I was in Manheim, PA on Halloween when I last was on the Internet. After leaving the town library I had a cheese steak sandwich(No, I wasn't in Philly), watched a high school soccer game, and enjoyed the kids walking around in their costumes.
I got up very early November 1 to make my last stop in Baltimore, MD. I missed my turn(There was no street sign) and ended up at the Francis Scott Key Bridge Toll Plaza. I parked the truck and went inside to get help with directions. 2 LEO's told I could go thru the toll lane, make a 180 under the bridge, and get back to the customer place. That work out great. I was unloaded 2 hours before my appointment time.
But there was no freight for me on Thursday or Friday. I was laid over for the weekend in a dumpy TA truckstop that charges for parking. I did find that there was a Greyhound bus terminal across the street(No, I wasn't quitting!). Saturday morning I jumped on the bus to Washington DC. I hiked from Union Station to Capitol Hill, the National Mall, Washington Monument, the Whitehouse, Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. The Wall was the most sobering and quiet place of all. I am a veteran, but I didn't serve in Vietnam.
Some friends of friends have a place in Kensington, MD that is just north of DC. I rode the subway and a taxi to their home. I spent Saturday night there and went to church with them on Sunday. After church it was back to to the subway to Union Station and the bus terminal. I was in my truck Sunday night.
Monday morning my dispatcher assigned me a load from Towanda, PA to Tacoma, WA for a total of 3012 miles. The loaded wasn't ready until Tuesday morning but I was the first truck in line at the gate on Monday evening. I was woke up at 5am EST. Once loaded, strapped, and tarped I worked my way down to I80 and headed west. There was a little snow flying over Snowshoe Pass in PA but nothing sticking.
Yesterday I stopped in Laurel, MT to fuel and make my daily check call. It was 11am when I left the truckstop and my company office closes at 5pm in Missoula. I had to drive 340 miles in 6 hours if I was to make it to the office before end of business. I made 2 brief stops with one on top of Homestake Pass and arrived in the office with 10 minutes to spare.
DD was there in the yard Friday night. He helped me reroll my lumber tarps(I had my metal tarp on the load) as I screwed it up at the customer in Baltimore. After that we went out to eat, I did my laundry and off to bed. This morning I had a minor power steering fluid leak fixed and changed 1 drive tire that wasn't holding air(the mechanic found a very small leak at the valve stem).
DD and I drove together today from Missoula to Spokane. He had 2500 lbs on with me at 43,000 lbs. I asked him if he would push me up Lookout and 4th July Passes, and he offered to throw out a chain to pull me. :lol:
I am spending the tonight at my friend place in Spokane Valley. Tomorrow afternoon it is off to Tacoma for an early Monday morning deliver. Just as soon as I am empty and I drop my Tripak off at the Flying J in Tacoma, I am headed home for some time off!!!
I have an already book schedule while there including building a wood bin for my girlfriend and going to the Oregon Coast Friday night with her. I do have to make the time to equip my truck with a couple things(eg. a ladder, microwave, cooler).
I should be back out next Monday so I will be missing Thanksgiving at home. No worries, I have plans to stay out until Christmas time, so I will do okay to get that holiday off at home.
