Finally, MN

I'm finally on my way home. It took awhile, but now everything is set. I picked up a trailer in Elwood, I'll and will drop it off in Menomonie, WI late this aft and then bobtail to the Cities and then drive home to Red Wing.

Yesterday was very difficult. The load I was to pick up in Akron, MI wasn't ready and wouldn't be ready until today. So, they took me off that load and assigned me another. This one was to pick up a load in Battle Creek, MI and take it to Kansas City and drop it off thur morning. But that would mean I wouldn't get home until tomorrow night or Friday.

(I had been told that my days off would begin on Wednesdays and that the driver following would pick up my truck on Wed. )

I called back to Schneider and told them the new load wouldn't work either. They then assigned me another load. This one had me driving down to Toledo, OH picking up a load and taking it to south of Chicago. But again the drop off time was Thur morning. So, I called back again, and pointed that out. They arranged for me to drop the load at the operating center in Gary, IN this morning. So, I finally left Akron 5 hours after first getting there. I drove south to Toledo (3 1/2 hours) picked up the trailer and drove to Elkhart, IN where I stopped for the evening.

If I wouldn't have insisted I would now be on my way to Kansas City and wouldn't have gotten home until tomorrow or Friday. I learned from this experience that I can't assume the Schneider people will arrange for my getting home. I need to monitor the process and remind them on what day I need to be home. It sure was frustrating. I can see why some drivers quit. I'm not close to that point. I think I can manage it better next time.

Tomorrow is Greta's birthday. She will be 33. Tristan has a baseball game which I will go to in the evening. Then on Friday, Tristan and I fly to Phoenix to visit Grandma and Grandpa for the weekend.

One last thing, I've created a trucking website '101st LugNut'. Eventually you'll be able to access it at 101st-lugnut.com. I'll let you know when you can do that. But for now go to http://temp.macdock.com/101stlugnut/index.html. You'll notice in the site there is a section called '19th Wheel' That contains all the emails I have sent. Crish had created a Blog site for them and I was able to link to it. Anyway, visit the site if you want.

Well, I'm closing in on Rockford, so I'm well on my way. I hope your day goes well. I'll keep in touch. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Sarnia, ON

I'm backed up for a couple of miles waiting to cross the Canadian/US border. It is the Port Huron crossing. I am driving an empty trailer to Akron, MI which is near Bay City, MI. I pick up a load there and take it to Thienaville, WI which is just a little north of Milwaukee. The pickup is tomorrow at 8:00 am. The dropoff is Wed morning at 7:00 am. So, I'll be getting closer to MN. I'm hoping to be home by Wed afternoon sometime.

This morning I waited 5 hours to be unloaded. This afternoon there was an accident which delayed traffic for an hour, and now this delay. Someone said it could take 2 or 3 hours to get thru customs. Patience! Patience! That's my mantra for the day.

I hope your last day of the holiday was more eventful and fun than mine. I'll let you know how long it takes to get across. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Mississauga, ON

Good Morning! I'm waiting at my delivery location. I was told I could unload at 12:30 pm, but it was also suggested that I come in early and maybe get unloaded sooner. So I arrived at 7:30 am. They may be able to unload me at 9:30. So it seemsit was worth it to get up early.

Yesterday I drove from 50 miles north of Dayton, OH to Detroit, MI. I spent 2+ hours faxing in my paperwork for the border crossing. I crossed the border in Detroit at 5:00pm without incident, and continued to drive to Aberfoyle, ON where there
is a Schneider operating center. I arrived at 8:15 pm.

While in Detroit waiting for Faxes to be received, etc. I continued working on websites. I'm putting one up called '101st-LugNut'. It will contain the Blog Crish is keeping for me, some other thoughts on trucking, Links to other websites I've
designed (the Hermitage, Greta's Wedding, JungNYC) and to Schneider's website. Plus, other things I haven't thought of yet. It is fun and energizing to work on these things.

My concern this morning is how I'll get back to MN by Wednesday. Hopefully, it will all work out. I'll know the route back in a few hours. I'll keep you informed. Have a nice Holiday! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Owensboro, KY

It's Sat morning and I'm in Owensboro, KY. After dropping off a load of beer in St Louis they had me pick up a load there of recycled paper and take it to Owensboro, KY along the IN/KY border. I got here last night at 8:30. This morning I have to pick up a load at the same place and take it to Canada. (the dreaded border crossing). I need to be in Mississauga on Mon at 12:30 pm. Then hopefully, I'll be sent toward Red Wing.

