DG: 11:30, day at the quilt shop. Got the car unloaded with the first load of stuff from the truck. Then we went to the quilt shop. Annie’s working on a quilt for Maddi and had some cutting to do. Is this what retirement is going to be like?  I don’t think so. 

Annie in her element behind a table full of quilting supplies. 

So I am one load away from giving up over the road truck driving. Not to worry, life will go on. That’s more for me than anyone else. 

Annie – Is this what retirement is going to be like?   Haha 

We have worked all day getting Greg’s truck emptied out and cleaned up.  He is leaving tomorrow for his last trip.  

Good night y’all. 

DG:  Dispatch says head to Ashland, they would take care of me. I thought that was very generous of them. How generous?  We shall soon see. 

On my way home I safely sent updates on my whereabouts. 

Just outside Louisville turning onto 64, passing Grayson, making the final turn to home. 

Then I got this.  Ain’t he cute?  

And now we rest. Good night good folk. God bless. 

Annie – Yes, they are both cute.   You know who else is cute?  My sweetie pie who got in tonight.   So happy!!  

Goodnight y’all. 

Last load?  Next to last?  Won’t know till morning.  In the meantime it’s a beautiful day in Tennessee.

That’s here in Shelbyville. This is what it was like out side of Nashville a little earlier. 

And just outside of town. 

Oh, almost forgot about Louisville.  Don’t want to forget about Louisville.

Got unloaded and headed out. Where to spend the night?  As I approached the intersection to highway 231 there was a marked similarity about the place. I had been here before. We had been here before. When I came in I thought it looked familiar but last time we came from the opposite direction and it was at night. But as I was leaving I realized this was the same place. And that meant there was a Wal Marr about four miles away that allowed truck parking. And so it was. 

The danger of parking at a Wal Marr is that you are tempted to go in and when you go inside, you find things like this. 

You may not be able to see them very well. The picture looked better when I took it. Well, I would take it again but they are no longer photographable unless you used an x-ray machine and then I do not believe they would look the same. They are, or were, mini eclairs. I pondered over them and chocolate cake, double chocolate muffins or red velvet cake. Too many choices. 

So here I sit with a ten hour rest period ahead of me so I guess I will get some sleep. 

Hope you all had a blessed day. Good night and God bless. 

DG:  86 miles today. Boy am I bushed.  Load was finally ready around 7:30 so I was on the road by 8:00 and not wanting to drive all night and sit all day tomorrow I opted to sit tonight and drive a little while tomorrow.  

Once again I am surprised as what is on the road. 

Boat or plane?  I don’t know. 

Discovered a series on Netflix. It’s about the life of Marco Polo. Very interesting.  Right now he is in Mongolia at the time of Kubla Khan.  

One other pic I forgot, 711’s Double Gulp. How big can they go. 

So now there’s nothing Left but to wish you all a blessed good night. God bless. 

DG: Here I sit as the sun begins to set, waiting, waiting, waiting some more. 

I was given a load that was supposed to get me home but the timing’s not right so it won’t be tonight and now I fade with the light as the sun dips below the horizon. 

Waxing poetic as my mind wanders how to absorb all of God’s wonders. 

This past year we have seen so many places and so many things, met interesting people none of whom sings. 

One last look at the Kankakee River.  Don’t know why, just like that name. 

This was interesting, a grave yard in Minnesota.  So neatly kept and spaced. 

And a sunset. 

Night has crept in and in most neighborhoods all is quiet, but not mine.  Diesel engines hum through the night, refers start and stop keeping their perishable freight at just the right temperature to keep it fresh until the consumer takes it from the grocer’s shelf and carries it home. That’s my neighborhood.  

Hope you all had a blessed day. Good night and God bless. 

Annie – Worked on Maddi’s quilt some more today.    It’s coming along nicely.  At this rate I may be done with it before Greg gets home.  
I outlined some of the butterflies and got my strips done for the flowers.    Can’t wait to see the finished product.  

DG:  No hurry. Just over 300 miles to go and tomorrow afternoon to get there. Just moseying today. Not sure that’s a word. 

