Week #4

...I think!

(downtown LA on Friday afternoon)

Wow, what a week it has been. Our warm California stay was put to an abrupt halt, but before we left, thinking we were

still going to be in sunny California, we took the opportunity to wash the truck (Dorothy). Yes we named her Dorothy, like the Wizard of Oz. She came out nice and shiny and it was a real treat to have a clean truck.

It was just like a drive-in car wash except the tractor pulled into a bay, instead of your car. Then at least 4 people started spraying & scrubbing. We felt like we had gone to the spa for a moment! But the dream of warm weather was over and we were dispatched to NewJersey and had to arrive by 4:30 am on Monday the 15th. That meant no Superbowl viewing for us. I heard it was a great game and yes, we now, the Saints won.

Once we hit Pennsylvania we hit a good storm over the Pocono's. We have figur

ed out that truckers in Pennsylvania have no idea how to drive in the mountains. At the end of the pass, the Continental Divide, which was 2300 feet (I kid you not) there was a line of at least 5 miles of trucks trying to come down the back side of the pass at about 2 miles an hour. No accident....these people were never trained in the mountains and didn't know what to do. Fortunately we have had fantastic training from Sage as well as from Watkins Shepard and we knew what we were doing. At the end of the pass there were trucks lined up with their brakes all a glow, because they weren't using their "jake brake" to slow them down. Anyway... we made it to New Jersey by 2:00 am and had time to stop at Dunkin Doughnuts, which made Jeff very happy!

The drive across country to New Jersey was pretty and we were lucky to have clear weather most of the way. We dropped our load and picked up a new one about 60 miles away

in Jersey and it was off to Atlanta, GA. This was our chance to see NJ in the daylight. I think NJ should just be dark all of the time...what an unattractive city. Who would want to live there? I hope I don't offend anyone, but if there is anybody out there from Jersey, please let me know what the point is in living in this dirty, busy and not to mention toll-ridden city. It cost us $76 in tolls to get through NJ to DE then to MD. It costed us $20 of that, just to pass over the Delaware Bridge. I wonder if George Washington gets a cut of that?

The drive through the Caronlina's was pretty. Cannot wait to come back here in the spring to see all of the beautiful color. Sorry no pics....I was driving most of the day through these states.

Once we arrived in Georgia we dropped off our load. This was too funny. Our load was a load of web rolled paper heading for Quebecor in Atlanta. We got to smell the smell of a print shop again and I have to say I have missed that smell. But once we got to smell it was time to go. We had to make a local pick up in Atlanta and head back to drop that trailer at the terminal in Dalton, GA. Once there we were dispatched out to Spokane, WA. We made great time through TN and KY and took a break that night at a Walmart.

When we awoke we had a lovely treat...a White Castle was right in the Walmart parking lot. Yummy :o )

We ran through MO and just missed a big storm in St. Louis. Then though IA and then SD. It was below 0 in Iowa as we were fueling and it warmed up a bit in SD. We obviously missed a big storm there too and by the picture below I am glad we did! The roads were clear, but there was snow piled as almost as tall as I was (see below). It was sunny and blue skies that day. Looks like

we hit that one just right.

When we were heading towards Rapids City one of our headlights burned out, so we stopped at the Volvo dealership in town and got new headlamps and replaced them in the truck. What a difference. We can see so much better now at night. We drove completely through SD, which was over 400 miles and made it into the top east corner of WY through Gillette and Sheridan. This has got to be the MOST darkest highway ever. When you turned off the headlights you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face. It was a bit creepy. We made it to Montana the next morning and needed to pick some things up at the shop in Missoula. It was nice to see everybody that trained us and say hi to familiar faces. Everyone at Watkins Shepard is so friendly and helpful. It is truly like being part of a family and when you are out on the road it is refreshing to have that support. I also have to say that whenever we have been on the road and encountered another W/S driver they have always been very friendly and helpful. We picked a great company to work for.

Off from Missoula we headed into Spokane, WA. On the way down the 4th of July pass we lost our cruise control and our jake brake, not a good thing. So needless to say, we stopped at the Volvo place in Spokane, but couldn't get the truck in until the next morning. We went ahead and dropped our trailer at the terminal and were going to find a place to park for the night when Jeff

decided it was time for a hotel stay. This could not have happened at a better time. I had been up since 4 am that day starting in WY

(Montana: above)

and drove all the way through to Missoula. It had been a LONG day and I cannot tell you how luxurious it was to sleep in a king size bed with this thing called a bathroom that has a toilet AND a shower in it. It was like heaven or should I say it is like heaven. I am now sitting here typing in our room while Jeff is taking care of the truck at the shop. I feel like Queen for the day.

