Where are you

oh sure.....now that we are off the road you are in salinas and santa maria....see how you are....??

 

The last of my 4 days off are winding down quick. 0300 will be here before I know it. I'll be ready to get back on schedule.

 

It's been a little while since i have been in Salinas, last time was for strawberries a few months ago. Been out of Oxnard alot with peppers and mixed produce for Canadian grocery stores from Del Norte and then the load of grapes from Bakersfield to Montreal threw my usual routine out the window. got potatoes out of minnesota last week. Heavy SOB's , 18 pallets had me at max gross , that was with less than half fuel as well.

 

I heard about loads like that and twice with my trainer we had to go back and get weight taken off. I lucked out though with the biggest weight I carried was around 79K.

 

With produce I always seem to either get the really heavy loads or the really light loads. Never seem to get the " in between" loads ! The potatoes were ok as I had them spread the pallets out so they went from the nose to the 48 ft mark , if it had been loaded wrong it would have been hard to adjust the weight by sliding axles and fifth wheel etc. Produce can be tricky with multiple picks and varying pallet weights for different products. It has taken me lots of learning (and guessing) to get my truck loaded correctly and as full as possible. I still have loads were I get it wrong and have to go and get it re-worked or have them cut product. Produce is a challenge but it's also a PITA at times.

 

I am at the same place where I was last evening.... the only free truck stop in New Orleans and it's safe. Police comes by here constantly. Was walking around the parking lot this morning and a gentleman who works in the convenience store came to me and asked if I was in one of the trucks (or if I was a lot lizard...) I know I don't look like a truck driver at all... but don't like to be confused with a lot lizard.... Then I decided to wash some of my clothes... took my big bucket to a faucet and washed everything... then cooked inside truck... Later this afternoon took a nice "shower" in the back of the trailer next to the woods and bushes. There was nobody around... Had 3 gallons of water, soap and water.... That was wonderful... Now it may be 90 F inside truck and I must keep windows closed because of the mosquitoes... And can't idle cause very low in fuel.... Hopefully Pilot in La Place will have their fuel pumps working again tomorrow... Called them today and was told they were working on it...

 

Rocks your one tough lady. I shiver everytime you mention bathing with ice water from the cooler
though bikin in back of the trailer sounds appealing

In a hell hole called Jackson Mississippi
whover designed the roads around exit 47 was on crack
could see the petro but couldnt find it.....sigh
up a frontage road down 55 up east on 20 back south on 49......sigh
another 15 min of drivetime down the tubes
but i am here skeered to leave
maybe be easier in the morning

 

Transam... when it's 100 F, having some icy cold water pouring down my body feels very good... if it doesn't cause me some shock... ... and when I start feeling numb, it's time to stop. But today I used room temp water. And washed my arms, legs and head many times at the faucet outside... You don't use GPS? If not YOU are a REAL PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER!

 

my gps works great till the last 1.5 miles then it speaks russian
it was these stupid lil frontage roads and left hand exits
and the dummy behind the wheel


i will continue to use the truckstop showers
had enough baths out on deck of the boat all those years

 

And you know what else? Call me whatever, but being so disoriented and forgetful, I generally draw maps of truck stations where I will go, to know before hand where the entrance and exit is and the best parking spots.... So, I don't waste time driving around, trying to find, or enter the wrong way, and know where to go for best parking... And that's why I don't consider myself a real professional truck driver.... I wouldn't know how to do this without a gps and all the pre planning that I do...