Up at 7 and ready to head to Oregon!   Woke up to rain but it looks like it’s about over so we should have clear skies for the trip.

Well, it is midnight and we are all ready for bed after an amazing day.   I cant begin to tell you the beautiful scenery we saw today.   We saw more of the Snake River, Columbia River, and of course, Oregon, just outside Portland.   Wow!  That doesnt cover it, but Wow!   Greg and I talked about parking the truck and just finding a place to live.   I dont know if I can live in a town with a restaurant called Tofurkey or not, but I may be willing to give it a try.    I took 229 pictures today and none of them do it justice.    We even saw two waterfalls coming down while driving along the highway.     The trees and mountains were so green and the water so blue.   Did I say amazing yet?

To get down in to this lovely spot we had to cross over Cabbage Hill which is a part of I84 which is 6 miles up and 6 miles down.   Needless to say, it is quite an experience.   So glad it isnt winter.   There were several signs saying snow zone and be sure to have your chains on.   Yikes!

When we got to the truck stop tonight the Chapel was having Bible study so we sat in for a bit.   Missed the first few minutes because we didnt know it was going on.    We managed not to get thrown out which is good.   haha    I guess I dont understand why every preacher wants to tell you that you are going to Hell and how bad things are in life and not tell you the wonderful reason Jesus came and that was to free us of all that and bring healing and happiness in to our lives.   Otherwise, you just feel bad all the time because thats what they tell you all the time.   I am going to believe in Jesus and his promises that our life can be amazing if we follow him.    I tell ya, the past few days have been amazing. I have a great son, 3 1/2 beautiful grandchildren and a great husband, and family.   I believe I will take Jesus’ word for it.      We could be sitting right now feeling sorry for ourselves that our business is gone, we dont technically have a home except for a truck, no car, but I am so excited because I know God has a plan for us and it is going to be even better than what we had before!   And look what we get to do and see in the meantime!

Well, I am turning in.    Enjoy the pictures.   Sorry some are through the front windshield.  It makes them have blotches on them but I couldnt get them out my window.

Goodnight, y’all.

DG:  AMEN! 

Up and out at 6:30.   Headed to Utah and Idaho today.   Two new states for me.   Yea!!

Boy did we see some beautiful country today.    Utah just blew me away.   I can see why the Mormons chose it.  It has a holy feel to it.   Just awe inspiring.   I took over 245 pictures today but due to time and space constraints only loaded 65.   haha

Idaho reminded me a lot of kansas with all the wheat fields and then we got in to some hills and mountains in the distance.    Then we saw the snake river.   It snakes back and forth across the road.   Just beautiful scenery.    I imagine the rest of Idaho wont look like Kansas as we get closer to Oregon.   I sure look forward to it.

Well, turning in.   Goodnight, y’all.

DG:  Almost there.  645 miles today in 10 hours and 23 minutes. Glad we got that governor bumped up. May change my mind when I get my fuel bill Thursday.

Utah blew us away not long after crossing the state line. For a few miles it looked a lot like Wyoming and then we hit the mountains. There was this beautiful mountain stream with just enough current and depth to float a raft or kayak lazily downstream. And people were taking advantage of it. There were several places along the river where you could put in, some with guides and there looked to be a couple of places where you could rent a tube or kayak.  I would say there were several hundred people along the river either in the river or waiting to get in. It looked like a lazy river ride you might see at a water park only on a much grander scale. It was amazing and I’m sure there will be some pictures.

We are in Mountain Home, Idaho. Can’t tell much about the size of the town as we stopped at the first of three exits that give access.

Got a shower. That was first one the list. Can’t show up at these receivers all smelly. They might not accept our load. No chance. Anyway we feel and smell better.

Got to FaceTime with the kids today. It is always a joy to see them and talk with them. They are so interesting and funny. They are excited about their trip to Pennsylvania coming up.

Well, I’m going to get ready for bed. See you tomorrow, same time, same channel. Good night and God bless.

Up at 7 to call and see if load is ready.  It is so we scoot on over to get our trailer full of meat.   Guess where it’s going???   OREGON!!  We are making two stops around the Portland area.   So excited.

Traveled to Laramie Wyoming today.   Wow what a trip.   Got to see a different view of the Rockies coming through Colorado and then the middle of Wyoming.  I hadn’t seen this part of Wyoming before and it is something else.   Lots of open areas and lots of rocks and trees as we went.   Our highest elevation so far was 8640 feet.

