An Interesting Trip So Far

Published on August 30, 2006 By MasonM In Blogging

This trip started out interesting right from the loading. Two of the three generators I am delivering are huge. We had to get creative to make it all fit on the deck of my double drop. We wound up putting one of the huge ones on the small back deck, sticking out over the low center deck, and then placing a steel brace under it to support the free end. While it looked very unstable it rode quite well. I was still glad that it was the first delivery.

While driving through KY yesterday I passed a rather ugly wreck. A truck hauling an oversized load tried to take the curved ramp too fast and turned over. It looked pretty bad. I hope the driver is ok.

In TN yesterday I passed another wreck where a pickup had somehow managed to park upside down on the interstate on the downhill grade of a mountain. Didn't look good at all. I'm sure whoever was in it didn't fare well.

It was rain all the way down. It was rain when I awoke this morning in Eastern TN and started making my way to my first stop in NC. Luckily the rain stopped just as I reached that first stop so I was able to get unloaded without getting soaked. Sometimes you get lucky.

That first stop is a new Elementary school that's being built. I had wondered why the generator I was hauling to it was mounted on springs between it and the fuel tank like the ones that go to CA. When I asked about the site, I found that someone had decided it was a good idea to build the school directly on top of a fault line. Sheer genius. It was costing millions of extra dollars to earthquake proof the school construction (like that ever works).

I didn't think I'd ever find that school site. I had called the guy for directions but the way he talked I wasn't overly confident that the directions he gave were any good. What can you do? I followed them. They took me out into the woods on a very, very narrow winding road. At one point, after five miles or so, I was sure I was going the wrong way and began looking for a good spot to turn around. There were none. FInally I spotted a wide driveway and expected to try and turn around there. It was the school.

My second stop was a machine company. I stopped in there and delivered a crate of rock crusher parts. That took less than 15 minutes. I then made my way East on I-40 to this truckstop between Greensboro and Raleigh where I'll spend the night.

My third stop is a small town just East of Raleigh but there are no truckstops, rest areas, or other appropriate parking spots there so this truckstop, about an hour away, is as close as I could get.

Naturally it's raining again and probably will all night. That's ok though. I have a 6 pack, some DVDs, and time to relax.

Tomorrow morning I'll meet the crane at the third stop and put off the generator there and then make my way down to SC for my final stop. I spoke with the man at that last stop and the weather is likely going to make things messy to say the least. I'm glad I have my handy dandy rain suit with me as the remnants of Ernesto will be passsing through that area just about the time I get there. As long as the winds aren't bad it won't be much more than just getting wet. If it's windy the crane won't be able to operate and I may wind up sitting until Friday. Here's hoping for light winds.

When I walked into the truckstop earlier it wasn't yet raining but I could tell from the sky that it wasn't far off. I put on my rain suit before walking in. A couple of drivers gave me funny looks, I suppose because it wasn't raining. By the time I got ready to walk back out (10 minutes tops) it was pouring. I got to give them funny looks as they were getting soaked and I was nice and dry inside my suit.

Hey, it's my last clean pair of jeans, I didn't wanna get them all soaked. Glad I'm heading home in the next day or so. I hate doing laundry in the truckstop.

Socrates is now napping beside me after a fairly vigorous debate between he and I over who should be the one to eat my dinner. I won. I think.

He's now gone back to wanting to sleep in the bed with me at night. I suppose he's grown accustomed to my snoring

.Usually as soon as I lie down and kill the lights I feel a light thud on the bed as he dives in to find a comfy spot to sleep. Unfortunately he doesn't sleep all night and often wakes me wanting to play.

I usually grumble, roll over, and go back to sleep. Sometimes I wake to find him just sitting there with his nose gently pressed against mine, waiting for me to wake up. It's like "You awake yet? Huh? Are ya?". Geesh.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Aug 30, 2006

yea, Sally has gone back to sleeping above her momma's head! And stopped biting my neck! Sally missed her, but now, same old stuff! "Hey I am here", but at least 2 of us to answer that call!

jennifer1

on Aug 30, 2006

I usually grumble, roll over, and go back to sleep. Sometimes I wake to find him just sitting there with his nose gently pressed against mine, waiting for me to wake up. It's like "You awake yet? Huh? Are ya?". Geesh.

He is just the cutest! I love hearing about Socrates. (you must put a pic up soon)

It sounds like your highways over there are strewn with wrecks! Be careful on those raods!

As for putting your rain suit on and the weird looks, you had the last laugh!

Trudygolightly

on Aug 30, 2006

Funny about the rain suit LOL, good one!

It sounds like you and Socrates are bonding good and that's great news!

Gotta say you followed directions really well to that school! good thing he gave ya good directions too! wonder how many others coulda found that place!

Enjoy your rest.

Tova7

on Aug 30, 2006

Hopefully the rain will move out and you will have easy sailing.

feisty_in_ohio

on Aug 30, 2006

Glad you stayed dry.
Our Kitty does the nose thing to my Husband. He can only take it for so long - then he opens one eye & says "Yeah, I'm awake"
Sometimes he holds out for awhile & kitty pushes on his nose with his paw. Makes him laugh.
That cat just won't give up till my Husband gets up.

MasonM

on Aug 31, 2006

Reply #1
yea, Sally has gone back to sleeping above her momma's head! And stopped biting my neck! Sally missed her, but now, same old stuff! "Hey I am here", but at least 2 of us to answer that call!

MasonM

on Aug 31, 2006

He is just the cutest! I love hearing about Socrates. (you must put a pic up soon)

It sounds like your highways over there are strewn with wrecks! Be careful on those raods!

As for putting your rain suit on and the weird looks, you had the last laugh!

Yeah, he's pretty good company most of the time.

There are always wrecks as many people simply don't know how to drive.

He who laughs last stays dryest

MasonM

on Aug 31, 2006

Yeah we get along pretty well.

Getting directions from people can often be, ummm, interesting.

Thanks

MasonM

on Aug 31, 2006

Hopefully the rain will move out and you will have easy sailing.

I'm sure it'll stop after I get a good soaking.

MasonM

on Aug 31, 2006

Reply #5
Glad you stayed dry.
Our Kitty does the nose thing to my Husband. He can only take it for so long - then he opens one eye & says "Yeah, I'm awake"
Sometimes he holds out for awhile & kitty pushes on his nose with his paw. Makes him laugh.
That cat just won't give up till my Husband gets up.

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