coffee, he began to drive. Our delivery was scheduled for a military base in NM in the morning. 

Again it took us hours to get through the many gates and inspections and get to our destination. We had to turn in our cameras and phones and Ipads until we came out of the base. We do really like these military and gov't loads though. Once you get used to the inspections and such, you don't mind, and honestly feel better about it then if you get to one that just allows you drive right in.

Once unloaded there we got moving again. We, again, had a predispatch and needed to get to Albuquerque by afternoon. It was a rainy drizzly day. But it was a nice day for a drive.

We drove through a little town called Corrizozo, NM and shortly after that Pops pointed to an area out across the desert at the base of the mountains. It looked like it had been burnt, a big area too, like a huge grass fire. After several miles we made a left turn and started to see signs for a recreational area called The valley of the Fires. So, I googled it. It is 42,000 acres of area that, indeed, looks to be burnt but really isn't. The rocks are very black, however vegetation does grow and isn't burnt. But when the sun hits on the rocks and reflects, it cause them to look like they are on fire. Too bad it was overcast on the day we were there. 

We did make it to Albuquerque by after and this was a straight freight load so we drove into the business, loaded our freight and away we went. Now we were headed to Phoenix by morning. I was still driving and drove us the rest of the way west through New Mexico and into Phoenix. At this point, our Gypsy GPS was taking us on a shortcut off the interstate and onto 2 lane rural mountain roads. This was for about the next 87 miles, and about 70 of those miles had warning signs for elk crossings. So Pops gave up his sleep to sit in the front seat and watch for elk. But of course we never saw even one. Although we did see a female mule deer feeding along the road. 

I was getting really tired and it was his turn to drive so we decided that at the next pull off I would stop. Since it was a narrow rural road there were many pull offs along the way for the truckers to stop. Surely there would be one just around the next curve. But when we came around the curve we both said, "Wow!"

It was the apex of the mountain and out before us was the view of many, many mountains. We could see for miles and miles. It was one of the most beautiful places. But no pull offs and just a little too dark to take pictures while we were moving. You will have to use your imagination on this one. Sorry.

Then we came to the town of Payson, AZ. We stopped there in a Walmart parking lot for the night. 

Pops got up about 5:30am and got us moving, I stayed sleeping.

When I woke up we were at our delivery location. Within a very short time, before I even got up and dressed, the product was off and Pops was driving us away. 

Our generator, the thing that supplies all power to the home part of our truck, wasn't working right so we had an appointment to get it looked at. That didn't take long. It was just a loose belt. So it was tightened and we were done.

We drove to the truckstop outside of the city. 

Now the job of laundry, cleaning, restocking, finishing up paperwork, and mostly resting. There is a really nice shop here that sells nice jewelry made by a Native American artist. I asked a lot of questions about all of the stones and settings. The artist is Navajo but does sell some that is made by the Kuni as well. Oh boy, this could be expensive.

Pops is keeping a close eye on me.

I did go into the salon and got my hair trimmed today too. So we are looking for a church for tomorrow. There are 2 in Phoenix that are huge, one has 6000 members and the other says it has 3700. Personally, Pops and I don't really like to go to churches that big. So we are trying to get in contact with several smaller ones. I hope that we find one that isn't too far to go. 

Have a great week.

Truckstop Dentist

Truckstop Dentist

Yesterday while sitting in Salt Lake City waiting for a load, we got a call from FedEx telling us that Pops needed to go for a random drug test.

They sent us an address and told us we had 1/2 hour to get there.

It was about 12 miles from where we were parked.

As we got off the exit that we were directed to, I noticed a truckstop and told Pops that maybe we should just come to this one when he was done at the medical office. So that is what we did. 

We did not yet have a load.

I saw a big sign advertising a dental office inside the truckstop. It has been too long since I've had mine cleaned and I suspected that I might have a cavity. So I spontaneously decided to go in. 

Pops would wait in the truck and answer any load offers.

I walked in, filled out a paper, and went directly to the exam room. They took x-rays and cleaned my teeth. The price was extremely fair. 

But he asked me why I had never had my 2 bottom wisdom teeth pulled. He said they were a little loose and would start to cause me some problems in the future. He also told me that I had TWO cavities.

I asked him for some pricing and asked if I could come back tomorrow if we didn't get a load. I was told that it was all walk-ins, just come in and see.

As I walked back out to the truck I ran my tongue over my clean teeth. I could actually count my teeth with my tongue. I was hoping that I could get some of the other work done tomorrow.

When I got to the truck Pops told me that we had gotten a load but didn't have to leave until in the morning. I told him all about what the dentist had said. He told me that he wished I could've gotten more done too.

I called into the dentist and asked if he would be willing to do any of that work yet today. He asked which I wanted done. He could pull the 2 teeth, or he could pull one tooth and fix the cavity on the same side. 

I asked if he would do it all. He said most people would not do well with all that work. I said I can probably handle it. He told me to come back in. 

He said he was going to pull the teeth first, see how I was doing then decide if I could handle the fillings.

The teeth came out easily. And I gave the go ahead for the fillings. I was so so numb. My tongue felt like a great big sponge in my mouth.

The fillings went pretty quickly. 

He told me that I got the Gold Star Award for best patient of the week. 

He gave me prescriptions for pain meds and antibiotic. 

One day has now passed. We crossed the mountains and spent the day in Denver. Pops did the driving. I feel pretty good actually. I don't have any bruising and only a little swelling. 

I drove a few hours late this afternoon. 

I think I made a good decision to get it all done.

It is so hard to get those kinds of things done in this line of work.

