Sorry, I tried to write this at a Pilot truck stop last week and it kept kicking me off the internet. Right now, Jonathan and I are getting our truck fixed in Troy, Illinois. We were driving from Greencastle, PA to St. Louis, Mo for the umpteenth million time when we took a potty break in western Pennsylvania. The truck would not start up and we were blocking a lane at th
e fuel pump. Finally, a guy came out and bypassed the ignition switch and got it started. Werner said to drive the load to St. Louis and then get it fixed. Unfortunately, we could not turn the engine off for fear it wouldn't restart, so we went 12 hours non-stop (only stop to change drivers without turning the car off). Here is the blog I posted last week with updates at the end.
A lot has happened since my last post. Pam has got her mission call to the California Santa Rosa, Spanish Speaking mission. S. David Brown was born in September. I finally graduated from student driver and am now driving with Jonathan. Currently, we are stuck in East Saint Louis without a load. Let me quickly catch-up on my travels.
The only states of the lower forty-eight in which I have not driven are Idaho (although I rode through it 5 times), Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine.
My trips since last post include:
Los Angeles to Neenah, Wisconsin; Green Bay,WI to New Century, Kansas; Ottawa Kansas to Portland Oregon to West Valley City, Utah; Salt Lake City to Gap, Pennsylvania (Amish farms and covered bridges) to West Valley City, again. Salt Lake City to Ogden to Cheyenne, WY to Sparks, Nevada to Shasta Lake, California to Lacey, Washington, to Pacific, Washington to Cheyenne to Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha to West Chicago; Des Plaines, IL to Millington, Tennessee. Dyersburg, TN to Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Springfield, IL. Salem, IL to Newark, New Jersey. Pottstown, Pennsylvania to Wayne, PA to Laredo, Texas. Laredo, TX to Montgomery, Alabama to Albany, Georgia to Atlanta, Georgia. Washington, GA to McDonough, GA to Arcadia, Florida. Lakeland, FL to Logan, Utah. Salt Lake City to Henderson, Colorado to Longmont, CO to Alamosa, CO to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM to Tracy, California. Modesto, CA to West Valley City, UT and our 4-day break. Salt Lake City to Henderson, CO. Aurora, CO to Omaha, NE to Des Plaines, IL. Romeoville, IL (next to Joliet, IL, honestly) to Janesville, Wisconsin. Elk Grove Village, IL to Findlay, OH. Fremont, Indiana to Sapulpa, Oklahoma to Columbus, Ohio to Indianapolis, IN. Shelbyville, Indiana to East Saint Louis, IL where we are stuck and it is raining. Total Mileage: 30350. Grand Total: 56700 miles.
Last Wednesday night, Jonathan and I were dropping off a load in St. Louis at night. We were to pick up a new load at the same place at 3:30 AM. We decided to stay the night at a small truck stop next door so we could be ready to go early in the morning. The area is kind of a scary one but we figured there would be some security at the truck stop so we parked there. While walking from the truck to the C-store, a car was stolen at the gas pumps right in front of us. First warning signal! We asked the store clerk if they had problems with robberies often. He replied that a couple of truck windows had been smashed last week and that the trucks were robbed but usually there was no problem. Second warning signal! We bought some chili and hot dogs but there was no DDP, not even in the bottles. Third and last warning signal! We left and found a Flying J 11 miles away in Illinois. Moral of the story: Stay away from St. Louis late at night by the Mississippi River.