We parked at the truck stop and took Precious for a walk.   Decided to sit on a tree stump and just look around.    This is our view.

We are higher than the clouds.

Sitting here we saw a pair of huge white birds fly over with black tips on their wings.   Greg said those look like Pelicans.  I didn’t believe him but my bird app says this is the summer breeding ground for the White American Pelican.   Who would have thought.   Explains why they were in a pair.

We have hit a million bugs I think over the last couple of days.   Greg has used that sponge thing at the truck stops when we stop but it just doesn’t get it all.   After our walk he decided to really clean them and thought he would have a cigar while he was at it.  Goofy butt!

The pictures of the rockies arent the greatest.   We were too far away and the sun was behind them so every time I took a picture it just looks like a shadow in the background.      The pictures of all the rocks are in Wyoming.    Do you see the faces in the rocks?   And yes, those are camels in a couple of the pictures.  

DG:  Sunset in Wyoming. 

  
The weather here is wonderful. We left Kansas this morning and it was over 100 for most of the trip. Here it is a cool 80 degrees, the air is fresh and clean, the sky a light blue and the clouds are at eye level around us because we are just over 7000 feet above sea level. 

We also gained an hour leaving central time and now in mountain time. Tomorrow we will gain another hour as we head into pacific time. 

I don’t get anymore drivin time just daylight time. 

Got to get up early so I will say good night and God bless. 

Up at 5 am to take the paperwork to the guard shack.    Now back to truck to wait for loading dock.   Call at 6:30 that door was ready.    9:50 and we are finally ready to go.

We passed the Texas Motor Speedway on the way out.   Greg was thrilled.

  
2 pm.  We just crossed over in to oklahoma.   Sign on a bank says 104 degrees.  I believe it!

We saw a roadrunner as soon as we crossed over in to oklahoma.   Ran straight across the road in front of us.

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/greater-roadrunner
Oklahoma is such a pretty state.  I’ve taken several pictures of the rolling hills.  We saw a cow standing next to the road who had gotten out of the fence.

I also saw this near bird fly in front of the truck.  I didn’t know what it was but its tail is what I saw first and how unusual it was.  Looking in my bird app for the area I believe it was a scissor tailed flycatcher.

I wish I could get pictures of these birds but they go by so fast.

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/scissor-tailed-flycatche

Made it to Dodge City for our pickup in the morning.

DG:  You can feel the Wild West all over this place. Makes me want to put on cowboy boots and hat. You don’t have to imagine the cows. They are everywhere and the smell as well. 

Sitting here at the truck stop watching all the cattle haulers come through. Do we really eat that much beef?  So far we’ve been to beef, chicken, turkey and pig processing plants, maybe next week we will go to a fish processing plant. That should smell nice. 

Well, I’m bushed. 500 + miles since getting up at 5:00 am, it’s time for bed.  I may have to start writing earlier during the day taking breaks to do so. We’ll see. 

Good night and God bless. 

3 am.   Hit the snooze.   3:15.  Ok.  Up and heading to gate.   Apparently everybody’s appointment is at 4 o’clock because they are lined up back to the street.   Lovely.    We are now at our loading dock and waiting to see how long this takes.  If it takes too long I am going back to sleep.   

Went in to give them paperwork and go to the bathroom.   This is a freezer warehouse so everyone is in big coats but us.  Brrrr.  I dread going to the bathroom but when I get there it’s all nice and warm with a heater in it.  Yea!! And clean! 

DG:  it’s the little things.  We were about fifth in line once we got to the gate. Still got to the dock before our appointed time. 

This is one of the largest food warehouses I believe we have been to. Wow this country eats a lot. 

So now we are empty and parked just outside the fence where there is parking for probably 50 trucks along both sides of the road leading into this place. Someone planned ahead.  What we are doing now is playing the clock game. You see we are about thirty minutes away from our next pick up, but the appointment isn’t until 12:30 and right now it is 6:45.  So far I haven’t started my clock because we were parked just outside the gate and therefore did not have to go over 15 mph which would have automatically started my drive clock and subsequently my 14. As it is I can wait until about an hour before my scheduled appointment to start my clock meaning I will have until 1:30 am to drive and fuel and break and whatever arriving to the delivery way early of the 6:00 am delivery time. Confused?  So am I. Anyway, I see it as a skillful waiting game that serves no purpose. 