I parked in an empty lot next to a convenience store last night. Not quite like a Holiday Inn, but once I close the curtains it doesn't matter.

I hope to get to Detroit today and then enter Canada tomorrow. It won't be as rushed as the last 2 days, which is good.

I just watched the final episodes of 'Lost' and 'Heroes' in the last couple of days. Those sure were action-packed. Now I need to wait until the fall. I also watched the DVD 'Pan's Labyrinth'. That was fascinating. I'll have to watch that again.

Well, I hope you all have a great holiday weekend. I'll let you know how it goes for me. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Beloit, WI

What a day! 14 hours. It began at 1:45 am near Dayton, OH. I needed to get to Milwaukee by 10:00 am to pick up a load of beer. Can't be late for that (though I was late). I had to stop in Sturtevant, WI on the way (just south of Milwaukee) drop off a load and pick up an empty trailer. I made it to Gary, IN by 6:45 am and got fuel and then headed north on the Tri-state (I-294). That was right during rush hour. It took me an hour and a half longer than I hoped. I was crawling. I arrived in Sturtevant at 9:30 am and left and 10:00 am. Then there was a traffic tie up in Milwaukee which delayed me 45 minutes. I arrived at the pickup point at 11:30 am and had a hard time finding the shipping area. They weren't able to get it loaded until 2:30 pm and I then hustled down to Beloit, WI for the night. Tomorrow I take this high value load the rest of the way to St. Louis, MO. I should get there by noon tomorrow. I'm tired. 14 hours is too bad. Starting at 1:45 am is the tough part. If you don't hear from me again, I took the beer and left the country.

And then I must admit a huge mistake. Without being aware of it I used my credit card for fuel last Monday. I should have used a card the company gave me. So I have a $342 charge on my card for fuel. I was floored when I saw it today. I've already talked with the people from Schneider and they will reimburse me. Thank goodness! An absent-minded trucker.

Well, how's everything going for all of you? I hope better than what I experienced. The holiday weekend is fast approaching. I hope you'll be able to enjoy it! I'll let you know where I'm going next when I find out. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Monroe, OH

I'm just about ready to retire for the evening. I'll get up early tomorrow to deliver a load into Cincinnati by 7:00 am. I drove from near Lexington, KY today up to a truck stop in Monroe, OH which is 20 miles north of Cincy. Uncle Jim and Aunt Carole met me at the truck stop and took me out to eat at an Olive Garden restuarant. Wonderful food. We then took a drive so I could see their house which is east of Cincinnati. What a beautiful home they have. Carole designed it herself and it has a fantastic view of the Ohio river. It was fun talking about the family years ago and about our current families; about their travels around the world, and my travels in the truck. It was a delightful time. I told them the next time I'm through I would honk when I drove near their house.

I'm named after Uncle Jim. The story goes that I was due to be born on either the 27th or 28th of October. My uncle Norman was born on the 27th of the month and Jim was born on the 28th of April. My mom and dad decided that if I was born on the 27th I would be called Norman. If I was born on the 28th I would be called James.

I don't know where I'll be going tomorrow. I don't have many hours left to drive, so it may not be far.

Hope you day went well! Talk to you soon! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Cincy

Good Morning! I'm in Darlington, SC. I think there is a race track here. I'm picking up a load that I need to take to Cincinnati, OH. I'll drop it off Wed morning 5/23.

It is warm down here today. High will be in the upper 80's. It was 75 about 8:00 this morning. I'm sweating. I think it might be time for a shower, or stay away from people.

My last check was a little on the light side. This morning I figured out why. With some loads we use a 'Lumper' to unload the trailer. These are people who hang around loading docks and do the unloading. I used one a couple of weeks ago ($280). I have to call in for an authorization # and make out what they call a ComCheck. What I didn't realize was that I had to also send in a receipt. They take the $280 out of my pay and then reimburse me when they receive the receipt. I'm glad I figured it out. I thought for awhile that this Homerun program wasn't very lucrative.

I will need to take a 34 hour break in the next couple of days. I'm 15 hours from my max of 70.

Well, I think they are done loading. Have a great day! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Dandridge, TN

I'm in Dandridge, TN getting fuel. I stopped last night in Corbin, KY, about 30 miles north of the KY-TN border. I'll try to get within 15-20 miles of Scranton, SC before I stop tonight. It's about another 300 miles (5-6 hours of driving).

KY and TN are really beautiful with everything green and lush. The temp today is in the low 80's and it is sunny.