About a week and a ha
lf ago, I got to visit Stephanie, Emmuska, Liberty, and S. David Brown at the Rolla Love Truck Stop. Our little 30-minute visit lasted about an hour. I don't think Liberty knew what to make of Poppa with his scraggy beard. Yes, for the first time in my life, I am trying to grow a beard. It is itchy, scratchy, no fun but Jonathan won't let me back off. Don't worry Pam, it will be gone by your farewell. The visit was great and I hope when we pass through Ellensburg or Missoula or Spokane, we can visit with others. I have other pictures but the server to which I am connected won't let me add them. I will have to publish them later.
e fuel pump. Finally, a guy came out and bypassed the ignition switch and got it started. Werner said to drive the load to St. Louis and then get it fixed. Unfortunately, we could not turn the engine off for fear it wouldn't restart, so we went 12 hours non-stop (only stop to change drivers without turning the car off). Here is the blog I posted last week with updates at the end.A lot has happened since my last post. Pam has got her mission call to the California Santa Rosa, Spanish Speaking mission. S. David Brown was born in September. I finally graduated from student driver and am now driving with Jonathan. Currently, we are stuck in East Saint Louis without a load. Let me quickly catch-up on my travels.
The only states of the lower forty-eight in which I have not driven are Idaho (although I rode through it 5 times), Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine.
My trips since last post include:
Los Angeles to Neenah, Wisconsin; Green Bay,WI to New Century, Kansas; Ottawa Kansas to Portland Oregon to West Valley City, Utah; Salt Lake City to Gap, Pennsylvania (Amish farms and covered bridges) to West Valley City, again. Salt Lake City to Ogden to Cheyenne, WY to Sparks, Nevada to Shasta Lake, California to Lacey, Washington, to Pacific, Washington to Cheyenne to Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha to West Chicago; Des Plaines, IL to Millington, Tennessee. Dyersburg, TN to Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Springfield, IL. Salem, IL to Newark, New Jersey. Pottstown, Pennsylvania to Wayne, PA to Laredo, Texas. Laredo, TX to Montgomery, Alabama to Albany, Georgia to Atlanta, Georgia. Washington, GA to McDonough, GA to Arcadia, Florida. Lakeland, FL to Logan, Utah. Salt Lake City to Henderson, Colorado to Longmont, CO to Alamosa, CO to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM to Tracy, California. Modesto, CA to West Valley City, UT and our 4-day break. Salt Lake City to Henderson, CO. Aurora, CO to Omaha, NE to Des Plaines, IL. Romeoville, IL (next to Joliet, IL, honestly) to Janesville, Wisconsin. Elk Grove Village, IL to Findlay, OH. Fremont, Indiana to Sapulpa, Oklahoma to Columbus, Ohio to Indianapolis, IN. Shelbyville, Indiana to East Saint Louis, IL where we are stuck and it is raining. Total Mileage: 30350. Grand Total: 56700 miles.
Last Wednesday night, Jonathan and I were dropping off a load in St. Louis at night. We were to pick up a new load at the same place at 3:30 AM. We decided to stay the night at a small truck stop next door so we could be ready to go early in the morning. The area is kind of a scary one but we figured there would be some security at the truck stop so we parked there. While walking from the truck to the C-store, a car was stolen at the gas pumps right in front of us. First warning signal! We asked the store clerk if they had problems with robberies often. He replied that a couple of truck windows had been smashed last week and that the trucks were robbed but usually there was no problem. Second warning signal! We bought some chili and hot dogs but there was no DDP, not even in the bottles. Third and last warning signal! We left and found a Flying J 11 miles away in Illinois. Moral of the story: Stay away from St. Louis late at night by the Mississippi River.
About a week and a ha
lf ago, I got to visit Stephanie, Emmuska, Liberty, and S. David Brown at the Rolla Love Truck Stop. Our little 30-minute visit lasted about an hour. I don't think Liberty knew what to make of Poppa with his scraggy beard. Yes, for the first time in my life, I am trying to grow a beard. It is itchy, scratchy, no fun but Jonathan won't let me back off. Don't worry Pam, it will be gone by your farewell. The visit was great and I hope when we pass through Ellensburg or Missoula or Spokane, we can visit with others. I have other pictures but the server to which I am connected won't let me add them. I will have to publish them later. As most of you know, I have only had 4 days off since August 15th but I should be home for 6 days between Christmas and New Years. I really look forward to seeing you at Christmas. Stay healthy and happy and sometime this trial will be over.