Annie – Got a call from shipper that we can come in early if we want.   Absolutely!   So we head over and get there at 11:30.  Get signed in, get our paperwork and they start loading truck.  They only worked for a couple of minutes and stopped.   We looked at the clock.  NOON.  Lunchtime so we sit from 12 to 1 waiting.  Fortunately it didn’t take them long once they got back and we were on the road around 1:30.    We have 34,000 pounds of brownie, cake and muffin mix.   Of course!  

One surprise we had going through Memphis was we got to see Graceland, sort of.   Hard to see from the road as you drive by but got a few pictures.   

   
   
In Arkansas they grow a lot of rice and some sorghum as well as corn and soy beans.  

Rice field   
Sorghum

DG:  Wasn’t that exciting?  Rock and roll idol and agriculture all in the same country. I love this country. 

We made it to receiver by the skin of our teeth. 17 minutes left on my clock and fortunate for us this place has plenty of parking. I’ve seen truck stops with less. I just hope we all don’t have the same appointment time. That would make for a mad rush for the gate in the morning. 

Again we will be playing the clock game in the morning as my clocks will not reset until 9:30. That will work out fine as it usually takes around two hours total to get unloaded. By the time you check in, get assigned a door, get unloaded, pay the lumpers and get your bills you’re looking at a good couple hours. 

Bottom line is if the wheels ain’t turning nobody’s making money. 

Good night and God bless. 

Up at 4 am.  Forgot to take pain medicine before I went to bed so not a happy camper.  Have to get up and move until medicine kicks in so in all my moving around I woke up Greg so we went to take a shower.    That helped quite a bit.   Almost back to human again.   We were supposed to get up at six anyway so no use going back to bed. 

We had two stops this morning.  One at 8 and one at 10.   Got to them on time and surprisingly was unloaded rather quickly.   Only about an hour at each place.  

We then drove to our stop for the morning but too early so here we sit.  We are on the border of Mississippi and Tennessee, right outside Memphis, in a town called Southaven. 

We have a next trip lined up already which is unusual since we haven’t finished this one yet but the pick up is in Memphis so at least it’s close.   Bad news is we are going back to Texas!   Roanoke Texas!   Northwest of Dallas a bit.   Again!   Haha 

Greg has already hit the hay and is snoring.  I’m going to read a bit and do the same.  After I take my medicine tonight!!

Goodnight y’all. 

DG: No rest for the weary. Arising two hours pahead of schedule puts one on track for being early for all stops. We were, including the final stop, 10 hours ahead of schedule.  Unfortunately this is not one of those places that appreciates that type of efficiency so we wait until our scheduled appointment time of 3:00 am.  So it’s off to bed for this weary head and I bid you all a good night and may God bless. 

Up at 7 am but can’t go anywhere until 8 when the clock runs out.   I will be glad to leave Texas and this heat behind.  It was 109 yesterday in Waco and already 99 this morning.  Of course, I can’t think Mississippi will be any better.   

Here are the sweaters for Lindsey and Abby I have crocheted.   I didn’t get a picture of the one I knitted for Maddie but will of the one I am working on for Sadie.   I like having time to get back in to my crafts.    

This is Abby’s.  

  
This is Lindsey’s.  

  
You can’t see the patterns well but I did a scallop stitch on Abby’s and a rotating single, double, triple, on Lindsey’s.  Lindsey’s is real open and lacy.  

Well since we got held up all of our appointments were pushed to tomorrow which means a lot of sitting around today.  Greg has a tire on the tractor that is looking weird so going to go by a tire store since we have time.   Got a used tire put on and since we are in Jackson Mississippi where the KLLM terminal is we are going by there to get gas since its cheaper and a truck wash.  Too bad we just did laundry because the machines are free at the terminal.  

Sheewwww.  Did I mention the heat?   It’s 96 here in the middle of Mississippi.   I feel like a soggy magnolia.   

Well we decided to stay at the terminal anyway.   Might as well do what little laundry we have and get a free shower.   I think you could probably take three in this heat and still need one.  

DG:  Things are quiet at the terminal. Not like a truck stop where trucks are coming and going all night and there is always someone parked beside you with a refer so there is double the noise from those running all night. Although I hear nothing once I’m asleep it’s nice to know things are quiet. 

Tomorrow will be a short day. Two stops in the morning with the final destination 209 miles away and not due till Thursday morning.  

Had to buy a tire today. Had to get a used one as a new one would have too much more tread than than the one beside it and it’s not good to do that. 

All in all a good day. Hope all are well. 

Good night and God bless.  

5 am and waiting on gate to open so we can get our truck unloaded.   We got to a dock about 6 which isn’t bad.   They started working on it pretty quick so hopefully it won’t take long. 