I'm heading into more mountains now so the going will be slower. Being 40 tons it is impossible to accelerate uphill. There are 2 tunnels I'll have to go thru, but they aren't very long. For those interested I'll be taking 40 to 26 to 20 and stopping for the night where 20 intersects/ends at 95 (these are all interstates).

Talked to Greta this morning and she said it was 46 degrees this morning in Red Wing. She didn't have the top down on my 'Cruiser' Ragtop. I continue to wonder about the benefits of living way up north.

I hope your weekend ends well. I'll let you know tomorrow where I'm heading next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Scranton, SC

I had a good nights sleep in Gary, IN (Schneider operating center) and now I'm ready to head to Scranton, SC. I don't need to be there until Monday morning at 7:00 am. So I have a leisurely 850 mile drive over the next two days.

Yesterday was spent the southern suburbs of Chicago. I made my delivery in Bolingbrook at noon. They then sent me 4 miles to pick up an empty trailer. However that place didn't have one. They then sent me 4 more miles to get a different empty trailer. That place also didn't have one. Finally, they sent me 9 miles north into Naperville for an empty trailer. They had one. This little adventure took me 3 1/2 hours.

I went to West Chicago to pick up a load. I arrived there at 4:00 and was ready to leave a little after 6:00. I talked to another trucker about the intricacies of moving the tandems back and forth on the trailer, especially on old trailers. He showed me how to use vise-grips to help with the process. He was an older trucker like me who'd been driving for 18 years.

I drove from West Chicago to here from 6:15 to 8:00. Traffic doesn't run as smoothly in warm weather. A lot more road construction. I was also wondering how the roads can withstand 40 ton trucks constantly driving over them.

I hope to get get into TN tonight and then drive the rest of the way tomorrow. I think the weather will be fine. It seems to be 72 and sunny wherever I drive. (just kidding).

I hope you all have a great weekend. This is a nice time of the year. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

All Over Wisconsin

Last night after dropping off a load in Appleton, they had me go to Green Bay to pick up a load. I spent the night there. This morning I drove to Milwaukee to drop it off and then drove close to Miller Park (Home of the Brewers) to drop off a trailer and then to Horicon to pick up a load of John Deere Lawn mowers which I then took to Janesville. I'm now in Madison having dinner with Erika, but will finish up tonight in Tomah. I pick up a load there and head to Bolingbrook, IL tomorrow morning. That's more than enough driving in Wisconsin.

Laced in and around all of that were phone calls, emails and editing a website and I only got lost once.

Fortunately, it was a nice day to drive.

I've been told that I'll make more money doing a lot of short loads as opposed to fewer longer loads. I'll find out soon enough.

I hope you all had a nice day. I'll let you know where I'm headed next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Appleton, WI

Back at it! I'm starting out this 2 week period the same way I started out the last. I'm up in Becker, MN picking up a load of paper rolls and taking them to Appleton, WI. I'll del it around 8:00 pm tonight.

I have a different truck. This is also an older one. 500,000 miles, but it runs well and the governor is set at 67 mph rather than 63 mph so I can get to places a little faster.

I asked to be sent out west. They said one of the difficulties is getting me back. Most of the loads from the West Coast are sent by rail to save on costs.

I'm getting used to moving in and out of trucks. It doesn't take me very long. I'm taking just what I need and no more.

I had a good week off. Spent a lot of time with Tristan & Greta. I also setup and published a website for some Jungian analysts. That was fun and challenging.

I hope you all had a good week. I'll keep you informed of my whereabouts. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

on to Red Wing

I finally made it to the Twin Cities. I got in at 5:30 am. I've parked the truck, cleaned it out and put the keys on the dipstick. Now I'm driving to Red Wing. I'll be there around 7:00 am.

Sleep is on the agenda for this morning. I'll spend time with Greta and Tristan later this afternoon.

I begin again next Wed morning. Have a great day! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Manteno, IL

Well, I'm not a happy camper (trucker) this morning. Last night as I was being unloaded in Madison I found out that I had to drive back down to Manteno, IL (south of Chicago) and pick up a load at noon and then drive it back up to the Twin Cities. Besides being sent the wrong way (south instead of north) I also will be forced to take a 10 hour break before I start driving back. So, I won't be back to the Twin Cities until 5:00 am Thur morning. (I was hoping to get back by 6:00 pm last night). Computer generated runs have their shortcomings.

