Ok here goes then for those of you interested in the job out here this is my last trip south before christmas.
DAY 1
Into to the yard for midday on friday pick up my trailer and top up with fuel and we`re ready for the off
with a full load of truck parts for reconditioning going to Paccar in Morrow GA.
Run down to the US border at Pembina ND and throu there with no problems,
sorry no pics as the tend to get a little excited at people with there cameras out.
Heading south on I29 i spot Bryn who drives the big Volvo from our firm on his way home (another ex-pat)
Down to Fargo ND the left into Minnesota on I94 and the scale is open
No problems here all axle weights are good so its time to push on and i get myself around Minneapolis tonight and park up in Wilson WI
812 kms covered and 8 hrs driving.
DAY 2
And back on the road for 7am with a nice easy day of just driving throu Wisconsin & Illinos
The traffic out here really gets you down
Someones not having such a good day and a strange place to tip
Stop of for some fuel in La Salle IL then push on down to Paducah KY for the night
1120 kms covered and 10.75 hrs driving.
DAY 3
Up bright and early and on the road for 5.15am and head down towards Nashville TN
Nashville
Stop off just south of there for a spot of breakfast and then on down to Atlanta GA.
Brake check area near Monteagle TN
This is total overkill, but if you seen the way they drive out here you`d understand
Well the snow is now well behind me and its starting to warm up just nice now
Somemore top quality drivng, this was right at the entry slip road into the scale near Resace GA, bet it took some explaining to the DOT
Into the Petro truckstop on the Atlanta ring road for fuel & wash for me & the truck
Before
During
And after
Both fed and watered and off around to my drop for the night 20 mins down the road,
another one of our motors is already on the bay when i arrive, so i do the same and thats it untill the morning.
Mine and Dennis`s motors in Paccar, the old meets the new.
660 kms covered and 6.5 hrs driving.
DAY 4
Empty by 7am and get my reload details and head off east on I20 to Augusta GA to collect a load of glass beads for Edmonton Alberta which i`ll just drop in our yard.
No one here when i arrive so its straight on the bay for me and i am all done and ready for the charge home by 12 midday
Not much room for anything else in there so home it is
A quick stop to fax my customs paperwork and catch a little sun before i get back to the frozen north
I make it back upto Oak Grove just north of Clarksville across the Tennesse/Kentucky state line.
1007 kms covered and 9.5 hrs driving.
DAY 5
On the road for 5am and run back up throu St Louis and cut up hwy 61 throu Missouri and Iowa as looking on the tinterweb it said they were going to have ice rain in Illinois and snow again in Wisconsin none of which i am a big fan of
Throu St Louis at 9.30 am quite a big city but no traffic
Into the Flying J at Wayland MO for yet more fuel & food, this will see me back to the yard now , the fuel that is not the food
Make it upto Albert Lea MN for the night and we`re back into the white stuff
1156 kms covered and 11 hrs driving.
DAY 6
And i am on the road for 4am but still eary start =eary finish which i like.
Around Minneapolis with no hassel as there all still in bed and head upto Fargo ND were in the night they`ve had a bit of ice rain which slows down homeward bound progress a little but it soon clears up near Grand Forks and it then a clear run to the border and back into the yard.
Home at last
All fueled up and washed and put away untill next year
875 kms covered and 9 hrs driving.
Happy Christmas to you all and i hope this ok for you.
Cheers