This ones for Bill....

So you say it's been awhile since I last said anything, well yeah it's been. There was nothing to say, nothing exiting happened....well then again maybe not...I finally lost the Peterbuilt, that truck (while it was roomy and comfortable) gave us the most problems we had for a long 8 months. We finally handed the truck in to the Charlotte OC with an over heating problem that they could not fix and sent the truck out to a CAT dealer for repairs, I didn't hear of that truck since. I received the flagship orange colored Freightliner (which I prayed for) since returning from my vacation. Once back on the road I couldn't stop running miles, they kept me so busy it wasn't hard falling asleep at night even though I've been missing not having my wife around with me. She had been in the truck with me for 2 years and it took a little getting use to with her not around. I still miss her..Well...you got it...it is what it is right?...Miles, like I said had been good until 2 weeks ago when I lost my trip planner. Miles has been a struggle since and the girls in the office is trying to get a handle on it, I just hope it happens sooner than later. Places I traveled since returning,...I'll say the 1 place that sticks out is the Willie Nelsons truck stop in Texas. I had a load that headed to Laredo TX that had a little time on it. I stopped at that truck stop around 4:30 one Thursday afternoon. Now I heard about this place in the past, but didn't stop until that day. When I entered the convenience store side, I walked down this hallway that was loaded with Willie Nelsons memorabilia and a room that captured his awards. Displayed were items like Platinum albums and movie memorabilia from movies he acted in. The truck stop had a restaurant, a bar, a radio station and a concert style room that hosted live concerts on Fridays and Saturdays. I arrived on Thursday and you guessed it, I missed a concert. So I did the next thing, check in the saloon, there's always something happening. Bingo, live band playing in the bar. I met with a couple of company drivers during dinner than headed over to watch a live band play called the Honky Tonkers. They were good and I really enjoyed myself that night, I've been wanting to watch a band(I didn't care what type of music) play live. Since then it's been nothing but work and I still enjoy driving and meeting other drivers within our company. I still keep up with Bill because someone needs to keep tabs on him. Lets just say I keep him on the right track to success...hahaha...lol..It's visa versa......but after all....it is what it is right?....well until next time....aloha Gus

ahem....We're back...agaaaan....!!

Believe me, I tried logging on this past weekend with no luck in the area I was in, the message being "Cannot Acquire Data", which means if AT&T really had more bars I"ll be drunk more often!!!!????!! HA, HA!! I really tried to announce on Sunday----HAPPY --th BIRTHDAY DAD!!!! I won't reveal his age, he's actually younger than the he says!! I love you pop!! Hope you had a blessed day!! Well another week passed---here's the highlights---Load was delivered on Kentucky on the 8th, the next load sent us all the way into upper upper Michigan in Marquette. We stayed about an hours drive before delivery in Rapid River,Michigan. That night it was a very comfortable 43 degrees. Loved it, slept like a baby! Next load picked up in Escanaba MI that moved us into Coon Rapids Minnesota. Did I mention all loads so far was paper loads(appx 43000-44000lbs ea load). Another paper load picked up in Sartell MN to deliver in Lomira Wisconsin. Why not add another load of paper from Wisconsin that delivered in Hamilton Ohio on 6/15. Finally a load that delivered store merchandise to a mall in Springfield Illinois on 6/16. The next load had us picking up a load of tires in Mount Vernon Illinois going to Gainesville Georgia, but someone in the office decided to have a bright idea and wake up the Mrs at 2:45 in the morning to change the load. It was a relay load from another driver who coulnd not deliver it on time that went to Chicago Il. Not my favorite place to drive/deliver/pick up in. Traffic..Traffic..Traffic.. Okay enough. We delivered this load to the Toy's R Us retail store in the heart of Chicago. Got the load there on time..but Traffic....Here's why this time. Pictures is worth a 1000 words, and no I don't know how badly anyone got hurt..Well next load we're picking up from a Bobcat plant in Illinois delivering in North Dakota... till next time...a hui ho...Gus.

Things from this week...6/1-5...

Since last blog we delivered that load in Sartell,MN. On the way there the Mrs and I stopped off at this rest area that had a scenic look out. We had a little extra time before delivering the load so we walked to the lookout. Well it was longer than expected (more than 1/2 hour with some hills), the Mrs was huffing and puffing when we stopped. I laughed a little,(shouldn't have, paid for it latter) but it really was a nice walk. Next delivered the load, spent the night on their lot and picked up a load 3 miles away from Electrolux heading to Laredo,TX some 1418 miles away. It's Friday and that load got delivered and the next load is staying with the over 1000 mile trend with 1261 going to Lexington,KY that will keep us busy through the weekend and delivers on Monday. No pictures this time, need to load it from the camera yet, will keep you posted. I noticed more new followers. Thanks for looking in. Kids,your mom needs to be checked up on every now and then..!!HA!!. Jaime, changes her picture every so often, I like that, New one with Alan?? Good. (Replies to Bill),Gus is my nickname back home. It was something given/earned by my best friend Masao. A friend like no other, through thick and thin this Guy and his wife has been there for me and my family and that's something special that I hold near and deep in my heart!! I also seen your last blog with Mule, I'll work on something for y'all, and I'm not sure if you meant it like that but aloha is not spelled AHOLA......peace out love y'all...see ya..Gus

Hi Again it's just us!!