I'm in Manteno now waiting for the load. I'll do my best to be patient. I hope your day is going well. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Happy Birthday Gene and Sydney

By the way, Happy Birthday to Gene and Sydney today! Both were born on May 8.

Madison, WI

My latest load was from Lebanon, IN to Madison, WI. I left Lebanon this morning
at 5:00 and arrived in Madison just before noon. My delivery is at 10:00 pm tonight.
It will take 4 1/2 hours to unload and then I should be driving to the Twin Cities.
I will visit Erika and Pat and the girls shortly. We will celebrate Sydney's
birthday. Before that she has a gymnastics class, which should be fun to see.

I find it amazing and fortunate that I have a delivery here on Sydney's birthday.

Tomorrow my 7 days off begin. It will be interesting to see how that is. I can't
imagine it will be bad.

I hope your week is going well. I'll keep you informed. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa
)

Muncie, IN

I got up this morning at 3:00 EDT to make the delivery in Pageland, SC at 4:15 am.
It took them 2 hours to unload it and then I drove down to North Charleston, SC
to drop off the empty trailer and pick up a loaded one. Immediately, I started west
and am heading toward Muncie, IN. I need to deliver that load by noon tomorrow.
I needed to stop at 5:00 pm (I can only work 14 hours at a time). I'm in Newport,
TN at a truck stop. I'll start again at 6:00 am tomorrow.

I believe I'll be sent to the Twin Cities from Muncie. But we'll see.

In Charleston, SC I saw US Hwy 52, and I remembered that 52 ends in Charleston.
I once talked about making a trip where I would travel from one end of 52 to the
other. It begins at the Canadian border in the middle of ND. The importance of this
Hwy for me is that I have lived most of my life on or near 52. (Birth in Decorah,
College in Decorah, Seminary in Dubuque, living in Cannon Falls, MN which has 52
running thru it and also living for a while in St Paul near 52.) It's interesting
that one Hwy defines me in some way. Well, I finally got to see where it ends (at
the sea).

Hopefully, on Tues I'll be able to stop in Madison, WI and celebrate Sydney's
birthday with her. She's pretty excited about it. She received a package in
the mail last week and was wondering if it was the candles for her birthday. She
let Erika know that she wanted a Spider Man balloon for her birthday also. She is
really quite a little girl. She reminds me a lot of Erika when she was young.

I hope your weekend has been good. I'll let you know where I'm headed after
Muncie. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Pageland, SC

Hello! I've stopped for the night a little south of Asheville, NC. Tomorrow
I head for Pageland, SC just south of the NC/SC border. I'm delivering bottle
water. 46,000 lbs of it. I left Unionville, TN about 9:30 am and drove up to Red
Boiling Springs, TN where I picked up the bottled water. TN is very beautiful, especially
this time of year. Very green and lush and hilly. I can are why people live there.
I don't need to deliver to Pageland until Sunday morning at 4:15 am. I'm
trying to deliver tomorrow sometime. I'm only 150 miles away now.

I should start heading back to MN soon. I'm to be done on Tues sometime.

Right now I'm working with a new web design application called Sandvox. I enjoy
exploring it. I'll use it for Frank's website, and possibly for some of
his colleagues.

I hope you all have a nice weekend. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Unionville, TN

I'm midway thru my 34 hr break. Tomorrow I pick up an empty trailer here and
drive up to Radnor, OH to pick up a load of straw and then I take that down to Unionville,
TN. I'll need to be there by 8:00 am Fri morning. (443 mi)

I borrowed a car this morning and went to Target. Bought some groceries and got
Sydney Kate a birthday gift, a gift bag and a huge bow. They were also able to fix
the AC in the truck this afternoon which will make driving much easier.

I worked on a website for some of Frank's colleagues this aft. That was fun.

Now I'm going to take it easy and maybe go out for dinner. Wouldn't that
be something. It was beautiful here today. Sunny and a bit cooler with a nice breeze.
Hope you all had a nice day. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Columbus, OH

I'm at a Schneider operating center in Columbus tonight. I'm taking my 34 hr break here. I brought a load from near Boston here. Someone else picked it up and will be taking it to TX. I ran out of hours to drive.

I had them work on my truck this evening. An oil change, new drive tires (4), a new fan motor for the heater. I also took a shower so now people are talking to me again.

Tomorrow I think I'll go get groceries for this coming week. There is a Target nearby. I might also splurge and have a meal at a restaurant.

I hope you are all doing well and had a nice May Day. This is the midway point between the Vernal Equinox and the Summer Solstice. They call it a cross-quarter day.

James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )