Where am I now?

Since last writing I was in Cheyenne,WY.  It was then off to Holcomb, KS; Albuquerque, NM; Buckeye, AZ; National City, CA; Vernon,CA; Compton,CA; Victorville/Hesperia,CA; and finally where I am now: Napa,CA.  I had driven past my stop today in the past and having a vague idea of its location was very important because I had no time to spare for errors!

I arose at 2:45 Dallas time this morning, paid my $10 for a shower, got back in the truck and started driving.  I stopped for fuel in Lost Hills, CA and did not stop again until I reached Napa.  430 miles in 7.75 hours, but the bad news is my clock has expired so I am sitting in my truck on the side of the road in an industrial section of Napa, actually closer to Vallejo.

I need to finish my Keynote for Sunday and work on my web address; however, I am very tired so I will take a nap.  Then work on those projects.  It has been crazy the past few days, with extreme winds, crazy delivery times, insane drivers and a traffic accident in Phoenix that shut down the I-17 in both directions.  I think it is time for a nap.

Cheyenne,WY

Arriving here really ate the fuel economy out of my truck.  I have been averaging over 6 mpg; however, this leg of life's journey I only got 4.35, Ouch.  Hopefully by the ending of the week I can ink it back closer to 6.

The drive from the rest stop last night to WalMart DC 0777 was easy going except 3 things. The running on empty light came on, so I had to stop and use the measuring stick to confirm I had enough fuel to make delivery.  The other two items are related.  I was stopped at the weigh station in Colorado and Wyoming this morning.  This truck was not in there computer system as having current registration so I had to go in and confirm it with each one.  They all have computers, but each state decides what information it wants to share.  

It is still windy around this area, but not nearly as windy as yesterday.  

I do not have filtering on my google searches.  I have discovered that several times some challenged person has decided that a piece of art needed to be filtered while I am searching for images for the Psalms.  That said, it is amazing the smut one finds while typing innocent words. I wish internet porn would be gone, but baring that; their address was required by law to be ___.XXX.  That would be easy to filter.   It is hard to imagine if the world continues on like it is, what will be available in 20 years.

Brrr

I know winter is coming.  I am on the open plains of Colorado tonight.  The wind has calmed down greatly from earlier; however, it is biting cold.  I left Fort Worth area this morning with the best intentions, but failed to head the direction I needed to so took a longer way of getting to where I am tonight.  I am still within my variance, but I did eat up my comfort zone!  Where am I tonight? First a story.  My rest stop for the night was to be in Springfield,CO.  The truck stop guide stated there was a Valero with an XL parking area.  When I arrived in town, with less than 30 minutes left on my clock, the Valero was no where to be seen.  There was a run down station with a bar, but I will not park in such a place.  So I drove on.  I am praying for a solution since this is a desolate section of Colorado.  I am praying very diligently for a place to park my 70 feet of road space.  Just as my faith is beginning to wavier, thinking I will need to call Dallas and tell them of my problem, a blue sign appears: "Rest Area, 1 mile".  I pull in and set my brakes.  I look at the clock.  6:30.  Exactly when I would need to stop.  So I am at a rest stop between Springfield and Lamar, about a mile from some windmills.  I am so thankful for the location, one does not complain about the outhouses they have installed!

Grow where your planted

While driving back from Laredo I observed a cactus growing out of concrete pieces on a bridge.  It had been there for a while.  Unfortunately I was unable to take a picture but hopefully it will still be there next time I drive by.

I watched the trailer for Fireproof.  I would like to see the movie; however, I do not know when I'll be near a theater.  Part of the extreme disadvantages of being on the road is when there is trouble at home. 

 Matthew was having a mental breakdown while I was talking with Paula tonight.  This is not the first.  There is something lurking down deep within that child that will not finish releasing him.  A fear, a partial memory, I do not know, but he goes into a rage.  I hope we are able to find someone who can help him and help us to help him.  I am heading toward Dallas in the morning.  Currently I do not know where I am going which always adds to the fun of a large truck!

