Where Kevin?? I feel like Laughing again...

 

I saw him logged in the other day a couple of times...... it is just a matter of time

 

Yep, he's stewing. LOL He'll be back though. I miss Kevin's antics. He just needs to learn that if he wants to be combative, that there are more than a few around here willing to pick up arms also. Kevin will learn not to take it personal I think. Just part of the learning curve for a young BBR!:thumbsup:

 

I think he was waiting for everyone to miss him. Now that you started this thread, he's going to come back. Thanks a lot.

 

:lol2: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

We like to keep you busy. It keeps you out of trouble! :thumbsup:

 

I heard he is now a mentor for another Swifty at CAD.

 

He's out there making that money.......

 

Last I heard from him, he was trying to get me to admit that I "hate Swift" because they have so many trucks. And, the longer I would not admit it, since it's not true (If I hated Swift because of that, I would also hate Schneider), the angrier he got. He said he was never coming back, but he also gave me a clue, whether he knew it or not, that he's still hanging around and reading the posts. But, he's also not likely to learn much if he keeps carrying those chips on both of his shoulders. He can't seem to get it through his mind that the treatment he's enjoying, that other Swift drivers are being deprived of, reflects his own attitude.

 

I had another poster PM to say he had tried privately to get Kev to calm down. It then occurred to me that a lot of what Kev was expressing (though you could never tell from his posts) was his perfectly legitimate fear of taking his truck, life and limbs into rotten weather and harms way. He tried to pass it off as "after weighing all the options . . " and as making wise and learned choices and all the while making an axx of himself.

BigD, Stan . . any other Northwest travelers . . ever been to Ponderay Newsprint in Usk, WA? Why Usk, ask you?

OK. It's not the Himalayas but it might as well have been. My first turn at the wheel on snow was WA 211 with moderate and blowing snow and solid snow pack from the plant, south to clear, clean US 2 and on to Spokane and who knows where. Paper rolls at gross for a 3 axle tractor and a 4 axle trailer. I was terrified and stunned that my trainer would even suggest that I do it. Well, it was either hitchhike (walk) to the nearest bus station or drive the truck. No cheating! I had to stay as close to the speed limit as was practical considering 2 lanes, no shoulders, the hills, curves, unguarded precipitous drops into the trees, oncoming and overtaking traffic and that nice little stretch where, were I to lose traction (or my nerve), a rock face or a lake were my outs. Everything else on the road was heavyhaul log or chip trucks and all were going at least 3 times faster than we. I learned very quickly why other Drivers tend to swear a lot at Swift Drivers.

Anyway, we made it. That horrifying 15 mile stretch is what made me begin to believe I could actually pull off this truck driving thing.

Tomorrow's adventure begins in SW Wisconsin and heads to Ontario, CA. Thank God, for now at least, the weather looks good*, not that it matters. I caught myself thinking twice about whether I would accept this 1996 mile load. Look at the route then Google News I-80 IA, I-80 NE . . any point on the route, right down to the Grapevine which was a disaster just last week. The preplan puts the weight at . . (gulp) . . 13851. Am I terrified? Not right this minute but I'm open to persuasion. Am I concerned? Absolutely. Fate, weight, weather, terrain and the fact that a lot of my traveling companions will have little to no experience (your level of experience and less) have a funny way of playing tricks with my mind. The more southerly route, frought with it's own perils adds 200 out of route miles (yes, I did look) and I can't imagine that the "powers that be" would be too keen on that.

So, Kevin, help me out. What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Two hints: 1. I don't get to see I-70 to the central part of UT as often as I like. It's fascinating! Subject to visibility, of course. Two winters ago, I had to do it eastbound at night in whiteouts with a late (repower, not my fault) JIT load. 2. Las Vegas.

*Except here. Winter storm warnings through noon, tomorrow. At least it's flat.

Ooops . . If I go to Vegas and over the Grapevine, I'm going to get in trouble. Make that Cajon Pass.