Update From The Road

[SHMIV]

I was just browsing VGOF from my phone, while waiting on a load assignment, then I suddenly realized that I was at a truck stop that will serve me some interwebs straight to my laptop. I've been missing the real internet.

So, I'm down in El Paso. Lotsa Mexicans here. Saw the same thing this morning, in Las Cruces.

Interesting things that I have seen:

Knoxville Tennessee has a disco ball water tower. Delightfully tacky. There is also a building by the interstate shaped like a Martin Guitar. Apparently, it houses a museum.

Cadillac Ranch. I should cover one of those old Caddys in VGOF stickers.

Guns in an Illinois Wal-Mart. Apparently, the whole state isn't like Chitcago.

Lots of Trucks on Sticks. Not unusual at Peterbilt dealerships, but I see older ones that hover over vacant lots, in the middle of nowhere. Those are the cool ones.

I've rather enjoyed looking at the abandoned buildings, and old signs, all through out the mid-west. One day, when I have a decent camera, I'll have to take some pictures.

I've also discovered that Hampton Roads isn't the only area that has decided to build massive shopping/living complexes that look like really bad, cheaply built movie sets. It seems that the whole nation has been cursed with such silly developments.

Well, since I've got the real internet at my disposal, currently , I'm going to go do stuff with it.

[VBshooter]

Road working myself (Lake Charles,LA at the moment.....) and thanks to wireless I don;t miss out on this forum...Wouldn;t be the same without it..

[OakRidgeStars]

You guys are the road warriors

[SpanishInquisition]

Say hello fo Ft Bliss for me!

That tower in Knoxville is the Sunsphere, a former World's Fair site. There is (or was) observation decks, a restaurant, etc.

[allingeneral]

All of Illinois is definitely NOT Chicago. As a matter of fact, my dad used to tell me that Illinois would be a lot better off is Chicago would secede from the state.

[VBshooter]

Ya think Canada would take it if we gave it to them??

[widefat]

Odd....just this morning I was wondering how complicated it would be to give Fairfax and Arlington counties to Maryland.

[HEX]

Maryland would take them but we have to take Baltimore. Sounds fishing to me.

[VBshooter]

Oh No that ain't gonna fly. We'll take the water rights to the Bay instead,

[MNMGoneShooting]

We miss you SHMIV! Drive safe!

[punchie]

Y'all keep it safe out there. Last Friday night was my LAST night in a truck. After 40+ years of driving I will retire after I take Feb off for vacation.

[Taggure]

Good to hear from you SHMIV and thanks for the road update. You keep yourself safe and check in again when you get a chance.

Vern

[Jakeiscrazy]

Glad you could stop in! So you like the new job?

[SHMIV]

Well, I'm back in Virginia. I see that you guys have done an awesome job of holding down the fort while I was away. It seems that Charlottesville has even had a breif moment of sanity.

The other day, I think while I was in El Paso (but, maybe somewhere else; it's hard to remember what happened where, when you are all over the place) I was sitting at a light, and saw a guy with a cardboard sign standing on the corner. He ended up approaching the truck while holding up his sign, which said, simply, "SMILE". So, I did. He smiled back, did a back flip, then walked off. Which was random, and pretty cool.

While I was in Illinois, last week, (or was it the week prior?) some guy was driving around the truck stop, peaking and tuning CB radios. He was charging $20, so my trainer had him get the ol' Cobra in tip-top shape. He spent about 20 minutes on it, if that. The radio went from putting out about 4 watts, to putting out 30 watts. If any of y'all live near truck stops, and know how to tinker on radio's, that's a good bit of side cash, right there. I was watching, and listening to the calls on the radio, and that guy must have made between $300 and $400 that night. Come to think of it, I may start doing that on the side, myself. I'm at a random truck stop, every now and then.

My last load was a trailer full of pickled peppers, imported from Mexico, shipped out of El Paso. One truck pulled them out of Mexico, to a warehouse, where we were waiting, and they got pulled from one truck and put directly on mine. And, yesterday, we discovered that our truck was leaking pickled pepper fluid. Apparently, between bumpy roads, mountains, and stop-and-go traffic, 8 barrels had overturned. The rest of the load shifted, too, we found out at the last scale house; we discovered tht we were suddenly over weight. Curses on Peter Piper, picking pecks of pickled peppers, willy nilly, with no regard to those who must haul them. Why is a Piper picking pecks of pickled peppers and not piping, anyhow? At any rate, there is a rest area in Tennesse that will be smelling all hot and spicy for the next month or two.

I have noticed, out in the mid-west, many establishments that advertise "XXX". I know that, when I go to Mexican restaurants here in Virginia, I rather enjoy a tall mug of "Dos Equis", so I would imagine that "Tres' Equis" must be a quite enjoyable beer, indeed. It certainly seems popular, out there. Most of these establishments also say things like "Adult World", so they must encourage mature behaviour, and want the patrons to behave like responsible grown-ups, which is a good thing.

Well, I'll have to catch up with y'all later.

[rlbellco72]

Liked the pickled peppers story SHMIV. Would that Rest Stop be along I 40?

And welcome home. Stay safe.

[OakRidgeStars]

While I was in Illinois, last week, (or was it the week prior?) some guy was driving around the truck stop, peaking and tuning CB radios. He was charging $20, so my trainer had him get the ol' Cobra in tip-top shape. He spent about 20 minutes on it, if that. The radio went from putting out about 4 watts, to putting out 30 watts. If any of y'all live near truck stops, and know how to tinker on radio's, that's a good bit of side cash, right there. I was watching, and listening to the calls on the radio, and that guy must have made between $300 and $400 that night. Come to think of it, I may start doing that on the side, myself. I'm at a random truck stop, every now and then.

Yep, used to work in C.B. radio shop back in high school. It was a little strange seeing some big, tough trucker crying because his favorite 29 channel Royce just went up in smoke.

From 4W to 30W!!?? Holy over-driven finals Batman! 12W is typical. Better watch out for any antenna problems or that radio will be back on the bench again.

[SHMIV]

@rlbellco: Yep, I-40. Just don't ask which yardstick, because I didn't take note, lol. That leak interupted my nap.

@ORS: Antenna problems like the back of the mirror popping off and ripping out the antenna? That happened, yesterday. My trainer will be breaking out his SWR/Watt meters this weekend to verify the radio performance. He mentioned that he lacked faith in the mobile guys meter, and he knows that his works. Either way, the radio WAS improved; we are able to communicate with drivers from a greater distance, now. So, even if the guy had inaccurate equipment, that $20 was not wasted.

[OakRidgeStars]

$20 = good deal

[gunderwood]

I've also discovered that Hampton Roads isn't the only area that has decided to build massive shopping/living complexes that look like really bad, cheaply built movie sets. It seems that the whole nation has been cursed with such silly developments.

Natural outcome of zoning regulations.