Von Ormy

They are working on I35, so as you turn off of 410 you have to travel an extra mile to reach I35.  Then I missed the exit I needed to take, so add two more miles! Oh well.  This is one of the largest and newest lots for a Loves truck stop.  Most of them are very small with hardly enough room to park, let alone enough shower facilities.  I will find out about the shower facilities in the morning (around 4 in the morning!)  I am heading for Laredo in the morning.  Need to be there between 8 and 10 AM. I am planning on leaving at 5AM so I can be present as close to 8AM as possible.

Driving was able to listen for a while to Prairie Home Comp. with Garrison Keeler at ACU.  It was very funny and telling at times.  Also was able to hear various bible lessons, some made me cringe and some were great food for thought.  The lesson of the harvest, thinking about what I sow, or more importantly what kind of crop I desire should determine the seed I use.  I would never plant apple seeds and expect to see corn.  If I want X then X seeds I better plant.

$2.00

It is rainy, misty today as I drive from TN-NC-SC-GA.  I am hauling a load of cardboard.  

While driving around Atlanta the traffic was a mess.  I was very thankful I was not heading the opposite direction.  I had saved enough from paycheck, etc. that I had enough for a scale ticket today ($9.00); but after buying breakfast (2 bananas and one milk) I have two one dollar bills in my wallet.  I have a large collection of change, plus I have food that I purchased previously, but it seems strange to be down to my last two dollars.  I could feel sorry for myself; however, as I walked into the Pilot station here in Newnan,GA there was a young couple who had made some very poor choices.  They were attempting to hitchhike to FL via truckers.  They were sitting at the edge of the store to get out of the rain.  I talked to them for a few moments; however, I could not assist them on their journey.  

I had planned to be in Lafayette,LA tomorrow, but with the traffic situation in Atlanta I will head to Hammond instead. The weather report for tomorrow looks much better than todays.

Toad Suck and Mouse Tail Landing

One of the disadvantages of traveling from point A to B without having time to stop is not knowing the history of a particular item.  Who named a park Toad Suck or why is it called mouse tail landing?

While using the indoor plumbing in one of the fine places I stop, I observed the usual scribbles on the wall; however, this one caught my eye.  Someone had drawn male anatomy on the wall (not unusual), but this time it was, shall we say, uncircumcised.   A generation ago, the age group of the people who normally do this, would not have known what one looked like unless it was circumcised.  

Tonight I am in Knoxville, TN and will be at the Rcv by tomorrow afternoon.  Anyone's guess as to where I will be by this time tomorrow.

Hog Trough Liquor

Drove 624 miles.  That is just on the edge of my legal ability.  It was a lot of work; however, without the migraines of the previous days and therefore I was able to enjoy it a little more.  Including spotting a sign for a group who was cleaning up a section of highway: Hog Trough Liquor.  I was raised around hogs and that name certainly brings up a wild image!  Driving on I-40 from Tucumcari,NM; just west of Amarillo; there is a large feed lot to the south side of the road.  It was windy this morning (over 40 mph from the south) and very wet, but the smell from the feed lot was extremely gross.  That reminds me of my favorite TV cigarette commercial. "Come to where the flavor is, come to Marlboro Coutry," while the cattleman is riding a horse in a feed lot.  From what I smelled, that is not a smell I want in my mouth!

I am so proud of who Christopher is becoming.  He had a couple of challenges and he met them both with flying colors.  He has discovered that he can write poetry.  I think he also has discovered he is loved.  I pray the same for all my children.

Migraines and Cicadas

 I had a migraine headache yesterday.  I was outside of Flagstaff,AZ and told myself I need to pull over soon.  I watched the road signs and there was my sign: "Rest Stop 9 Miles", thank you Lord! I used all three methods of cure that I have known in the past: 1. dark, cool, quite. 2. aspirin  3. A discovery from the Harvard School of Medicine.  I awoke this morning feeling somewhat better; however, by this afternoon, it was haunting me again.  So I am in Tucumcari, NM rather than Amarillo, TX.  I will need to spend a few moments and make sure I can make it to Maxton, NC on time.

