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The Killer Rabbit
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 111
Location: Milwaukee and Niagara Falls
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject: Resets/Offtime..live a little |
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......are what you make of them.
Not to overglorify Roehl, the company I work for, but they have been fairly good to me since Ive started meeting their demand and them meeting some of mine.
Resets and offtime can skate right by it seems, leaving you on the road before you know the offtime hits you.
About two weeks ago I had a load to drop in brooksville Fl with a reset closely in front of me, I dropped my load and was looking for an mt which was not available.
Well hmm, Im close to the beach, about 30 miles and I decided to ask my dispatch if I could find a place along the coast to reset instead of the pilot, after a bit, my dispatch said np, go for it if you can find a spot.
I winged it and asked around where I can possibly park a bobtail along the beach and take my reset. I got a lead and headed out to the coast with anticipation because I never seen the ocean as I lived in the midwest all my life.
I found a spot right on the beach, picture a perfect parking spot for a truck, and a pristine view of palm trees and the ocean small enough to not be busy, but large enough not to feel isolated from the things you need such as food etc.
I went to the general store to call the police to see if it was ok, and they said np as long as there arent any signs saying no semis, so all was good.
It was great, i had manatee swimming 20 feet from where the truck was parked. I exchanged converstion with the local fishermen, and town folk, had a fire on the beach with them, and totaly relaxed...it was a good refreshing experiance.
Last week I was in Kansas on the 70 headed EB and you know how monotonous that can be.
Well if you travel it, and are familar with it, you will remember the praire dog zoo signs, claiming they have an 8000 lb praire dog and 6 legged cow.
Hey, this can be curious for anyone on such a long stretch across 70.
I decided hey, why the hell not...8000lbs could be interesting. Besides theres truck parking and a steak house right across the street.
Yes, it was tacky but you know....most everything passes you by anyways, why not take the time and stop and smell the roses...or ..prairie dog zoo if you may.
The whole point of this is dont just let your life fly by out there...take the time, you deserve to live a little dont ya?
The point of a journey is not getting there, its what happenes along the way, thats what you have to tell yourself and youll make the journey just fine.
TKR |
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Skywalker
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 2628
Location: Pulling a Tanker for Superior Carriers!!
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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Darn good post Killer Rabbit!!
Too many people spend too much time "holed up" in their tractors instead of taking some time to smell the flowers or see the sights.
Where did you spend your time at the beach? I live way south of Brooksville, but I know the area. |
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The Killer Rabbit
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 111
Location: Milwaukee and Niagara Falls
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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Do you know where Bayport is?
Close to Weekie wachee is I believe the spelling of the name of the town that is closebye.
Its a place where theres a boat landing and fishing pier, they were catching channel cats and blue crabs.
I forgot to mention that I had a chameleon/anole, as a stowaway passenger for awhile that somehow made it in my truck.
Im pretty sure he made it through a cracked window as I found a bunch of them sunning themselves on the hood of my freightliner in the morning.
Dunno where he went...he used to sit on my prepass, then he was gone after a few days.
Trying to catch those things are virtually impossible.
Im just hoping he didnt die in my vent system.
TKR |
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yeti
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 82
Location: north New England
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Wait, you could at least tell us about the 8,000# praire dog! :shock: |
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golfhobo
Joined: 16 Oct 2005
Posts: 3869
Location: the 19th hole / NC
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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GREAT post, TKR!! Thanks for sharing with the newbies that you CAN have some new and exciting experiences while driving a truck!
Now.... just sit back and wait. Highwayman will be here soon to say you're lying or that you should have been at home mowing the lawn and doing the dishes! :lol: |
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The Killer Rabbit
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 111
Location: Milwaukee and Niagara Falls
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: Wait, you could at least tell us about the 8,000# praire dog!
Are you sure you really want to know?
Ill tell ya :wink: , but it will spoil it for you if you decide to hit it up.
TKR |
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The Killer Rabbit
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 111
Location: Milwaukee and Niagara Falls
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: Now.... just sit back and wait. Highwayman will be here soon to say you're lying or that you should have been at home mowing the lawn and doing the dishes!
