Up at 4:30.   Heading to illinois with our Reese’s Pieces.   It’s almost 800 miles so we won’t get there until tomorrow.

Going back through Pennsylvania this morning.   It is so beautiful.   Lots of dairy farms.  They have big red barns and lots of cattle.   It’s funny to see a hundred cows on a few acres compared to out west where you see hundreds of acres and only a few cows.  Seems like it would be the other way around.

We went through some light rain through Ohio but not much and didnt slow us down any.   According to the forecast we were expecting a downpour and thunderstorms but all we saw was sprinkles and then the sun came back out.

We stopped for the night outside Indianapolis, Indiana.  Only about 4 hours to go to our stop so will get up about 4 am and hit it again.  We need to be there by 9 so that should give us plenty of time.

They said our next trip is to Laredo, Texas.  Here’s hoping!  I havent been that far south in Texas and Laredo is right on the Mexico border.  Hopefully next stop is to the west of there!

 DG:  Easy drive today. Not much traffic. Some construction, but that’s a good thing in Indiana as they need some road work.  That state has to have the roughest roads in the whole country. 

I’m about ready to turn in. Can’t leave till four in the morning as that’s when my rat time is up. Short hop to Edwardsville and then headed to Lorado, TX. Yeeee haaaa.  

Good night and God bless. 

3:30 am.   That’s all I have to say about that.

Drove all the way across Ohio and almost all of Pennsylvania.    Such beautiful country.   The mountains are all green and full.   Just gorgeous.   We got to our drop off just a bit late because Greg is required to take a 30 minute break within 8 hours so that threw us behind. Thankfully it was a drop and hook which didn’t take long and we are off again, this time to Hershey, Pennsylvania to pick up a load for illinois.

I hadnt had a chance to download pictures from my camera for a few days so below are a collection of the last few days.   The first ones are of Kansas and the flooding that happened through there with Tropical Storm Bill.   Also, some pictures of the wheat fields and some cows.   The others are from this morning of Eastern Ohio, Wheeling WV, and Pennsylvania.

DG:  Yea, I never got up that early to go fishing. But this is trucking and the time of day don’t mean nothing. Just the time when your load is due and the time on your drive clock. You learn to sleep when you can and stay awake when you absolutely have to. And you’re always calculating how much time to get to the next fuel stop, when and where are you going to take your break, when are you going to stop for the day and what time are you going to start tomorrow to get you to the next stop with enough time to make the delivery and head to the next pick up. The wheels gotta be moving in this business if there is any money to be made. 

All that calculating has made me sleepy. Good night all. And God bless. 

Got to sleep in a bit.  7:30.   Got coffee and diet coke and we are back on the road.   Precious is back up to her feisty self, thank goodness, and is barking at everyone again.   

Going to be a relatively short day as there is only about 7 1/2 hours left on the clock.    The sky is cloudy but looks like it’s starting to clear up a bit.   Bad storm moving across Ohio Valley and in to Pennsylvania.   Looks like we will be behind it.   Thank you Lord.   

Pretty uneventful day.  We have parked in Richmond, Indiana.   Right on the border of ohio.   Got a long drive tomorrow to get to the other side of Pennsylvania so getting up about 3ish to make it by 1 pm. 

DG:  Yes I should be asleep and I was but woke up, ate dinner now back to bed. Had decent weather today. Hoping for clear skies tomorrow. 

Sweet dreams everyone. Good night and God bless. 

Up at 6 to get to appointment.    Got right in so that’s a good sign.   Hopefully won’t take too long to unload.   

Well, that took 4 hours.   Gracious!   Now we are off to get our load in Marshall, Missouri and take it to Pennsylvania.   Opposite way of where I want to go but I will get there eventually.  At least it’s a gorgeous day to drive in.   Only 102 today.   

Stopped in Oak Grove Missouri, just outside Kansas City, to get fuel and saw this place advertising ribs.  Couldn’t resist.  So glad we didn’t!   It was awesome.  Meat fell off the bone and were so meaty.  The corn was called cheesy corn instead of creamed corn.  I was a bit skeptical as she said it had cream cheese and butter in it but it was actually pretty good.  I’m not a big cream cheese fan but it didn’t taste like cream cheese until it started getting cold.   It was yummy.  So glad we stopped.   

  
We stopped to get our load in Marshall Missouri.   The guy at the gate said our appointment wasn’t until 8 pm so for us to come back then, in 3 hours.   Fortunately they brought our trailer in just a few minutes.   Thank you Lord!  Now we can get it and get back on the road.  

Made it to Warrenton, Missouri before the clock ran out.   Still have about 900 miles to go  it’s going to be a long drive day tomorrow.  

Goodnight y’all. 

DG:  Sorry, I was enjoying the left overs last night and forgot to post.  Slept well last night. Around midnight a strong rain came through which cleaned everything and made sleeping that much more enjoyable.  Looks cloudy today. Looking at the weather channel looks as though we have been blessed again as we missed and are going to miss the major part of the storm. We welcome God’s favor and thank Him constantly and continuously for his goodness and mercy that follows us and his blessings that preceded us. 