Cicadas, those are the load noisy bugs you hear, but some times have difficulty seeing even though they are fairly large.  I included a picture just for fun.  Anyway, they are back.  My ears have not 'buzzed' for a long time; however, they are buzzing load and clear right now.  It sounds like cicadas going off in my head.  Not like you are right next to them, but as you approach them sound.  I do not think this helps my head.

Just outside of Tucumcari are two great signs. The first is a state mileage marker stating the mileage to Amarillo is 114 miles.  The second is an ad for the free steak 72 oz steak if you eat it within 3 hours.  It says Amarillo is one hour away.   The speed limit is 75.   This must be some of that new math that I missed.

The journey of a 1000 miles

begins with the first step or in this case a journey of 2800 miles begins with 377 miles.  I am wanting to keep track of my expenses, partially for tax purposes.  One that I have not been keeping track of until now was ATM.  In order to access part of my pay check, I must use an ATM.  The ATM charged me$2.95; however, the company that holds my money charged me $1.25 for me to get my money.  $4.20 to withdraw my own money.  That fee does not vary, except the ATM fees may increase at some locations.  Not only do I need to keep track of that expense, I need to be careful that I am with drawing an amount where such a fee is justified.

Dallas was miffed this morning that I had rushed to collect a trailer.  The shipper had us listed for a 3 PM appointment so I figured what would be the rush; however, the tone on the QC said differently.  So back to Stockton and get a trailer.  After I am connecting to trailer, I get a message to get fuel where I had been in Ripon.  I stated it was a little to late.  I arrived in Sacramento with lots of time to spare, sitting around for 4 hours, before they finally were able to load me.  Had I waited until later in the day, I would be in Barstow now and not Mojave.   But the little truck stop in Mojave is very clean and there was plenty of parking for this hour of the night.  Let us all be thankful.

Off to no where

"I will return to the truck on 10/8 at 9:30 AM" Unfortunately they have had so many people quite when they arrive home for their few days off the first time, they do not have any loads planned for me, so wait.  I drove south to Ripon to the Love's truck stop and they finally sent me a preload for tomorrow.  So it is back to Stockton to pick up a trailer, then off to Sacramento to pick up a load heading for the east coast.  

It is different in the truck than previously.  I now have sheets on the bed rather than sleeping in a sleeping bag.  I had a pillow that was left over from a hospital visit years ago that I was using.  I would roll it up so I could use it, but when I arrived home, the pillow had expired.  So now I have two pillows.  I have office type supplies that will make life easier.   It was wonderful to be home for so many reasons.  The being with family and seeing others at church was the main item; however, going shopping for the little things was certainly icing on the cake.

Home

Today is the 7th. I will leave in the morning to get back to the road.  I did not arrive on slippers, but a Kenworth, so I was not looking for KS.  I arrived home on Thursday, having taken another trucks load late Wednesday and making two deliveries in LA area and one in Fresno.  Paula worked Friday night & Saturday, leaving us just three days together.  Part of the problem of course is the honey do list, such as repairing part of the roof over the bedroom.  The price of asphalt shingles has gone up drastically over what we paid last time, so it had to be a patch job again rather than replace the worn out area.  Are we having fun yet? 

It was good to see the body of believers in Stockton, it has certainly been a while.  I missed seeing Fran who was out of town.  I observed son #1, looking better than he has in years.  Smiling, laughing; I pray that God will continue to watch over him and allow him the time to come to terms with life.  It has not been an easy road and he has certainly chosen a difficult path.  

I spoke with Jean and updated her website.  I will need to make a minor correction when I get back on the road, but it was major changes.  The laptop cannot connect to the internet while at home.   I discovered the error to my QuickVerse program and downloaded the fix.  It now works correctly on the laptop.  To have access to so many things will be wonderful while out on the road.  I pray to touch lives in a positive, uplifting way over the course of the next few months and look forward to being home again December 17.