You just baited the water! lol |
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Fozzy
Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 2460
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| When OTR. I loved getting laid over in some areas! Anywhere near the old revolutionary or civil war areas was a great opportunity for me to hike around the area and see things. This was or is a main reason that people become truckers! The truck dwellers remind me a lot of the barracks rats in the miltary. I'm not exactly a skinny guy so being large in no reason to just lay around and stay that way. On a good weekend 7- 10 miles walking was easily doable and really a nice change! Even on some shorter layovers, its possible to lock everything up and walk into town. I wouldn't reccomend it in Gary Indiana... but "nowheresville IA" is a great place to get out and see some pretty freindly natives. |
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The Killer Rabbit
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 111
Location: Milwaukee and Niagara Falls
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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I hear you Fozzy dude,
Your post reminded me of a time I was stuck with a broken camshaft just outside of Jackson TN....a place called Parkers crossroads was where I was residing for a few days till freightliner fixed up my rig.
I had my mountainbike with me and discovered that there was a civil war trail to bike on, it was more like a rustic road trail so it all worked out just fine....till i got to the bottom of this hill!
I was flying down the hill pretty fast and a neighborhood pitbull was outside unchained sitting on a porch until it saw me, then he gave chase to me which lasted about a minute....man i was exhausted after that, but I knew I would have to perform to outrun the thing, he nearly got me the 1st time.
FORTUNATLEY he was not out by the time i got there.
Nonetheless, it was a really great tour, with lots of great picturesque scenary.
TKR |
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golfhobo
Joined: 16 Oct 2005
Posts: 3869
Location: the 19th hole / NC
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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The Killer Rabbit wrote: Quote: Now.... just sit back and wait. Highwayman will be here soon to say you're lying or that you should have been at home mowing the lawn and doing the dishes!
You just baited the water! lol
Yeah, maybe so. But if you think I'm 'skeert' of a Grinch (or a Killer Rabbit :lol: ) you don't KNOW me! Besides, I tried to make my peace with him. If he takes the bait, it proves my point.
And he would HATE to do that! :lol: |
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Sealord
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 1697
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:57 pm Post subject: Ocean |
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Killer Rabbit,
If all you've seen of salt water is the Gulf of Mexico, you still haven't seen an ocean. You'd have to be on the right side of Florida.
Better yet, on the left coast of the U.S. you'll see a real ocean, deep too. BOL |
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Ardmore Farms Forever
Joined: 29 Jan 2005
Posts: 1332
Location: Can we all say together, "North Flo-ri-da".
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Killer Rabbit..........that was one of the most meaningful post I've seen here in a long time................thank you, it brought back memories of my brother (late) when he and I ran teams OTR and seeing the "Prairie Dog" sign going to Seatle or Portland.............thanks.''''''great post. |
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4roses
Joined: 28 Aug 2004
Posts: 2010
Location: BrokenArrow, Oklahoma
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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TKR ... I enjoyed your stories .... it's clear - - you 'Get It' ... the good part of this profession ... you really need to continue telling more of them.
The last time I was at Cocoa Beach I was able to find some place to park the truck and walk on the edge of the ocean, dig my toes in the sand and feel the breeze blowing - it helped to energized me ... to continue on with my next load. This is an awesome place we live .. just as long as we stop for a bit and embrace it. |
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Skywalker
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 2628
Location: Pulling a Tanker for Superior Carriers!!
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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The Killer Rabbit wrote: Do you know where Bayport is?
Close to Weekie wachee is I believe the spelling of the name of the town that is closebye.
Its a place where theres a boat landing and fishing pier, they were catching channel cats and blue crabs.
Yep, sure do. Thats a really nice area up there....
Quote: I forgot to mention that I had a chameleon/anole, as a stowaway passenger for awhile that somehow made it in my truck.
Im pretty sure he made it through a cracked window as I found a bunch of them sunning themselves on the hood of my freightliner in the morning.
Dunno where he went...he used to sit on my prepass, then he was gone after a few days.
Trying to catch those things are virtually impossible.
Im just hoping he didnt die in my vent system. TKR
The biggest problem with the chameleons is that if you do catch them, and its by the tail.....they'll break their tail off and run like the wind. They'll grow a new tail in short order. We try never to hurt those little critters, though, because their main food seems to be mosquitos and other bugs.
He probably got out the same way he got in..... :D |
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The Killer Rabbit
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 111
Location: Milwaukee and Niagara Falls
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: Killer Rabbit..........that was one of the most meaningful post I've seen here in a long time................thank you, it brought back memories of my brother (late) when he and I ran teams OTR and seeing the "Prairie Dog" sign going to Seatle or Portland.............thanks.''''''great post.
Hey thanks alot!
Im sorry to hear about your brother.
There is nothing like having a good road trip partner...but words can never really say the loss of one, much more a bro
TKR |
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