Okay, picked my truck up Tuesday morning and went straight to see Ron and Chris to get dispatched. Short run to start the week, hook up to a loaded trl in the yard and head for Rougemont, Province Quebec, 759miles away. Nice steady run up through New Brunswick, the snows clearing quickly, but not over we,re still getting storms. I arrived at Rougemont Wednesday morning, quick unload and wait for reload details. It did'nt take them long, go to Granby PQ, drop mt, hook up to loaded trl and head back to Truro, Nova Scotia. Granbyy was onl 19 miles away and the trip back from there would earn me 725 miles. When I arrived at Granby the trl was'nt quit ready, so time to cook some breakfast and chill for a while. The guys there only took 90 mins to complete the load, so it was'nt no great hardship, plus I was paid for the waiting time. I was at the delivery point the following morning. Chris had asked what my plans were when i reached Truro, in other words did I want to go back home or turn and burn. That was a no brainer, "turn and burn: was the reply. So from Truro I took the mt up to Port Hawkesbury NS (115miles), dropped it at the paper mill there, hooked up to a loaded one and took it back to our trl yard in Truro. Then the message for my load came through. I read it, then read it again.. Oh yes result. When i drop this trl at Truro there would be another one there for me to hook up to bound for Gallatin, Tennessee. Once hooked up I set the GPS and 1686 miles would see me in Gallatin. Now the load was booked for 8am Monday morning. So I worked it out, if I could run hard for the next 2 days I could get parked up a few hours from the drop on Saturday afternoon, reset my hours Sunday then I could reload on the Monday and get back to Canada with all my hours back again. Now the GPS wanted to take me New York way, it is the shortest route, but time wise it could loose you a lot of valuable time. So reset it to take me towards Scranton PA, this only adds another 20 miles and is less stressful. Then once you hit Scranton it's virtually one road down to Tennessee. Now The drive is good through Pennsylvania is beautiful, but the drive through Virginia is far, far more beautiful. I've told you before about Virginia, it is where I want to retire, buy a ranch and raise cattle and horses (in my dreams). Last time I travelled that way I had to turn off and head for South Carolina, not this time I was going to be on I 81 all the way through Virginia till I hit Tennessee. Now who remembers Laural and Hardy singing about "The Blue Ridge Mountain of Virginia" (my grandad told me about them). Well I heard the song now I've actually seen the mountains. The fields were even greener down there than they were last time. Daffs growing everywhere, the country was just full of color. The weather, well, high 70's and lots of sunshine. If any of you visit the States head down here. I'm so blessed with my job, I get to live in a great country like Canada and get to travel through America and see things that i'd only heard of or seen pictures of. I tell everyone I'm really a paid tourist. I was lucky I got past Bristol VA at the right time as there was a NASCAR race on there that weekend. My friend Jeff would have reset his hours there, he's a big NASCAR fan. Well not far past Bristol and your across the state line and into Tennessee. Passed Dollywood, well the sign for it anyway. Perhaps they were'nt mountains in the distance, perhaps it was Dolly lay on her back. They don't half speak funny down there. I got into Davey Crockit truckstop at Greeneville TN at 530pm on the Saturday. Now I never change my watch, as the log book is always run by Atlantic time. Now the booking was for 8 Monday, now running Atlantic time I should be there at 930, which meant i'd be early for my booking Monday as where I was going was 2 hours behind our time (did you follow that). The Sunday was a lovely day, mainly cus there was a truck wash down the road and I could get some polishing done. Sad I know. The Monday was a quick and easy trip to Gallatin, quick unload as well. So once finished I parked in there trl park and waited for my reload details. To my surprise it did'nt take long and now I'd be heading for Danville, Kentucky. Well I was really seeing places I'd never been to before on this trip. Tennessee and Kentucky are great places to visit, but heck your really in the bible belt. Some of the billboards for the churchs, "use the rod on the child" "man and woman true marraige" in other words they don't like gays. But the buildings and the countryside is out of this word. It's like stepping back in time in some places. Reloaded at Danville and it was time to turn my girl back towards Canada. The load was going Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. 1597 miles and home would be in sight. I arrived in Dartmouth Thursday morning, again Chris asked what my plans were. Now beings Sharen works Monday to Friday, if I went home on the Thursday we really won't see much of each other, so I asked if they could find me some local work for 2 days then I'd take the weekend off. Once off loaded a message came through return to terminal and come and see us. Once back I went to another office to pick up another logbook and stuff, now Vaughan our HR man has an office there, once he saw me he asked if he could have a word. Well cut a long story short he offered me a coaching job, taking newbie drivers with me to show them the ropes and assess them. Great honour beings as I've not been long there, but I'd been recommended by Jeff (my coach and now good friend).
I had to turn it down, it's good money, but those that know me could you really see me putting up with some rookie driving MY truck and sharing it with me, be it only for a week or two. I thanked Vaughn but told him that if I did coach, they'd more than likely be picking a driver up from the side of the Highway because I'd thrown out the cab. Perhaps in a few years time (our perhaps not). I've really got to think about it as it is good money... money... my truck and sanity.... money.....shit my truck and sanity for now. Admire Jeff for what he doe's but really don't think I could have the patience. Anyway up to dispatch and i'm sent to Hantsport NS (193miles) to load then take it to Dieppe, New Brunswick, put on the customers door and pick up an mt. Now take that mt up to Port Hawkesbury, drop it and pic up a loaded one. Well that was it for Thursday, night in Port Hawkesbury. The next morning I was meant to take the trl to Truro, but Ron got in touch and asked if i would mind dropping it at Moncton, picking another loaded one up from there and taking back to the container terminal in Halifax. They ask, not tell. If i'd said no I want to home this morning, then trl would have gone to Truro. Sharen did'nt finish work till 4 so I'd got all day. So I told him no problems. Once I picked my trl up from Moncton a message came from the office thanking me for helping them out. Is'nt that my job? If the trucks not earning, Clarke are'nt earning and I'm not earning. But it's bloody nice, takes me back. Anyway can (container) dropped at Halifax, take the chassis (skelly.. ok Mr P) back to Terminal and done. Now those 2 days running around local totaled up to 831 miles, it's worth it. Oh well home for the weekend. Take it easy, enjoy, make the best of what life gives. I have said it before, but there are some people reading this who I owe a great deal to, for making all this possible. My big bro Mick (he made me a diesel junkie) Mr Mick Kent(for giving me my break into trucking, owe you so much, thank you) Heather, Dylan, Richard, Kelvin. Thanks evryone. Catch you on the flip side
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