*March 27th*
Atlanta, GA. Made our final destination after picking up in NJ. Waiting on word for where we are next. They seem to want to keep us rolling so I'm sure we'll know shortly. Doesn't really matter today to me. I can't drive anyway as I'm out of legal driving hours.
Ok...here we go. Atlanta to Gainsville, GA, then off to Dallas, Texas for delivery. Not bad. About 900 miles. Cake walk really. But again...I won't be doing any of the driving.
So yesterday was interesting. For several reasons. For one, I went down a long, steep mountain. It's in the stateline town of Fancy Gap, Virginia. Now here's the thing. I know Fancy Gap quite well. The band I was in a decade ago passed through there quite often. And besides just knowing how it's a steep mountain...we've also broke down there, hit a deer there, AND slept in the parking lot of a motel there. So...it rang loud when it was announced I'd be driving down it. I have to descend 2 major mountains. And using what we truckers call a Jake break..or engine break. The kicker here is..you can only use that braking method on dry pavement and with a load. Well..we were rolling with 78,000 pounds. However...IT WAS POURING. Cats and dogs. So we still have to go down it because..well...trucks don't stop for rain. I just didn't get credit for it. Oh yeah..heavy fog. Maybe 30 feet of visibility. So let me paint a more broad, easier to understand picture. I had to navigate down an 8 mile stretch of very curvy mountain in the pouring rain with fog so thick I could barely see in front of me. ALSO...with every car and big rig around me driving like they're some roadcourse race car driver in Europe. Now truckers will say "Go in a low gear". Aha. That was considered. And would of been no problem. Except, going THAT slow with that bad of visibility greatly increases the chances of someone slamming into us from behind. Which, is also something we wanted to avoid. So our only safe, realistic option was to go down at a respectable 45mph, in 7th gear. But in 7th gear, gravity and physics will do their job and speed you up. Truckers can't just stand on their brakes the whole time. There is so much force and so much weight to control, that they'll either fade and become usless...or catch fire. Neither one is acceptable. So we use the tap and release method. It's taught. I don't know if all seasoned drivers use that method...but I do. Anyway...I was doing that and for the most part I kept control of my rig and maintained speed. Alright....right? Well, brakes are not powered by hydraulic fluid. They're powered by compressed air. Which is done and store in tanks on the truck itself. However....with the tap and release method...you can use more air than you have stored and can replace. Which was what happened in my case. After about 6 miles, the terrifying "low air" buzz started. Now El Hadj knew we'd be alright. We were almost there and still had enough air to make it. And the practical part of me also knew this. But damn if it didn't pucker me right the hell on up. It was an experience. And one I needed and am grateful for. But...it sucks I endured it and get no official credit. Oh well.
Regardless, I was coming home. Well...driving through home I should say. Just seeing I-77, NC licence plates and billboards for Bojangles was enough to warm my heart. But the real treat was that for 30 of the best minutes in a month...I got to see my wonderful beautiful wife at a truck stop in Charlotte. It was as cruel of a 30 minutes as it was wonderful. But so worth it. She's the first friendly face I've seen in a month and just happens to be the one I wanted and needed to see the most. I know I don't sound like a typical hardened trucker. But maybe because I'm not typical. Or really even a trucker..haha.
Anway..it was a real treat. And honestly, credit where it's due, El Hadj was not only agreeable, but insistent that I see her. Which is odd seeing as how I don't get into deep conversation about my private life with him. And also odd because I have gotten the feeling for several weeks that he doesn't like me too much. Actually, we've gotten along alright for the last 2 days. Maybe he likes me more now. Maybe he thinks I'm improving. Maybe I am improving. Maybe it's a combination of all of that. Maybe it doesn't really matter. I decided that a week ago. However, a little peace on the temporary home front is nice.
As I type this...a purple rig with a silver trailer pulls into the holding lot we are in. It says Kates Transport on the side of the tractor and trailer. A little old lady about 70 gets out of the driver's seat. She clocks in at about 5 foot tall and maybe 95 pounds soaking wet. And...clad in a pink construction helmet and bright pink safety vest. Haha. The shit I see.
*March 28th*
I-20 West. Just crossed into Texas. Yippie. Feel my excitement? Not a fan of this side of the state. Now West and North Texas? Beautiful. But you can have Dallas, Houston, and Austin.
Today I did almost 9 straight hours from Alabama all the way to the TX/LA border. It was my first time in Louisiana. Really flat and green. An easy drive. I enjoyed it. It's hot and miserable outside. But our AC works good. As I was driving through Bama, Mississippi, and Cajun country...I couldn't help but look at the swamps and fields and imagine Muddy, Willie, and the Wolf living close by...working the land and playing the only music they knew..the blues...on front porches and liquor houses. Especially in the Southern most part of the Delta. I was looking around for alligators in Louisiana. But no...no gators. Just a shit load of dead armadillos. Iron clad possums.
Out here things are about the same. Getting more experienced. The peace is still standing between El Hadj and myself. He even said he saw real improvement in me. Which...might be somewhat true. But NOT being overbearing from day one would have brought that around a lot sooner. But whatever..I'll take it. I prefer my last week or 2 be smooth.
*March 29th*
Springfield, CO. I just got off a 9 hour driving shift. El Hadj took over. Load has to be in Aurora Colorado by 10 am tomorrow. I mean...today. It's a little past midnight. I'll be hitting the bed in a little bit as El Hadj drives through the night. Don't go feeling sorry for him. He's napped and socialized the whole time I've been driving. Anyway, that's the job today. Tomorrow...something new will come in. I'm hoping West Coast.
I've mentioned being fond of North and West Texas. Today around 8 pm I was driving state highway 287 North. About 30 minutes before Amarillo. It's flat. 3/4 of your vision is taken up with the sky. It's so open and massive. As I was trucking along today and the sun was going down. It cast probably the most magnificent red, pink, orange, and purple sunset I've ever seen. The clouds directly overhead were illuminated bright magenta and looked like pink cotter candy hanging from the sky. Over in the direction of the fading sun, everything between me and the glow was black. Every few seconds was a different postcard picture. Every telephone pole, power line, tractor, windmill, farm house, weather vane, and fence post was a silhouette. I wanted to take a picture but realized that the camera wouldn't do it justice. It would almost be an insult to misrepresent it. Anwyay...as I spent 20 minutes in constant awe, the John Williams music from Star Wars when Luke is standing on the ridge on Tattooine started playing in my head. This story isn't going anywere. No punchline or underlying theme. I just want to remember it.
When not looking at the North Texas scenery, I daydream about being back in NC. Being home. Having my wife. Seeing my family and friends. Having my cat wake me up in my bed. I dream about it more because it's close to happening. I'm drawing down on this phase of the plan and I can't say I'm sad about it. I have a good life. And it's waiting on me to get back.
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