Our shiny, clean truck

We had to take a picture of our shiny, clean truck, while it was still shiny and clean. It didn't stay that way very long.

On Friday we passed through Springfield and got to see Jes. We met her at Waffle House (nudge, nudge, Jack and Ruth) because they have truck parking. The waffles are really, really good, too.

Jes looked fabulous and it was really good to see her even if it was for only an hour. She was between class and work, so we were lucky on the timing. That was the fourth time we have passed through Springfield and the first time it worked out. She is taking a photography class this semester. We got to see some of her photos. She actually goes in the dark room and develops them. So far, they have only done black and white. She prefers digital, but that is not what this class is about.

Amarillo By Morning

Last week we went to Bartlesville, OK, Amarillo, TX, and Albuquerque (the hardest word to spell!), NM. The whole week we were singing George Strait's Amarillo by Morning, one of the best country songs of all time. It also reminded John of the English comedian Peter Kay's Amarillo. Amarillo is home to the Big Texan. It is a restaurant that has been featured on lots of TV shows. They have a steak challenge. If you can eat a 72 ounce (4 1/2 pound) of sirloin steak, a baked potato, salad, dinner roll, and shrimp cocktail in 1 hour, you get the dinner free. Their website http://www.bigtexan.com/ is entertaining. Amarillo is also home to the Cadillac Ranch. We didnt see it, but I just researched it and it is located on Interstate 40 between exits 60 and 62. I must imprint that on my brain so I dont miss it next time.

Wild Horses

Last week we were in Sparks, NV on our way to deliver our load. We were on a four-lane divided road, and an oncoming truck motioned for us to slow down. Thinking it was a cop, we made sure we slowed down and had on our seat belts (which we always wear, by the way). We round a bend and there are two horses hanging out on the side of the street munching away on grass, not paying a bit of attention to the traffic around them. No fence, not two feet from the curb. Our delivery was on the next block, so I asked the guys in the guard shack if they were aware of the horses hanging out, thinking maybe the could call the owners. They said there is no one to call, the horses are WILD!!!!

The second picture was taken on the way up the mountain to Donner Summit. We cant figure out what happened to this section of land, wild fires, logging, or disease, but it looks scarred and painful.

Anyway, we made it to Donner Summit. It is about 40 miles of climbing, but it is so gorgeous, (despite the bit of scarred land). There is a rest area at the summit that has a 1/2 mile walking trail. We haven't had the time to take the walk, YET. We were heading east and there is road construction on the way down. Imagine that, 40 miles of down-hill with 30,000 pounds of wine (from the famous Napa Valley, California), and you also get to drive through road construction. If they would only throw in a couple of wild horses, we could have a grand old job. Some days are easier than others. Cant wait until winter, when we also get to deal with snow and ice, on top of wild horses, road construction, and all the other things truckers get to deal with.

The picture of the train track/water trellis is also interesting. It really looks like the wild, wild west. I LOVE NEVADA!!!!!!

Sept. 16, 2009

Hi Everyone,



I decided to start blogging about our travels, mostly, and anything else I feel the need to share.

My sister-in-law came over from England to visit and she wrote a blog of her trip. It was really entertaining and a good way to keep a diary (of sorts) forever.



I will also be sharing interesting stuff about Jes. For those that don't know already, she is a Sophomore at Missouri State University, in Springfield, MO. She hasn't decided on a major yet, but is leaning towards Media Studies, with "lots of minors". She is doing a fabulous job of staying out of debt, so far. She has 3 good scholarships, one of which pays all of her tuition for up to 5 years. The other 2 are on a one year basis. As you can tell, I think she is FABULOUS!



John and I are over the road team drivers for Witte Bros, Troy, MO. The company goes to all the continental states. We drive a 2009 Peterbilt with 150,000 miles. I have been driving for 7 months, and John has been a truck driver for almost 8 years. Some days are REALLY long, some are easy and rest full.



Today we are in Lodi, CA. It is a perfect day today. Not a cloud in the sky and temp around 75. The truck stop is across the street from a field of grapevines. Beautiful. We have a delivery in the morning in Sacramento, CA and then head to Sparks, NV for a delivery tomorrow night. We will probably head to Sonoma, CA from there to pick up a load of wine and take it back to Troy. I was really excited the first time I got to go to Napa Valley, but all we got to see was what I call the working man's view. We get to see a lot of the country, but it is usually the warehouse districts. No sightseeing, or visiting good restraunts, museums, tourist spots.

We will see how this blogging thing turns out.