We've been back on the road since May 5 and I only place 1 blog since then...shame on me..Well since then we had it rough. Miles been low for a better time of it (2 weeks worth of it)and we only sat waiting for loads. Hanging out mostly on the East Coast from Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. It's Sunday night 5/31 and the current load came from Maine going 1726 miles in 3 days to Sartell,Minnesota that delivers Monday 6/1. Last week miles has been better for us and this load is a good start of the new week. I noticed a new follower to blog. What's up?? Hey, I got your message on 5/11 I'll call later and explained what happened and thanks for the birthday wish. No pictures this time, cameras in the truck and will update next time. Currently in the Gary Indiana OC which we call the Chicago operating center (OC). Well till next time......aloha's......Gus..

Pictures from Mothers Day and Birthday ride

Here the photographer is doing a silhouette on the pass window of me.

Look, canoe racing! (nah!) row boating in a Connecticut river.

Worcester,Conn. Looks like a train depot.

Not sure which Church it is, but it is nice in Connecticut.

Morning sunshine, wake up to natures beauty.

Happy Mothers day to all Moms. Its been a long week. I didn't feel well so I did not go to the races during my time off. Went back on the road 5/5 Tuesday and been suffering for miles ever since. First load out to Taylor Pennsylvania then to Hagerstown Maryland, then off to South Portland Maine then now to Dayton New Jersey. Sound like a lot but its not. We will keep holding the faith that things will change soon. We'll keep smilin' and taking pictures of our road trips. till next time....it is what it is....Darrell

If it can Happen it will....hey a new one....

I know by now your wondering what's going on with us. Remember the last load I was working on(the delivery to Goodyear) in Illinois? Well the Mrs and I went to bed around 8:30pm, we planned on delivering the load at 8am on Thursday, around 2:30am my phone starts ringing(for those who know me,my phone is my alarm clock also). I look at the number first and see the 920 prefix from Green Bay. It's a call to help save a load from another driver who had truck problems and a load that needed to be delivered Thursday afternoon. I double checked to see if I could make it there first before I accepted it. I could but it would be tight. It was a 3 stopper to Home Depot, 2 in Kansas City Mo and 1 in St Louis Mo. I accepted it because it would get me home for some much needed time off that was coming up. Problem was I could not deliver the last delivery as scheduled, well they relayed the last delivery because I would run out of time in Kansas City. Good news bad news, needed a place to park overnight in KC MO. I called my trucker buddy Bill for directions to the casino.(see I remember Bill visited it not too long ago). Ha, got the truck parked, filled up on a casino buffet.....mm mm...then proceeded to attack the machine that made the most noise and that still has the handle for the 1 arm bandit. No luck of course, the Mrs had more luck than me as usual, but we still walked away happy and refreshed. I'm posting pictures of the casino and a lucky shot of the Mrs in action...till next time....aloha...Darrell

A little catching up is in order!!

Since last post, it snowed just a little in Green Bay Wisconsin nothing to worry about and we made the delivery in Albany GA as planned on Friday morning 4/24. Our next load was a pick up from a nursery farm, a load of potted plants and flowers. Here's the deal, I don't have a refrigerated trailer so this load was doomed from the start. Temperature was 92 degrees when they loaded it and called for the same all weekend, mind you this load is heading for Clifton New Jersey a 1072 paid miles and delivers on Tuesday(4 days away for a load that will take approx 2 1/2 days to get there). Almost all was on pallets except the last 5 feet of plants, they stacked them 1 on top of each other, then blocked it with a wooden fence with load locks. I told the kid it would not work and it will get damaged, the supervisor approved of the load and I let it be. Well you know....(it is what it is...heh...)....of course it got damaged. They had me relay the load in Charlotte NC at our OC on Saturday 4/25. I'll let that be, it's in claims right now. Next load was waiting at the OC going to Brookville Indiana delivering on Monday 4/27. The ride wasn't that eventful except,when I shut down for the day in Walton Kentucky I had the truck washed and polished the rims and aluminum. Next load picked up in Cincinnati Ohio and delivered that in Raleigh North Carolina on 4/28 Tuesday. Currently haulin' a whole lot of rubber (Goodyear tires) to Dekalb Illinois for delivery on Thursday morn 4/30. The good news is we're off this weekend and NHRA is in St Louis this weekend and I'm going for my birthday. Till next time... Aloha....Darrell