I can’t believe today marks six months.   What an adventure it has been too.   Can’t wait to see what the next six months bring.  

Well, I think I know why we haven’t been to California yet.   While sitting here another driver came over and said “hey, I saw where one of the KLLM trucks got burned up in those wildfires out in California”.  We hadn’t heard so looked it up online and sure enough, the fire crossed the highway out there and burned several cars and trucks to pieces.   God has been so great in keeping us away from bad weather, tornadoes, heavy snow and even shootings.   We had just come through Chattanooga, Tennessee just a little while before that horrible mess down there.    I guess we will get to California when the timing is just right.  
http://www.truthandaction.org/california-wildfires-jump-highway-setting-trapped-cars-ablaze-evacuations-ordered/2/

On our way to Waco, Texas to get our load.   Meat processing plant again.  Uuggghhhh  But at least it’s a drop and hook so we should be in and out rather quick.   

Had to stop and get the trailer washed out on the way.   Can’t mix cookie crumbs and meat.   Of course I had to pee when we stopped.  Never miss an opportunity!   This is a prime example of some of the bathrooms in these places.   Men are so gross and they don’t think that maybe a woman might use it after them.   This was mostly wet floor and a fairly clean toilet but some of these places are just gross.   
  
The trailer wash out was across from a cotton field.   The cotton goes back as far as you can see.   It’s flowering now which means it will soon be harvested.    

Our pick up was at Cargill, the meat processing plant, but this time it’s turkey.   Turkeys in Texas.   Wouldn’t have thought of that one.   When we drive in there are three open trucks full of cages with live turkeys.   Then you see an area where they are taking them and hanging them upside down on hooks.   I went in to the bathroom and saw the room where the headless, featherless birds were going around being washed.    They must recycle the water in the toilets because it had a bit of an odor and was hot.  Lovely place and feathers everywhere.  

7:25 and we are finally leaving shipper.   7 1/2 hours to halfway fill our trailer.    Now we are almost out of time so won’t get far.  

I managed to get Lindsey’s sweater done though.   So the time wasn’t wasted.   Greg got some sleep he needed.    

Waco Texas is really pretty.  Lots of trees and farmland. 

Found a Pilot out in the middle of nowhere, Tyler Texas, and we have stopped for the night.   On to Jackson, Mississippi in the am.  

Goodnight y’all

God bless,

Up and on the road at 7 am.  Heading to oklahoma then Texas.  

DG:  Fuel stop in Anna, TX after a short drive through Oklahoma. Really like Oklahoma.  You can still see remnants of early settlement and imagine it the way it was before it was settled. I guess that’s true of a lot of our country as it is really not that old compared to other countries.  I think I could live in Oklahoma. On second thought, I believe it is too far from an ocean for me. Although they do have very large lakes. 

Annie – stopped in Arlington for the night.  Just a few minutes from Grand Prairie and Docs house.    He is picking us up to have dinner with him and Sherrie.   So excited! 

DG:  Mmmmm, grilled on the grill chicken, green beans. home made potato salad and home made salsa. Delicious. A big thank you to Sherry and Doc Cornell for their gracious hospitality and wonderful dinner. God bless them. 

Back at the truck catching a few Z’s before our unload in the morning. Won’t know where we’re going next until this trailer is empty. Will let you know tomorrow.

Good night and God bless. 

Up at 6 am.  Heading to Arlington, Texas with a truck load of chips ahoy cookies and Oreos. Ever since we started our diet we have had nothing but sweets in the trailer.   Good thing there is a seal on it! 

Drove through illinois and Missouri.   Going through oklahoma and Texas tomorrow.   It is so hot even the weather channel is putting out a heat advisory for the area. 

We have stopped at a Flying J for the night so we could do laundry and take a shower.   

DG:  The truck has been running pretty much nonstop for days as we rarely shut it off so we can keep the ac on keeping things cool.  It has been really hot the past few days. 

Stopped around 5:00 pm due to clock restrictions but I was about ready to call it a day anyway. 541 miles is a good day’s worth of driving. 

The sky is really beautiful tonight as the moon, Jupiter and Venus do their dance. Clouds with the setting sun behind them gives off a brilliant glow that literally will take your breath. 

Well, night has come, sleep is near and as I contemplate the day’s events I find myself still amazed at the landscape of this wonderful country. We are so blessed and it is my prayer that Americans everywhere never forget that and give thanks continuously for the blessings God has bestowed on our great nation. 
Good night and God bless.