Illinois has these convenient service centers about every 30 miles or so and I stopped at the first one east bound coming from Wisconsin.  Had to use the restroom, yes. Then wanted a snack. Pretzel bites with hot salsa cheese fit the bill. 

Next I will find me a tasty beverage.  
Then back on the road for a bit. 

Looking at the east bound lane of I-90.

Okay, gotta go. 

6:15, stopped at TA 10 miles from receiver to take a shower. Appointment is for 3:00 pm tomorrow but when I called I was told there was a possibility they could work me in early and they do have overnight parking.  So if I get over there then I don’t have to start my clock until they call me. 

7:30, arrived at receiver just shy of 24 hours early. 

 In other businesses this would be seen as efficiency. Not so in trucking. Now I wait. No driving, no pay. Just sitting. My reward for a good effort. Who’s the leader of this here outfit is what I want to know. 

Some more pics of Minnesota for your viewing pleasure then off to bed. 

Annie – Worked a lot on the quilt today.  It’s coming along nicely I think.  

Mom had occupational therapy again today.   She’s doing good.  One more week they say and then she can go to the Vitality Center.   
I am turning in.  Plan on working on quilt again tomorrow! 

DG: Idle time gives space to contemplation and feeds it with emotion. In an effort to cut back on my idle time I requested a dedicated route. I had heard from other drivers that this was the way to go if you wanted to keep rolling. Don’t believe everything you hear.  We were dispatched more regularly, that is we received our next trip prior to completing the one we were on, but there never seemed to be any weekend deliveries or pick ups. So we got a reset every week. Good for the clock. Not so good for the paycheck. So we opted to bring this over the road adventure to an end and start a new journey going back to the beginning, home. We have both had a sense of peace about it ever since making that decision so we take that as a sign from God that we have made the correct decision. But there are many more to come and we will seek His guidance in all of them. 

It’s 8:00 am here in Marshall, MN, a cool, crisp morning. My appointment is for 10:00 and I am one and one half miles from the shipper, so time is anything but of the essence.  

9:15, I can’t wait any longer.  Heading to shipper. 

9:20, well, apparently my GPS doesn’t know the length of a mile. At least it didn’t seem like a mile. 

Check in at the guard shack, “load won’t be ready for a couple hours”.  They give me their direct line number to call. Back to the truck stop. They did allow me to drop my trailer.  

This waiting thing can be fattening.  Just so happens this particular truck stop does not have a Subway, don’t know how the guys at corporate missed this one but glad they did, instead they have what all truck stops should have and that is an eatery owned and operated by local folks. This one is called Toni’s Depot.  Toni is a train enthusiast and it shows by his train displays. And while they do serve subs they also have other dishes, one in particular is what I had for lunch, Swedish meatballs on mash potatoes with gravy, green beans, chopped carrots and macaroni salad. 

And oh, the trains. 

The newspapers give the life account of Toni, whose real name is Frank, and Frank is no longer with us.  According to the articles Frank opened his first pizza restaurant back in the 60s, ran it for a good while, went out of business blaming the corporate fast food joints then reopened some years later in this truck stop.  As it is still open I assume it is his children who are now running it. 

11:30, I call to see if load is ready. They just got the paperwork and they will soon be going to lunch so I was told to call back in a couple of hours. 

1:30, I call, but there is no answer so I leave a message. 

2:00, no call back, I’m going. 

2:05; load is ready. Finally. It’s a beautiful day and my route is taking me right through the middle of the countryside. 

Came upon an interesting name for a town. Sleepy Eye, MN

Apparently Sleepy Eye was an Indian. Further research needs done. 

Then I found this lovely little spot. 

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Cindy was excited to be on the road again. 

But she couldn’t figure out the giant chef. 

And neither could I. 

So it’s getting late and I should be getting to bed. Good night y’all and God bless. 

Annie – Abby and Lindsey got to stay the night again.   Abby made a key lime pie.   It was yummy.    

Getting late so turning in.   Good night y’all.