I would say good night as usual but it’s 8:20 in the morning so I will leave you with love to all and God’s blessings on you and yours. God bless. 

Up and rolling about 8:30.  Not too early but seemed like a short night due to a sick dog.   Precious and Greg split a chicken sandwich from subway and both have been dealing with that.  At least Greg can get out of the cab if he gets sick.  Not Precious.  So this has been fun.   Fortunately we were parked across from a walmart so I was able to go in and get her a new basket and more cleaning supplies.   She also got a bath which she was not happy about as I couldn’t heat the water but she is clean.   Now she is sleeping peacefully and all seems on the mend again.  

We are driving all the way across Kansas today.  Wheat as far as you can see in all directions.   Precious went out to pee and immediately ran in to the wheat field behind the truck and disappeared.   It’s the same color as her and of course taller so it took a couple of minutes to find her.   Silly dog.  I guess she felt like after the night she had she wanted to stretch her legs a bit.   Not too much though as its 104 degrees.   Goodness it’s hot.   “Lots a dry heat” though.   Hot is hot in my opinion.   We don’t have the muggy you get in Ky or FL but instead it feels like 100 blow dryers on high heat all hitting you in the face.   It’s really windy too.  Windy enough that it occasionally wiggles the truck around.  

  
It’s going to be a close call time wise to get to the next drop.   We have time to just barely get there tonight but then Gregs time should run out and not sure if we are going to make the 7 am time.   He is driving as fast as he can but the truck is regulated at 62 mph which really eats up the time especially when the speed limit through here is 75 and 80.   Little old ladies are passing us.  

We made it to our stop with 31 minutes left on the clock.  That was cutting it close.   We are right across the street from the Walmart Distribution Center so won’t take but a minute to get there in the am.   

Going to watch a bit of TV and turn in.  Goodnight y’all. 

Still in Nebraska. Don’t have to be to Walmart until three so was hoping to sleep in a bit but we’re up at 7:30 anyway.  It’s a pretty day here sunny and bright. It seems there is always a nice breeze. Got up took a shower and now going to take a nap since it’s going to be a long evening.  Greg’s clock won’t start until 12:30 so his 14 won’t be up until 2:30 AM.

DG:  Fastest unload we have had at any Wal Mart. About an hour and a half from the time we hit the dock.  We were hoping to get a load to California and I couldn’t believe it when I saw the message over the Qualcomm that we are headed for Colorado to pick up some meat then back to Missouri.  Hoping the next load will take us to the Golden State.  

Stopped at a little hole in the wall on I-80 because Precious got sick and threw up a little.  The gas station was closed but the little cafe next to it, Lucy’s, was open so we went in there to use the bathroom. Feeling obligated to buy something for the use of the facilities we sat down with the intention of eating a light snack as we had been snacking all the way from Nebraska. Low and behold this little place started filling up shortly after we sat down, there were already several full tables, and the special today is prime rib and jumbo shrimp. Who would have thought. So we are having the prime rib. 

There’s a hand written sign by the bathroom door that says “We keep our restrooms clean for our customers. Please be a customer.  

Annie – Dinner was delicious.   The prime rib melted in your mouth.   I would not have thought that looking at the place but everything was great.   

Now we are off to Cargill, the meat processing plant I can’t stand to go to.  I really thought we were done with these things.   I can’t believe Greg went to California several times in the last couple of weeks and I get in the truck and we end up back at the meat place again.   Gross!   I am trying a new tactic.   Cinnamon fire balls.  Helping a little I guess. 

The load is a pick up so we don’t have to wait to be loaded which is good.   The less time here the better.   Now we are off to Missouri – the opposite way from California.  

We have stopped for the night in Colorado.   Goodnight y’all.  

God is good ain’t He?  Good night and God bless. 

Started off with a good breakfast at a little place next to the truck stop.  They advertised all you can eat catfish but I guess we will have to miss that delicacy since it’s so early.  Shucks! 

We were heading out early to Nebraska but apparently the landing gear that the guy fixed yesterday was just a temporary fix to get us to a repair shop.   A bolt or bar or something is broken and the landing gear won’t go up.  The guy was able to get them up yesterday but now they can’t go down.   Basically, we can’t drop this trailer tomorrow because if we unhook it from the truck without the front landing gear down it will fall.   So, here we go to another repair shop. 2 in 2 days.  I hope this isn’t a pattern.  

Drove to one shop they told us about but the guy said he couldn’t fix it.   This being Friday half his staff called off and well it was Friday.  So we went to a place in Kansas that could take us.  Total of about 30 minute job so in and out and back on the road.   

We are going to get to Nebraska tonight and drop off time isn’t until 3 pm tomorrow but it’s walmart and they don’t allow any early drop offs.   Walmart is also the place that had the sign on the window of do not even think to ask me about your load until you have waited at least 4 hours.   Hope with tomorrow being Saturday they will be in a hurry to go home and get us unloaded quickly.  

Kansas wheat field.   If you look way off in the distance you can see the house and barn.  

Nebraska.   I gotta pee!   Too bad I guess.   

