Post Gordon ~ Thoughts, Commentary & Reflections

A Wheel Holder's Day

Trainer Frank called last night, just as I took my seat at Spencer's Tivoli Theatre (artsy fartsy spelling, theirs) to watch 'The Hobbit', caught my cell before it made a fuss, ignored Frank's call and walked up to the lobby and put the thing on silent. Normally I take Frank's calls--whenever. That's, otherwise. After the movie and in the car, called Frank back.

This morning Frank pulled out ahead of me. When I arrived he was already in his truck and hooked up, ready to depart. We didn't talk. Too cold, 4 degrees.

At the receiver, Frank didn't want to believe that we'd spoken. "How else would I know that you wanted me on the yard at 8:30, leave 10 minutes after that, and bring back your accessorials?? Huh??" Yuppo, a senior moment on Frank's part and he did a full 360 spin with arms flung out looking like a 60-year-old doing a kid's ballet pirouette. Had no recall of the conversation.

Musta conked after his long day yesterday, same as today. A backhaul in Shelbyville that requires him to layover in the truck tonight.

That's okay. We all have our senior moments. He insinuated that I should have more than him since I'm older. I shrugged. Not going to let him know that I missed Pennyrile Parkway again, this time only for 10 miles, 20 total to get back on course. Doesn't need to know...

Today's truck had all new rubber all the way around, brand new Michelin steers and Michelin super singles, and a little under 137,000 miles, a Pinnacle sleeper just like the one Frank drove today. His was a little faster. Going through Henderson, I saw one of our trucks behind us and the only truck on the yard when I left was Sketch's, who went around me on the right the other night in Bloomington at about 45-50 mph with fresh snow covering the lane lines.

I'm still pissed about that and at the time let Sketch know, too.

Well, this may get interesting, I thought. But it was Frank. He'd stopped to pee in Henderson and they had catfish, of course; then he caught up and passed me even though I was on cruise at the Mack's top speed, 62 mph. Okay, fine, Frank. I have something he doesn't have (TWIC). So as I passed his sitting truck at the receiver's check-in gate, called him. A friendly taunt.

"Last one in's a rotten egg!!"

"You cheated," replied Frank...

 

A Huge, Huge Migration

Mostly I see red-tailed hawks on this run; they sit on a stump or post, not too high off the ground. They fly kind of funny, either glide or flap-flap-flap. Wide bodies. Did see one the other day with a mouse about the size of the big ones I catch here at home.

Hadn't seen any deer until tonight. Finally saw a group of about 20 foraging just over a tree line that would block them from the interstate from a lower profile vehicle. Very cool. So not see a single one and then 20.

Well, it's about time!!

More spectacularly, saw a vast migration of flapping, roiling, climbing, diving, birds, I would guess 1,000 feet wide, several hundred high and miles, miles long, like a terrifically huge bee swarm and too high for me to identify what species. Most birds I've ever seen at one time.

A few miles up the road saw another, smaller migration about 20-30 feet high and about the same width, miles and miles of it again, same unknown species.

All this occurred in vicinity of I-69 and I-64, just north of there on the way back. Earlier, going into the receiver's, saw probably 10-15 vultures feasting on a small deer carcass just a step in from the curb on the grass. Good-sized birds, bigger than my roosters, which are pretty big.

One of my roosters, by the way, is using the roost and tarped enclosure I built yesterday. It's a start.

But no eggs tonight. Did find one this morning, still warm.

 

Don't even have to go outside to smell that since I had the roosters in my shower the other night when it was so cold, subzero. With my water off, haven't cleaned up the mess. Phew!!

Sketch does fit, doesn't it? Sunday Driver goes by his initials as met him on a Sunday. Tank, well, you can probably figure that one out...

Wayne, you can post whatever you want here.

Gripes, commentaries, you name it.

Denali expressed some frustration the other day about what companies fail to teach that drivers need to know (like in Orientation, but he may have meant trucking schools as well) and I've had some numerous thoughts on that; it'll come up in due course...

 

Reefers, Dry Vans and Mentors, Oh My!!

I notice we are not as 'pride of ownership' on trailers the same as with tractors. Most reefers I've seen were purchased from Marten (not purchased new), lots of small issues on doors from trailer to trailer, for example. Reefers have info on nose about what hole to use for tandems depending on State. I think Reed the Mechanic has agreed to put a handle on the driver side swing to help get up inside and verify destination.

Have had moisture, water and ice in dry vans recently. Doors left open on empty line? No product damage so far... Not too many with roll-up doors.

I know there IS a bridge law, run my tandems forward for turning convenience while in transit and understand that when you cross the Ohio bridge law matters. Not really familiar, though. 40-foot marker on some trailers to set center of tandems. Too lazy to look it up right now...

Wikipedia link with some interesting history: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Bridge_Gross_Weight_Formula

Agree with you on mentor, most of us don't/haven't had one the way you did but have had some truckers to look up to, at least. You had much more. Most of us, like Denali grumped a while back, are pushed out of the nest wet and required to learn on our own... or sink.


//Post heading is a play on 'Lions, Tigers... '

//Cool!! I have running water again. Once it goes off, hafta disconnect the hot water heater to not burn out heating element if water drops too far, just re-hooked the 220. Hot water shortly! Can clean the shower of rooster pooh and then one slightly disheveled guy. Did not go into crawlspace with torpedo heater, outside warmed up enough on its own. Likely will replace the heat tape again or would not have frozen. Have to take a look down there and be sure no leaks, flooding. It's all good...