OOH! AAH!

THAT'S THE SOUND OF THE MEN WORKING ON THE CHAIN GANG!

NOT ME--but driving through SOUTH CAROLINA, a group that years ago may have been a chain gang, were cleaning the roads. Instead of stripes, they were wearing SCHNEIDER ORANGE JUMPSUITS. Although not in chains, they were guarded by the "BOSSMAN" with his DARK SUNGLASSES and SHOTGUN over his shoulder.

I could just see these two friends , especially the guy with the hat (NEIL), as the "BOSSMAN".

NOTE: THE DARK GLASSES..After all, he is from GEORGIA!!!

The other guy (DARREL), could have been wearing the SCHNEIDER ORANGE as well.

Delivered my load and got another going to TRENTON, MI. tight delivery time, 9AM on thursday. Now I'm down for the day, other than planning tomorrow's load.

WHEEL ON FIRE!!!

NO NOT ME..another trucker!

I delivered my load at ELKTON, FL and proceeded to pick up a $ GENERAL load out of ALACHUA, FL going to SOUTH BOSTON, VA. On I95 in GEORGIA, an INTERMODAL trucker passed me doing about 70 mph, with his #4 trailer wheel smoking. I attempted to call him on the CB, and the response I got was he knows about it. (I SUPPOSE HE FIGURED THAT THE FASTER HE GOES THE COOLER THE WHEEL WOULD BE). About 5 miles up the road, he pulled over and flames were coming from the wheel. Supposedly a burnt wheel bearing. I didn't stop because he had nothe company driver and truck already with him.

Next incident was a pickup pulling a collapseable camper, prett mch cut me off in a construction zone. I don't use my airhorn often, but this guy asked for it.

FUEL? I DON'T NEED FUEL

OR DO I???

Headed into FLORIDA, crossing the GA/FL line, my FUEL guage indicates eight full, and my low fuel light comes on. I check my digital guage, indicates haviing used 140 gallons so far, getting 5.82 mpg. WHICH DO I BELIEVE? My suggested fuel stop is still 89+ miles away. Generally I believe I get 180 gals in a 200 gal tank when I fill. There's always a bit of air in the tanks. I decide to try to make my stop. about 30 miles down the road, my guage is on "E" for Excellent, I'm about to call for a tanker from SEM since I'm probably running on fumes.. I make it to the PILOT and put in 157 gals. I may still have had 25 +/- gals left. I guess my guage is really off, perhaps to my benefit, but "not like in LIMBO"...HOW LOW CAN YOU GO???

After fueling, decide to make the TA just north of my morning drop, 3 o'clock and it's full. WORST parking I'd seen in a long time. Parking was ALL SC===== UP..I managed to convince another trucker, to pull out a traier he was dropping, allow me to get parked, and then back his trailer in but not so deep, and unhook.

ALL in ALL I can now relax!!

KEEPING MOVING.

Delivered to P&G GRANITE CITY, IL this A.M...Had a little time for myself at Edardsville, and then on to NEELY's LANDING, MO, an on to FAMILY $ in MOREHEAD, KY.

Been passng out MARKEY's tapes and CDs. Very few drivers have tape players any more.
I'll just leave them at the truckstops a few at a time.

NO FOTOS to be had this time..

MARKEY & PAUL

Got a couple loads delivered today. IN a FIFO market, but MICHELE, my TRIP PLANNER is doing a great job of keeping me running. She gave me a load for tomorrow picking up in ELKHART, IN . going to GRANITE CITY, IL.

While in Indiana, I managed t take my 10 hrs visiting and going out to eat with MARKEY and PAUL ..FOTOS attached.

ALSO the last pIC is for my daughter RACHEL. Not that she'll follow my blog.

BACK @ GARY

Just got to GARY OC..on my way to deliver a KC load tomorrow, folled by another to INDIANA. GOOD trip so far, not a whole lot to report from last Tuesday when I left home. AT least not much comes to mind. But then AGE does that to you.

While here at Garry, I'll get my wash done, and get together with my friend RAY. At least that's the plan.

This morning at a Rest area on I57, I saw this cool truck..FOTO enclosed

..

While at a rest area in ALABAMA I got a FOTO f this SATURN 18 ROCKET.

ANOTHER BREAKDOWN

after a 5 hour liveload in ROCKFORD, just coming off TAH, I managed to make 308 mles today to EFFINGHAM, IL. Enroute, I threw an accessories belt, and stopped at a TA , only to find that the accessories drive pulley was the cause. I had to take it to a dealer to get it repaired. Waiting for the diagnoses from the truck doctor now. I don't know yet if it will affect my load and delivery for tomorrow. IF they finish it tonight, I should be OK.. May need to get a hotel though.

THE HAWIIANS

I promised you viewers of my blog fotos of my Hawiian friends.. These two are of DARREL "CHECK THE SHORTS" AGUIAR. Then there's this one of DARREL, his wife ROBERT, and ME.

Here is a foto of DARELL and "MULE" KAPPA. YES MULE is HAWIIAN, half anyways....

Now I'm at home for EASTER weekend, after a frustrating last week on he road. It seems most just didn't go smooth, running tight on drive hours as well as the DOT 14.

I surived it though

Tomorrow, EASTER, I'll spend with my family, WIFE,SON, DAUGHTER, their SPOUSES DAVE and RENEE, and my 4 GRANDCHILDREN, REBECCA, NANCY, AUSTIN and CULLEN.

Something to look forwards to!!

SO.."HAPPY EASTER TO ALL, CELEBRATE YOUR SALVATION GIFT.

AND YES RAY KTBC&PH

also CHECK MY SON'S WEBSITE http://www.gremlenmusicianservices.com/

NEED A BREAK !! VERY FRUSTRATING DAY

I delivered my WALMART load yesterday morning, waited till nearly 5PM to get my next load from Quincy, IL to OWENSBORO, KY..I knew Walmart had no MTs, because I checked the night before. Schneider still sent me back for a trailer. A yardjockey pulled one from a door for me, but SCHNEIDER said I couldn't have it. They eventually (after 2 hours at Walmart) sent me to BURLINGTON, IA froa trailer.

I requested routing directions from the QUALCOM, but none were received, so I went my way. GUESS WHAT??? crossing a toll bridge, between IA and IL, I got a warning...NO TRUCKS OVER 8 TON ALLOWED. EVENTUALLY got my load at quincy..44600# of recycled paper..HAd to scale 4 times and still can't get legal on my drives..Need to burn off fuel, fuel more often, with less than half a tank.

Decided to make our OC at EDWARDSVILLE, home for the night, to deliver about 10AM tomorrow.

TIME now for lunch, shower, shave and relaxation.

DAY LATE $ SHORT

Was planning. to update yesterday b8ut crashed in the bunk and never got around to it. Delivered my load this morning at GARLAND, TX. Now I'm at the DALLAS oc, waiting to have maintenance work done on it, includeing work on the AC.