A bunch of useless crap
Published on March 6, 2006 By MasonM In Blogging
I got lucky finding a parking spot in this truckstop on the north side of Birmingham. I got here at a quarter to eight and the parking lot was already full. Luckily a driver saw me cruising the lot looking for a space and yelled at me on the radio telling me he was about to pull out. He held the space until I could swing back around for it.

So now I am parked for the night with only 3 hours to go in the morning to get to Redstone Arsenal, near Huntsville, to deliver the Hum V and 5 ton truck.

The trip up here was pretty routine. The usual assortment of bad drivers to keep things interesting, but otherwise uneventful. The weather was sunny and warm. Good driving weather. I am sitting in my truck typing this out as I watch the seemingly never ending flow of trucks coming through looking for a place to park for the night. The Federal government keeps promising to do something about increasing the available parking for big trucks in this country but as always, they seem to be just empty promises as parking gets harder and harder to find all the time.

Ah well, I have my spot for the night even though I would have liked to have traveled a bit closer to my destination. But parking is even more limited up that way so I settled for this spot and getting an early start in the morning.

The temperature is pretty comfortable tonight so I won't be needing to run the truck tonight for heat or air conditioning. Good sleeping temps.

Time to get some rest in preparation for another day.

Until the next truckstop.....

Mason aka Saddle Tramp

Comments
on Mar 07, 2006

Questions and Observations:

Did you use I-10? If so, I guess they fixed it after the hurricanes took part of it out (cant remember if it was this year or last 04 or 05) along the panhandle.

I guess (the parking) is the reason I see all the semi's parked on the on ramps to the interstates.

And Truck stops got wireless access now?  There goes all my unfounded prejudices about truckers!

on Mar 07, 2006
Good luck there, Mason!

Man, what I wouldn't give to have been a stowaway on the back of that truck this morning. You're dropping those vehicles off in my home town. I'm originally from Huntsville! And we've still got family just a little ways outside town (Okay, they're WAAAY down SR 72 in Florence, but still, that's just outside town ...)
on Mar 07, 2006
Nice to read you again M! Gosh, it's work but it's such an adventure, IMO! Take care of yourself out there. See if you can get some pics going to give us an idea of what those trucking parking lots look like. I don't see them here in my part of the world. Until next time!
on Mar 07, 2006
#1 by Dr. Guy
Tuesday, March 07, 2006



[Dr. Guy]

Questions and Observations:

Did you use I-10? If so, I guess they fixed it after the hurricanes took part of it out (cant remember if it was this year or last 04 or 05) along the panhandle.


Yeah, some of I-10 is still being repaired from the '04 season.

I guess (the parking) is the reason I see all the semi's parked on the on ramps to the interstates.

Yes. Most of us don't like parking on ramps and such because it's very unsafe (and illegal), but sometimes we just don't have any choice.
And Truck stops got wireless access now? There goes all my unfounded prejudices about truckers!

The major truckstops have had wireless for about 3 years or so now. Many of the smaller independents have realized that a large number of truckers are choosing the stops with WiFi access over those without so they are busy installing them as well. Laptops have become a common sight in truckstops all over the country.


#2 by Chaos Manager
Tuesday, March 07, 2006




Good luck there, Mason!

Man, what I wouldn't give to have been a stowaway on the back of that truck this morning. You're dropping those vehicles off in my home town. I'm originally from Huntsville!

Thanks. Cool, small world.


#3 by foreverserenity
Tuesday, March 07, 2006




Nice to read you again M! Gosh, it's work but it's such an adventure, IMO! Take care of yourself out there. See if you can get some pics going to give us an idea of what those trucking parking lots look like. I don't see them here in my part of the world. Until next time!


Thanks Serenity. Actually I have a good digital camera sitting at the office in Wisconsin, I just keep forgetting to grab it. I'll try and make a point of it later this week.
on Mar 07, 2006
Laptops have become a common sight in truckstops all over the country.


Guess I know what to get my sister for her Birthday now!
on Mar 07, 2006
Ya can never go wrong with a new computer for a gift.