HOME AT LAST

I think this must go down as one of the worst trips I have had. It took 11 days, 6 of them were layovers because of the problems in the previous posts, and I only covered about 2500 miles.

The top 3 pictures are taken on "Blue Water Bridge" from Sarnia, On into Port Huron, Mi. The next 5 were taken on "Mackinac Bridge" which takes you over "The Straits of Mackinac" which link Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

This was also the first time I had been on the "Upper Peninsula" in Michigan. It was a lovely part of the country but only 2 lane for most of the way.

On my return to the yard I was very impressed with what happened next. I went in and seen dispatch as normal, they had a bit of a laugh and joke about how long the job took me then I was told that one of the owners wanted a chat with me, oh oh that's usually bad news when it happens to me. When I got to see him he sat me down and asked how things were going and that one or two things that happened this trip should never have happened. Then he asked if I was happy with the way things were handled from that end and we discussed how a couple of things could have been done differently and he assured me that it was being looked into and then as a parting shot he told me............. to make sure I got paid all the layovers.

I wonder how many company owners would still take the time to sit with one of their drivers like that and chat to them for over an hour. Sue and Gary were waiting in the car for me and thought I had been fired it was taking so long.

Leaving again Sunday afternoon to go to Illinois empty, wash out and reload back to Winnipeg, hopefully with no delays or breakdowns.

Same trip different Motel

I eventually got loaded on Monday afternoon and headed off over The Blue Water Bridge which takes you from Sarnia, On into Port Huron, Mi. USA Customs are situated just on the other side of the bridge. As I was only transiting through USA to get back into Canada it should have been a breeze to get through, wrong!! 6 Hours later the load was released and I was now allowed to proceed on my merry way, trouble was it was now 11.30 at night and I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I found a garage about 25 minutes later got myself some grub and went to bed, 2 big days should get me home, wrong again.

I was travelling across the upper peninsula in Michigan, stopped at Rapid River for fuel, shower and supper, left there and 15 minutes later my clutch decided to give up.

So here I am in Escanaba, Mi in another Motel still on the same trip that I should have bee home from on Sunday.

Truck should be ready again tomorrow afternoon, hope so patience is wearing very thin.

Have some pictures of Blue Water Bridge and Mackinac Bridge but camera is still in the truck.

Mum - Happy Birthday & Happy Mothers Day

Mum & Dad - Happy Anniversary

Here we are, another motel courtesy of Jade, thanks guys I know you read this. Only got an outdoor pool this time though but at $45 a night I don't think I can complain too much. Shawn got back to me at 11.30 as promised but hadn't been able to get around the problem of picking this load up Monday evening so here I am stuck in Sarnia through no fault of my own or Jades.

At least I have a choice of places to eat and drink here all within walking distance, oh and the free internet I have been "borrowing" for the last couple of days.

I can forget making it home Sunday night. I went to the shippers and was leaving there by 6.00pm but had to change the paperwork at another plant, you know customer buying it from one company but it is loaded somewhere else. It all went wrong from there, it was discovered I had been loaded with the wrong product. A couple of hours later it was agreed by the shipper to get me off loaded again but they won't reload me till Monday 5.00pm. Jade can get me another reload but haven't got anyone in the area on Monday to reload this one.
Have been here since Thursday afternoon but Jade are going to cover the cost of a motel if I have to stay till Monday, will find out soon.

Had another 24 hour layover today. I am due to load in Sarnia, Ontario 6.00pm tonight and got washed out here yesterday afternoon. I would still like to try and make it home Sunday night, only 2325km away. I need to do about 4 hours driving tonight after loading to be able to make it home.

HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY SUE

Tomorrow, the 17th, is our wedding anniversary. Normally we dont do much, just cards and stuff but this one is a little different. Tomorrow we have been married for 25 years. Gary bought us this lovely ornament which has now taken pride of place on the fireplace.

We still won't be doing anything special though lol, we are both working.

Sorry it has been a while since I last posted. Last week was a busy week, I had asked to leave again on Saturday but those loads were already covered so it would have to be Sunday so it was going to be tough to get my 5000 miles in for this pay period which ends on the 15th. I ahd only done 1800 miles last week. I left Sunday headed for Blue Island, Illinois to load back to Winnipeg and then got caught up in a snow storm on Wednesday on the way back. Sue had my car this week and I wasn't going to get back till late now so I asked dispatch if there was anything I could leave with that evening but also keep me in Canada because of my hours (more driving hours in Canada). They came good and gave me a load to Regina, Sk to deliver early Thursday afternoon and run back to Winnipeg empty, 700 miles. Still short of miles I asked if there was anything else when I got back, yes a quick turn around and back to Regina to deliver Friday evening and return again empty, bingo 5000 miles and the weekend at home.

We carry a lot of liquid fertilizers and chemicals for crop spraying so things are very busy right now, so busy that they haven't got a trailer for me to leave again this morning as planned.

I got some money given to me for my birthday and today I spent it all on a trolling motor for my boat. This is a low power battery operated motor that lets you glide silently on the water while fishing. All we need now is the weather, won't be long now.

HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY DAD

Have a great time, wish we were there!! See you all soon.

Today was another reminder how dangerous the roads can be when the weather changes. This time because it has warmed up a little, same weather you get at the beginning of winter, mild during the day then at night it cools down, gets damp and the roads freeze, then this morning it rained on top. It was like a skating rink. A journey from Rothsay Mn to Winnipeg that normally takes 4 - 41/2 hours took me 8 hours today.

Cars and trucks in the ditches everywhere. Got the load back safely to the yard and hoping to leave again Saturday.
** Since first publishing this post I have since heard that the driver of the truck in the top photo lost his life in this crash. He was a 33 year old male from Winnipeg and my thoughts go out to family and friends of this man **