MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND READERS

Andy and Donna took us to a dinner theatre on Monday night. We had never been to one of these shows and it was an excellent night of food and entertainment, something we will certainly like to do again. The place was called Celebrations and the show was "Good Vibrations, Summer of '68". http://www.celebrations.ca/celebrations/whatis.html

The surprises were not finished with either, when we got back to their house they had Christmas gifts for both Sue and I and a very nice Christmas bonus too.

Penners also came up trumps again this week. I had made myself available for a short trip leaving Tuesday and to be home by 17.00 Christmas eve. They got me a load to Calgary leaving 8.00am Tuesday, delivering 10.00am Wednesday and then brought me home the 870 miles empty to get me home for Christmas. Made it home by 14.00 Christmas eve after travelling through some of the worst weather this year.

That could be my last trip before Christmas. I requested to be home by the 21st as Andy, my boss, and his wife, Donna, are taking Sue and I to Winnipeg for the night. Penners have got me home and I have made myself available for a short trip leaving on Tuesday and back Thursday. Not sure if they will have anything for me this close to the holidays but if not I will go back out again as soon as I can after Christmas.

Winter & Christmas In The Country

I have finally got back from my longest trip since starting at Penner, 14 days out and 6383 miles. Winter has finally arrived and we already have had temperatures of -30c although not as much snow as last year, not yet anyway.

The dogs are still sleeping outside in the dog shed in this weather and are coping well, need to get some more pictures of them on here.

Craig has been able to get himself another part time job, this time on a dairy farm.

Having a couple of days at home now and ready to leave again on Monday.

Happy 18th Birthday Craig!!

Yesterday was Craig's 18th birthday and as you can guess I wasn't home, he really is going to love me for the school photo taken at primary school, around 2003 I think. Don't forget you can click on it to enlarge, if you are brave enough.

Look how low the bumper on this Freightliner Classic is!!!!!!

This week has been very slow, still covered 2220 miles. I left on Saturday for Lebanon, In and dropped my trailer there Monday morning, there were loads coming out of there but they would not be ready till Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday. My reload was 52 mile away loading Tuesday morning going to Brampton, On so I stayed in Lebanon for the second night.
I loaded and got to Brampton Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I switched trailers with my load going back to Lebanon which is where I am still sitting Thursday morning.

That's deer hunting season over with again for another year. I only managed to get out a couple of times but Gary managed to put some meat in the freezer and also make the farmers happy by getting rid of a wolf.

We can still hunt wolves and coyotes for most of the winter using our deer tags.

Sorry it's been a while but still busy at work and it's White tail deer hunting season. Job is still going really well and getting good miles. This trip was 2500 miles in 4 days and took me out to Ohio then straight back to Steinbach.

Lots of Amish people around this area, can be a bit of a menace on the road at times but are really friendly and will give you a big wave as you go by in the truck.

Another trip completed and this one a little over 3800 miles leaving last Sunday and getting back home today.

Here is a brief account of this trip, you can follow it on the map above. Leaving on Sunday, loaded down to Atlanta, Georgia. Delivered Wednesday morning then ran empty to Louisville, Kentucky to switch trailers with the loaded one going to Windsor, Ontario. Got to Windsor Thursday afternoon and again switched trailers with this load going to Ligonier, Indiana. Unloaded Friday morning and ran empty to Troy, Ohio, dropped the empty and bob tailed to Russia, Ohio where there was a loaded one ready for me Saturday morning which I was to take back to Winnipeg and arrived there Sunday afternoon, dropped the trailer and bob tailed home.

I have added a couple more photos of Mackinac Bridge and the metal mesh lane!!!

I delivered in Pennsylvania and got my message to head empty to Brampton, Ontario. I was still making my way there when I got my reload message, load in London, Ontario Wednesday and deliver in Winnipeg Friday, but the best part was I was going "in transit" through USA, saving a lot of time and hard driving through northern Ontario. This was only the second time I had crossed "The Mackinac Bridge" into the northern peninsula, it's a beautiful part of the country with breathtaking views across the great lakes.The bridge itself is quite spectacular, driving right at the edge with only a small barrier between you and a large dive into the cold waters. The left lane is not asphalt but metal mesh that you can see through, and all this at only 20mph speed limit for loaded trucks.

I made my delivery on Friday morning, back to the yard empty dropped my trailer and bob tailed to Penner Performance where they are doing a 3 axle alignment ready for me to leave again Sunday.

Back to work again and left on my first trip on Saturday morning with an empty to switch in Dryden, Ontario then take the loaded one to tip in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania Tuesday 1pm.

Had been suffering with man flu since we got back and after the last couple of days I have diagnosed it as "P & O Roadtanks Fever". It causes me to park up after only 8 hours driving or 480km and then not start again until 6am, well my card goes in at 6am lol.

Seriously, I have had plenty of time to get here and arrived at 1.30 yesterday and still cant deliver till 1pm today but with the man flu and jet lag I have been glad of all the extra time on this trip.

The flights went well, until we got to Minneapolis that is. We knew we didn't have any time to waste between flights here, 1hr 45 min in which to get through American customs, security checks, collect our luggage, check on the next flight and get to the gate. Arrived in Minneapolis about 15 min late so with our 2.15 flight 1.5 hours away timing was going to be very tight. Took about 30 minutes to get through customs and security and as we approached baggage reclaim there was our case, off we run. Turns out we didn't need to rush, flight had been cancelled due to bad weather. Next flight at 7.45pm already fully booked and the one after not till 9.15 am next day. "OK nothing we can do can we have a hotel room please?" "Sorry sir but you are not entitled to one as the flight was cancelled due to weather and was out of our control but I can put you on standby for the 7.45 flight". "Ggrrrr"

This was going to be a long, uncomfortable night. We went to the gate nice and early to find out what was happening, tired and frustrated after travelling for 21 hours we were told that we stood very little chance of getting on this flight but would we like a hotel room for the night. YOU BET WE WOULD.

So we were given a courtesy amenity pack each, sent to the shuttle bus and off to the hotel we went.

Up next morning at 6.00 back onto the shuttle bus, checked in once more and got our final flight back to Winnipeg where Gary and Craig were both waiting to take us home.

Our visit to England is over and we had a great time with family and friends. My family even held a new years party for us. In the past we always went to Linda and Derek's house for new year but as we had missed it the last two years it was decided to have new year in October. Mad? Probably. There was the usual home made soup, hot pot, trifle and even a cake for us.

We all had a great night, even done "Auld Lang Syne" with the usual tears. My sisters were getting texts from friends wishing them a happy new year!!!!