Thanks to heavy morning fog I was behind schedule all day today. I had planned to make it to Montgomery, AL before having to stop. Since tomorrow is Sunday I can't move my oversized load again until Monday morning. As it is I only made it as far as Birmingham, a full 100 miles short of today's goal. That's put me a couple of hours behind schedule Monday.
I was listening to the XM radio all day today, following the progress of the search for the three missing climbers on Mt. Hood hoping that with the weather break they might locate them today. I am really hoping that they are found alive and well. As they are all very experienced climbers/hikers, there is still a very good chance that they will be found alive.
I'm parked and settled in for the long wait for Monday. There is still a good chance that I can make delivery in FL on Monday, it'll just be afternoon instead of morning. Worse case it may put me a day behind on the reload back to WI. I really need to get a break on the loads here. The bad luck I've had on the last couple of loads, combined with the holidays breaking up the work schedule is really putting a crimp in my finances. What's worse is the fact than Jan and Feb are our slowest months of the year and won't be of much help trying to get the money situation evened back out again. It's going to be slim pickings between now and Spring.
I've been thinking about giving up cigarettes. I've been smoking them for 30 years now and lately have been starting to develop a smoker's cough which I find quite annoying. The cigarettes are really just a habit anyway and I get far more enjoyment from the pipe and cigar. I may just rid myself of the cigarette habit completely and stick to pipes and cigars exclusively. Pipe tobacco is also far more economical than cigarettes.
If I decided to go that route I'll give up the cigarettes while I am off the road at home for the holidays. It's a lot harder to give them up while driving as that is when the habit is the strongest. If I can go a week or so without them I'll be in good shape by the time I hit the road again. I'll just make sure to have plenty of pipe tobacco with me and pick up a box or two of small cigars for those quick smokes. I have been smoking these little Dutch Delight cigars made in Ireland of all places. They're really quite good and are the perfect size for a quick smoke. They're also very reasonably priced.
I wish the US would reopen trade with Cuba so we could once again get reasonably priced Cuban cigars. I think 30 years is long enough to hold a grudge.
Ok, I've rambled enough for now.