12 degrees this morning with a warning from the weather channel for a wind advisory of -15 possible today.   Okay, time to get off the mountain.

First stop is to get the truck washed out.   We have to do this after every load.  Makes sense.   Last load was meat and now we are picking up from Welch’s.

The trees on the top of the mountain are beautiful with all of the frost on them.   I know its freezing but it sure is pretty to look at.

Greg just clocked 10,000 miles since starting driving. Woo hoo!

We passed through the Seneca Nation in the last part of New York.   As you can see in the pictures, the names of the towns were in both English and Seneca.   This is also where we saw the Allegany River.  It was beautiful, even if part of it was frozen.  It was huge in some parts and narrow in others and went back and forth under the interstate.   Also saw a sign cautioning bears in the area.   We didn’t see any though.  Shucks!

I bet the Indians thought this place was heaven.   All the wild game, water, open valleys.   Maybe not so much fun in the winter but it sure was beautiful.  And of course, they now have a Casino!

We passed one lake and you can see the tire tracks on it.   Looks like truck and snow mobile size tracks.   I dont know if I would have enough nerve to give that a try.

Got to Roberts Distribution for our Welch’s products. It was supposed to be drop our trailer and pick up a loaded one but office said they were having “product issues” which means we get to sit here while they find what they need And then load our trailer. Wasted time on our end. Hope it doesn’t take too long.

We passed a couple of wineries around the distribution center.   The vines sure look desolate this time of year though.

Waited 3 1/2 hours but are finally loaded with 42,800 pounds of purple, white and red grape, grape peach and orange juice. Now we have to go weigh and pray we aren’t over and have to go back.

Weight was good so off we go!

We got caught in the Cleveland 5 o’clock traffic.   That was a joy to get through.   Got to the other side of Cleveland and the home office called and said some guy called and said Greg cussed him out over the CB.    Greg said, “it wasn’t me.  I dont have a CB”.  Office said “well, guess it wasnt you then”.    Don’t know what that was all about.    Very strange.

We got to Columbus tonight before the clock ran out.   Glad really that we had to stop.  It is starting to sleet and it is freezing cold.   Probably a good thing to be getting off the road. We still have 13 hours of drive time to get to Oklahoma.   Hope we make it in time. Tomorrow is going to be a long day unless his clock runs out again.  Too bad you cant just drive, take a nap when tired and then drive some more.

Well, going to turn in and try to sleep.   We are really tired tonight.  It has been a long day. Made longer of course when you have to just sit for 3 1/2 hours doing nothing.

Goodnight y’all!

Greg here.  I have seen enough snow to last me a lifetime.

I’m surprised she didn’t mention the NY roads.  I think they are in a contest with northern Illinois roads as to who has the roughest roads.  There were holes that nearly jerked the wheel out of my hands.  At one point we started to hear a knocking that sounded like someone was on top of the truck beating it with a stick.  It seemed to quiet below 55 mph and get louder with speed.  At one point I pulled into a truck stop to look and see if I could find the source of the “pounding”.  Not seeing anything or finding anything loose we ventured on.  There it was again.  Annie got up and started pounding around on the panels inside the truck and finally it stopped.  Apparently all of the jarring and bouncing had knocked one of the panels loose and she knocked it back into place.  I am surprised these trucks just don’t fall apart at some point considering the beating they take.  That was a concern of mine as well given that Annie has had trouble with her neck in the past.  I was afraid all of the bouncing would hurt her, but she says her neck actually feels better since riding in the truck.  Perhaps I am on to something.  Semi tractor spinal therapy. Anybody want a therapeutic ride?  I could do that in between loads.  Just a thought.

Did I mention there is a lot of snow up here?

The bouncing also produces another strange effect that only happens on occasion and with no apparent regularity.  Sometimes when I hit a bump the dome lights in the cab come on and a bell dings a few times.  I told Annie that’s the ghost that rides along with us.  She didn’t buy it for a minute.  It is strange to see this phenomenon especially at night when all of a sudden the whole cab lights up.

There is a lot of snow.

One other thing I wanted to mention to you fourwheelers, that’s what we truckers call anyone in cars, pickups or SUVs, give us space when you’re on the road.  I couldn’t tell you the times I have people in cars cut right in front of me going down the highway and if for some reason they had to put on their brakes really fast there would be nothing I could do but run over them.  I see it everyday and for the life of me don’t understand why.  Not all trucks are loaded but an empty truck is very heavy and takes a lot longer to stop than a car.

Also, show these guys some respect.  This is a lot harder than it looks and the hard part is being away from family and friends.  I am so thankful that Annie came along with me.  We are really having fun with this.  But most of the guys and girls that drive these trucks on a daily basis are doing it alone.  Maybe they like it that way, but it’s a lonely job when you’re doing it by yourself.  And they don’t get a lot of respect, from the motoring public, law enforcement, shippers, and the public in general.  You all want your stuff on the shelves when you go to the store and these are the people that get it there so have some appreciation.  Next time your filling up your shopping buggy think of the man or woman that drove a thousand miles or more just to bring you that can of soup or that bottle of juice.  And believe me, nobody’s getting rich out here, so think about that and say a prayer for them that they travel safe and return home safe and sound.  And say one of those prayers for us.  We need them too.

So much snow.

Time to reset the clocks.  Good night all.

Now thats cold!

Seneca Casino

I think its so neat that the put the deer crossing signs out so the deer know where to cross safely.