Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

Interesting day...

Running for a full 11 today until I hit a point in Wyoming with BIG signs "Advise No Light Loads" for the next sixty miles due to 50+ mph winds... So I drive a bit to the first parking area and stopped to check the State DOT link... Yup... It has same advice ... From Laramie to Rawlns... UGH!!!

Ok, decision time... Play it safe and pull off cause WYDOT said so... or run like a big dog... Opted to drive further. To see for myself and had an exit ramp a few miles down the road if it was the wrong call to make.

Then, as I was pulling out of the little parking area, a nice big GREEN truck drives by... Yup... A Fellow Driver from Abilene.

What's the chances!!!

So a quick call to Richmond ... "Hey, who's in the truck that just passed me?"... and two minutes later I am on the phone with my newest buddy and I tagged along with him the rest of the way to "Little America" at I80/X68.

AND BOY AM I GLAD TOO

We hit a few white outs on Elk Mountain (or Big Elk Mountain???) and then Black Ice about an hour or so down the road... So awesome having an experienced Driver giving you advice on what I am about to hit...

And for the FIRST time, I felt all 18 wheels loose traction on the Black Ice... Ok. Maybe not 18 but I know the Steers were having a Play Day for sure... It, thankfully, didn't last very long before regaining traction but long enough for my heart to jump into my throat as I watched that ditch getting closer... and closer... WHEW!!!

So I guess I survived my virgin run through Wyoming in Winter while Elk Mountain and Black Ice tested my fledgling driving skills.

Tomorrow ... "Three Sisters"


Stay Safe,
MD

 

You can run around Elk mountain. Get on US 30 Laramie to Walcott. It's a good road.

 

http://www.wyoroad.info/pls/Browse/WRR.RoutesResults?SelectedRoute=I80
i have been across WY 100 times never understood why the eastbound gets closed and westbound has no restrictions

the boss was downloading data off the truck one morning
he says where were you doing 92
ohhhhhhhhhh just going down the sisters

 

Well, I will try to go easy on the sisters today and keep it under 90 this morning.

 

I am sticking to the main roads this round but will definitely keep that in mind for coming loads.... Thanks.

 

first time you see a truck blown over at the 279mm you will remember

 

Remember I should have taken a different route??? LOL

 

Looks like I80 is closed behind me now so I guess we made it through just in time... Well... Last night made it through.

Strange that I80 East Bound from Utah State Line is closed ahead of me but the West Bound is still open but with Advisories out.

 

i think they close east bound to be proactive and not get everyone in Rawlins all bottled up with no where to go

 

Looks like parts of OR is down too... Mostly EB but one section of WB too. But it will be a few hours before we get that far