A bunch of useless crap
not to mention those deadly ball point pens.
Published on April 14, 2007 By MasonM In Blogging
I'm hauling an oversized load, a fire truck, down to the port in Houston (yuk). Illinois has a stupid curfew on oversized loads. We can't move between noon on Saturday and sunrise Monday. Most states allow you to run all day on Saturday, but have a Sunday curfew. Stupid Illinois has to cost us an extra half a frigging day.

So I ran about as far as I could before pulling into the truck stop. The next one down the road would have put me past noon. A lot of times I play dumb and just keep running Saturday afternoon like I own the place, but today there are a zillion cops out on the highways and they seem to be primarily focused on the big rigs. The way my luck has been running lately I decided to not push it and just behave myself for a change. The last thing I need is an expensive illegal movement ticket.

So I pulled in here, filled up my fuel tanks so they'll be nice and topped off for Monday morning (and also earning myself a free shower). I'm going to use the day and a half of down time to do some housekeeping in my little apartment on wheels as well as just chilling out, knitting, and catching up on my rest.

Had I opted to run down to the state line last night instead of going to the bar I probably could have made it through IL before noon and been able to keep running until dark, but then I would have missed out on a pretty fun evening. One must have priorities in life ya know and I am not one who is known for taking life very seriously anyway. Besides, I can use a bit of rest and this is one of the nicer truck stops along my route so hanging out here won't be too terrible.

I wonder if that big hotel across the road has a bar?


Comments
on Apr 14, 2007
As I finished reading your article, I thought, "But who are the guys with guns?" and then, it dawned on me -- the cops, stupid! I really am slow this morning.

I hated driving through Illinois. The road was straight, but they still made me drive 65 mph. Even Arkansas allows 70mph!

Drive safe!
on Apr 14, 2007

As I finished reading your article, I thought, "But who are the guys with guns?" and then, it dawned on me -- the cops, stupid! I really am slow this morning.



I hated driving through Illinois. The road was straight, but they still made me drive 65 mph. Even Arkansas allows 70mph!



Drive safe!



it's one of those days.

Don't feel bad about the 65. In IL the speed limit for big trucks is only 55, which really sucks.
on Apr 14, 2007
Just so's you don't feel to guilty for workin the half-day, Mason, I'm still in my pyjamas being a slouch! Enjoy a little down time, bud. You deserve it!  
on Apr 14, 2007

Just so's you don't feel to guilty for workin the half-day, Mason, I'm still in my pyjamas being a slouch! Enjoy a little down time, bud. You deserve it!  


Thanks, but trust me I don't feel even a little bit guilty about it. A tad annoyed about the stupid rule, but not guilty.

One of these mornings, just for shits and giggles I'm going to walk into a truck stop for my morning coffee wearing pajamas, a bathrobe, and fuzzy bunny slippers.
on Apr 14, 2007
One of these mornings, just for shits and giggles I'm going to walk into a truck stop for my morning coffee wearing pajamas, a bathrobe, and fuzzy bunny slippers.


Please take a picture of this. Please, oh, please, oh please!
on Apr 14, 2007

I bet that Hotel does have a bar!

And SHE, Virginia is all 65.  No 70s here, and not many 65s either (except on I-81).

on Apr 14, 2007
And SHE, Virginia is all 65. No 70s here, and not many 65s either (except on I-81).


But there were no curves in Illinois! You could have done 80 with no problem! Even Tennessee allows 70. Plus, Illinois is such a bloody long state, it took us forever to get through it.