First Trip with a co-pilot....

I had a phone call last Friday asking me if I wouldn't mind taking a lad down to Waterloo IA with me, as it has been a while since he has driven down to the States, and his mind needed some refreshing. I agreed to this as obviously I am a nice guy and helping other people, adds value to my life (plus its more money per mile). I have to say though that I have enjoyed the trip; its not maybe something I could do every week, but now and again, I think its good to have someone with you. (Even if its only for some company)

Its quite weird trying to pass on information that you have only just learnt yourself, like your some kind of expert, but I played the know-it-all well and even convinced myself I was pretty good. We picked our trailer up on Saturday morning ran down to the Chicago area and we were back in Calgary on Tuesday night. We didn't really stop, apart from doing the pickups and deliveries, so I thought it was good going. I was planned with a job to go straight back down by myself, which I thought was going to be a quick turn around and go; but it seems I was not given all the information and I am now sat 200 kms from my house, resetting my hours, as they load my trailer. So close but yet so far.....

Sharing your space with someone else, is difficult. I don't think I was aware of how set in my ways I am. I said to the lad that he could smoke in the truck, as long as he opened the window, but immediately regretted that statement, 5 cigarettes later. I didn't say anything to him but he must have picked up on the vibe, as he started waiting until we had stopped to spark up. Everybody is different, I know, but when people don't do things the way I do them, it starts to get on my nerves. This sort of sounds like a "I know best" senario, but thats not what I mean. 'I' just thinks its the best way, but I am not always right. I work at a certain tempo when I am out of the truck and I don't like to waste time.. I am definately not suited to team driving, like I thought; but that being said, I would still like to take some of the guys out for their first trips.

Loading in Ventura.. California

I met a really interesting bloke, on this trip. He has been over in Canada for two years now with his wife and children. He originates from the old USSR and moved with his family when he was 12, to Israel. He was part of the Israeli Army in his younger years, then became a truck driver and on his spouses insistence, moved to Canada, for both a better life and if they can get citizenship, avoid sending their children to do national service when they come of age. He had plenty of stories to tell, which I listened to with avid interest, as my knowledge of Israel was very limited.

Not only did we unload in the same place, but we followed each other through LA to load together as well. While our trucks were being driven by the loaders, we borrowed a car and went down to the Marina and Surfers Knoll, to soak up the smell of the Pacific Ocean and watch the shark dodgers do their best..

The seal in the picture, must have lost his head escaping JAWS...

Running in Vegas..

I stopped in Las Vegas on the way down to California and went for a run on the strip.. Needless to say I was not counting on it being quite so long, but all the stops to take pictures helped me to catch my breath. The pictures don't even come close to doing it any justice, but it does show that I was there; you will have to take my word for the fact that I was actually running.

What a dump of Snow!!!

Alberta has just had a massive snow fall. Just when you thought it was all over; the winter just drags you back in. This time though the ground is warm and with the sudden rise in temperature today it is melting fast. Everybody sump pumps are filling up; and I can only thank good fortune for not building my house on the other side of the road. That side is open to a massive field and the water runs off it towards the houses, unfortunately putting them in harms way.

I will be going outside in a bit to dig the snow away from the walls of the house, so that as it melts it does not run down directly against the structure. ( The further away from the house the better).

Good news for work this week. I have a run down to San Diego. Ca. It is a bonded load, bound for Mexico, which will see me get a good two days driving in, right off the bat. With a bit of luck the reload will be for Alberta and that will bring me home next week as well. The last two weeks were not very good earners for me, so hopefully I can get a good few weeks consecutive earnings in and try and catch up.

I am looking forward to the kids having their summer holidays, as I am not seeing them a lot lately. Then it won't matter that I am having my days off in the week.

Its less than two months now until the first set of Grandparents turn up and just under three for the second set. We are all really looking forward to this; and what with the warm weather coming, I am predicting a really good summer....