(Coeur d' Alene, ID at sunset)

We have to drive through Idaho to get to Spokane and this city is beautiful. The lake is gorgeous and this is another place I cannot wait to come back to in the spring and summer months.

Well, Jeff just got back and the truck is all fixed and ready to rock and roll. My dream is over and it is time to head to Vernon, CA, which is down around LA somewhere...I haven't done our pre-trip planning yet, but I'm just sure it will be another great day in the life of the Linn's trucking adventure.

Had to include this pic....this a McDonalds in Ohio that runs directly over the highway. What will they think of next? On the right is the painted desert in NM.

Week #2 into Week #3

(stopped in North Platte, NE to have lunch with Chris and Dick Linn) Sorry it has taken me so long to update....having trouble stopping the truck long enough to get a wireless connection. We have left California and went all the way to West Virginia. Then went from West Virginia to Ohio to pick up a load then down to Dalton, GA. We left Dalton on Tuesday the 9th and headed to Salt Lake City, then to Modesto, CA. It is now 65 degrees and I hope we can stay here for a while.

On our way back east we hit nasty frozen fog from Amarillio through Oklahoma. We finally stopped for the night. The pic to the left is from a Walmart parking lot. I hope this guy got his car open! We missed the storms back east and have been really lucky in our travels heading back west. We had absolutely

no fresh snow and the roads were nice and dry...except through Wyoming going into Salt Lake City. I wanted to turn the truck so badly to the south when we hit Cheyenne and the sign said, 108 miles to Denver....it was a tough turn not to make!

We have been getting better at getting our rythym down and things have been working much smoother this past week than in week #1. This job is very challenging at times and I am glad Jeff and I have had an opportunity to work together in the past and learn how to communicate effectively. Of course, some days are better than others, but for the most part we seem to be holding things together well and haven't

been late on a load yet.

I have had a request for more photos. (Groovy bridge in Ohio

to the left) The only opportunity I have had to take photos with my camera was in St. Louis. I have some arch pi

cs that I will upload when I have a chance, but for now, these have all been taken on our handy dandy iphone...how did we live without this thing for so manyyears previously???

Salt Lake is beautiful an we hit a perfect day. As far as driving and passes. I accomplished coming into Salt Lake City from Wyoming at night. Utah doesn't believe in posting too many signs about grades in the road or curves either for that matter. In Colorado you see a sign and know how big the grade is and how long itmay be. Utah...you better hold on, cause whatever is around the corner is what is next. I don't see great at night, but have been getting better and more confident in my abilities to drive the truck and stay on the road in the dark!

(photo: The Salt Lake)

Jeff drove over Donner pass yesterday from Salt Lake to

Modesto, CA. This pass is right after Reno, NV. It was dry...thank you Lord...but this pass has to be the longest pass EVER. It just keeps going down and down and down on the California side. Once you hit the summit, we saw a sign that said 40 more miles to the bottom with 7%, down to 6% and then 4% grades. It

seemed like forever, but we made it through. We have heard horror stories about this pass and Jeff kicked ass and took no prisoners! I would not want to cross this one in a storm, but I know eventually the chains will have to be put on and we will have to make it happen.

(driving right through the Salt Lake)

As I digress...our trip into Ohio was beautiful. I had no idea how pretty this state was. We followed the highway all the way down the Ohio river and it was gorgeous. Passing many a power plant

and I think a nuclear plant as well.

(foliage in Georgia) (bridge in Tennessee) (the Ohio River)

The only tip I have on food at the moment is we saw a place in Nevada that was open 24 hours a day and they sold donuts and chicken teriyaki bowls. Yes, thats right. Very strange combination, but I spose you could stop for lunch and grab a bowl and then get a dozen to go for the next day. Needless to say, the truck kept rolling.

I have to go finish up paperwork, but before I total up the miles for the last couple weeks, my estimate is around 6,000 miles. These last two weeks have been such a blur, but I tried to fit in some interesting sites. We wanted to see the country and we are doing just that. Sometimes it is in the dark, but we are covering a lot of miles quickly. Things are good.