Roy Christian Church

We attended church this morning in Roy, Utah. We went to the Roy Christian Church. 

We did a drive by yesterday and saw that their parking lot was on the small side, but we noticed some parking about 3-4 blocks down the street.

So this morning we got ready and arrived there about 15 minutes before the service began. 

We were greeted so warmly from the moment walked in the door. 

They have 2 services and the traditional service is first. That is the one we attended. It was a very nice service. The speaker this morning was a young man named, Will Crow. He just returned from a CIY conference in Oregon. He told me later that it is only the second time he has ever spoke in front of a congregation. He did a really good job preaching on Ephesians 4:1-16, Unity in Christ.

After this service there is a time of food and fellowship. We got some coffee and snacks and enjoyed talking with some of the people. 

Then we went to Sunday School. They just started the Book of Ephesians so we covered the introduction and then got into the first few verses. It was a great discussion time. Sunday School is also the best time to get to know more of the members. It was so nice talking with Pat and Teresa.

After church, Pops and I walked back to our truck, stopped for some groceries then drove to the truckstop. 

Pops got his restart and I will have mine by 5am. So hopefully we will get a good load offer and get moving again.

Utah

Pops and I had a very busy week this past week. We arrived in Michigan on Saturday, late in the afternoon. Pops had contacted a preacher friend of ours and inquired about attending church services with him and his wife. The next thing I know is, we are invited to spend the night with them and ride with them to church. What an invitation!

When we got into town it took us awhile to find parking that we were comfortable with, as far as leaving the truck unattended. We didn't have a load on, but we still carry a lot of our own personal belongings. We did find a place and soon Terry Strickler was there to pick us up.

We enjoyed a wonderful evening with him and his wife, Judy. She had baked a chocolate mayonaise cake and she and I went to a local parlor and got some triple peanut butter cup ice cream to go with the cake. Yummy! It was good.

The bed where we slept was in the finnished basement. We had our own bathroom too. It really was wonderful to have so much space. But I had trouble sleeping. I think it was because we are so used to hearing the rumble of our generator. It was just too quiet. But I did rest.

The next morning I came upstairs to a huge variety of breakfast foods. I zoomed in on the cinnamon rolls and coffee.

We all had devotions together and then Pops and Terry left for church. Judy and I would come later.

It was a real nice church. Sunday School was very interesting. they are discussing idols in various forms and this week we talked about people who use food as a god. Hmmmmm.

Then the church service was good as well. We heard a really good sermon on God being with us at all time and that we are living, walking worship services.

After church Judy fixed a fabulous dinner of meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, corn on the cob, pumpernickel rolls. Yum. I am getting spoiled. 

We left shortly after dinner. We needed to get up north before dark and before the storms came that had been predicted.

The next morning we went to a military base and picked up our load. There was another Fedex couple there getting a load too. We chatted with them for a little while. Our truck was loaded front to back and top to bottom. And then we were off. We were headed to New Hampshire. We had to be there by noon the next day and these same men that loaded our truck were flying there to unload us.

The trip went well. 

The next day we got unloaded twice as quickly as we got loaded the day before. We a super great group of young people. I am proud to get to know some of them.

We then got a load offer to pick up a load in upper Vermont, only 4 miles from the Canadian line. The load was going to Morgantown, WV for the next morning. 

What a fantastic drive through New Hampshire, Vermont and Up State New York. The weather was gorgeous and the drive is great throught the vast wilderness of the mountains. 

We got our load off the next morning and immediately got a load offer that picked up in Philadelphia. It was a government load which requires constant watching and one of us had to be awake and with the truck until in delivered in Salt Lake City, over 2000 miles away. We get very tired when we do these types of loads but we do like them. 

After we got the load on we started our drive. But we didn't even make it 20 miles before we got into stopped traffic on the Pennsylvania turnpike. After a little while of sitting still, they closed the turnpike down and detoured the traffic. So we then had to travel about 23 miles of narrow, amish country, back roads until we could re enter the turnpike at another location.

Shortly after that I went to bed. 

Now let me explain how we watch our load on these trips. DOD (Dept. of Defense) requires that we do an 8/2 split on our driving logs. That means that one of us will drive for 8 hours while the other sleeps then the sleeping person wakes and drives for 8 hours while the other sleeps,. Then the first diver will drive another 2 hours, then the second driver drives for another 2 hours then repeat. We do this over and over until we reach our destination. But it isn't always easy to sleep on demand and also while we enter and are on the military bases or gov't institutions we both must be awake and present even though one of us is logged in as sleeping. So after 2000 miles of this you can imagine how tired we are.

But the trip across was wonderful after we got past Illinois. Iowa is rural and it is easy to get lost in thought. I listen to audiobooks, always, when I drive. It helps to pass the time. Nebraska was so green with the corn fields and soybeans. I slept through most of Wyoming and then when I did drive, it was dark. Then we got to Utah just at daybreak. What a beautiful sunrise.

We drove right past a place called, Devil's Slide. It was a rock formation that came the whole way down the mountain.

And then a very short while later we reached our destination and got unloaded. We, then headed to Ogden, Utah to get some work done to our truck, mainly our A/C needed fixing. 

So, now we are waiting. We are relaxing and working on resetting our log hours to be ready for another week. After 70 hours each driver MUST  stay off duty for 34 hours to get a "restart." 

We have located a church only 4 miles from where we are and are looking forward to meeting another congregation tomorrow. 

Thank you, everyone for your positive feedback. We love hearing from you.

The Great Salt Lake

Pops and I are spending the weekend in and around Salt Lake City. We have had a very eventful week. I will post more about that later this evening but as promised, here are the photos of the lake area.