After another hour and a half we finally found a little convenient store.   Sheeeewwwww! 

We parked for the night in Elm Creek, Nebraska.   About an hour from our stop tomorrow.  Our appointment isn’t until 3 so we don’t have to get up early.  

The sky tonight is pitch black except for the moon. Jupiter and Venus.  The way they are lined up is so cool.  Wonder what it means.  

Turning in.  Goodnight y”all! 
  

DG:  What can I say?  She told everything.  All I did was drive. So nice having my baby back with me. 

The sky was blue and the fields green and gold, the corn and the wheat that feeds us all grows thick in the fields of Kansas. 

Good night and God bless. 

8 am.  Up and showered and now time for breakfast.   The wonderful choices available to us this morning are Starbucks or Burger King. Burger King it is I guess.   Greg is having the eggs and sausage.   No sugar before driving.  He falls asleep.   I’m just having a bacon crissonwich.   No eggs for me!  
 

Made it to our destination with plenty of time to spare.   Had a little hiccup starting out as the trailer breaks didn’t want to let go but they finally released and we were good to go.  

Dallas Texas.  108 degrees!!  Guess the storm is over.  

Well, gotta go by tire place.  That brake is still sticking.   Hope we aren’t long!    We weren’t too long.  Had a nail in the tire so they fixed it and we are off again.   Headed to Sherman, Texas for juice and then to Nebraska. 

Got to Sunny Delight in Sherman and the trailer has a broken landing gear.   Call in to roadside assist.   Oh boy.  

Only took about two hours to get fixed.  Not bad but time lost today.   Back on the road.  

Crossed in to oklahoma in just about half an hour or so.   There has been a lot of flooding through here.  The streams and rivers are really high and muddy and just churning with debri and how fast they are going.   Several spots where it looks like it has been across the road but thankfully no standing water.   We went through one area that looked fhe like electricity was out in all the stores.  

Passed a couple of casinos though who didn’t seem to have any trouble with the lights.  

We went by one casino who had Chubby Checker and Jerry Lee Lewis performing.  I didn’t know those guys were still around.   Another one had Boston, Pink Floyd and REO Speedwagon. So I guess old rockers don’t die they just play the Indian casinos.  

We have parked for the night just outside Oklahoma City in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Parking lot here is soaked and muddy.   Looks like it flooded here too.  So sad.   

Well, going to watch a bit of TV and turn in.  Goodnight y’all.  

 DG:  Off to a shaky start but all is good now. Little over five hundred miles to go tomorrow.  Make that easy. But need sleep first. 

Love to all. Good night and God bless. 

Woke up at 3:30 this am and on the road around 4.   Greg has a full thermos of coffee so he is set to go.   Hope the rain in Dallas is gone or slowed down some by the time we get there.  Looks like Tropical Storm Bill is having a good time.  

We passed the new Bass Pro Shop in Memphis this morning.   Big pyramid complete with lodge, restaurant, fish tanks, etc.  Looks pretty cool.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1aF4-8tgPWU
  
In Arkansas for a bathroom break.  Decided to get breakfast.   I don’t know about you but I always feels better when there is an ex army guy with a gun on his hip in line.  

Made it to Dallas without a lot of fuss on our end from Tropical Storm Bill.   Rain off and on but not heavy.   

Parked for the night and decided to go to Soul Mans barbecue across the street.   Oh my!  I’m about to bust and I probably didn’t eat half of my soul bowl.   Mine had Fritos, spicy beans, cheese, pulled pork and beef topped with barbecue sauce and jalapeños.   Gregs had the same except he had sausage instead of beef and onions.   It was so good but huge portions.   

DG:  We have been blessed when it comes to weather.  Storms all around us but we managed to avoid the bad stuff.  Dinner was good.  Ex-governor Rick Perry ate there. I know that from his pictures on the wall showing him in the restaurant posing with the owners.

11:00 appointment means we sleep in a little in the morning as we are only 30 minutes away from our destination.  All is quite in the truck stop.

Good night and God bless.

On the road again………. Oh shut up Willie Nelson its 3:30 in the morning.    Heading to Ohio.    New truck is going to take some getting used to.   Finding all the lights and switches.  I turned on what I thought was the air but was apparently the heat.   No wonder it was getting hot in here.   It’s also 3:30 which doesn’t help!  

Made it on time to the shipper but they can’t find load number we have so we wait.  Time for a nap!   

Well the load didn’t take long.   Greg no sooner got to put his head down on the pillow and the guy knocked on the door to say they were done.    I got a little nap though.   

We have stopped for the night at Hurricane Mills, Tennesse.   Home of Loretta Lynn.  Signs everywhere to come tour her house.  This is when I wish we had alternate driving means to get somewhere.   Would love to see her house.  

Getting up early again so turning in.   Goodnight y’all! 

DG:  There is joy in the truck once more. I cannot express how happy it makes me to look over and see that smiling face I love so much. 

We are on our way to Texas. Hoping to spend some time with Doc. Have close to 600 miles to go so barring any traffic or construction we should be able to make it. 

Love to all. Good night and God bless.