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Sat - 10/16/10
Pickup
Dispatch was
supposed to be 7 AM but only one driver was there by then. Today we have a
shuttle with two drops, three drivers will get dropped in Rochester before we
get dropped in Dodge Center. We get a late start, then miss the 1st drop and
have to make a u-turn, then it takes a few minutes to find someone and their
trucks. While standing there the topic of tools comes up and the fact we can't
have them in carry on luggage coming out of Canada, the other driver has
forgotten and sends some tools with the shuttle driver to take back to the
office.
EDITED TO ADD: Halfway to our pickup this AM we look at our
paperwork. We have reservations on the ferry, TWO WEEKS from when we get to the
ferry. At some point we get a hold of dispatch and they say they are 'working
on it.' Every day on the trip dispatch would give us an update of how much
closer they were able to get a reservation to our arrival. I had booked my
flight assuming we would get on the ferry when we got there, take the overnight
ferry, so no motel, and then I would have had time to sightsee in NL. All that
changed.
Saturday pick-up, there is no one here today, someone
actually drove down here yesterday to get the paperwork as they didn't feel
safe leaving it in the trucks. This location has dozens, maybe even a hundred
used trucks all lined up by year so the other driver thought they'd find them
that way. My guess was that 'sold' trucks would be by themselves, they were.
With the VIN and customer name in the window. Trucks were a little dirty, they
sit at the edge of a farm field and I had to use the wipers to get the dirt off
the windows so I could see. That's one checkoff on my inspection report. No
radio on this truck, just a hole where it used to be, other than that it is a
used truck with 100,000+ miles (and 3,000 more to go).
The other
driver has never driven a cement mixer before so the shuttle driver and I go
over the basics, everything takes time. The other drive had ¼ tank of
fuel, I had ½ so I was going to try to make it to Tomah or Mauston, WI
before fueling, the other driver would fuel at the first station they found.
They took off before I was done with my paperwork, and I'd only see them twice
more for a few seconds each before the Canadian border.
I see the
other driver fueling at the first fuel stop as I go past, but about an hour
down the road I start to get nervous that the gauge may not be working so I
stop and fuel before leaving MN. Gauge works.
About two hours later my
'check transmission' and 'stop engine' lights come on, so I pull off at the
first exit and into a truckstop. Truck acts fine but I can't see any
transmission fluid on the stick. And this little stop only carriers one kind
and it's not the one I need. The station suggests a repair service and dispatch
gives them a call. I go back to my truck and re-check the transmission, now I
can see just a little on the stick, about as much as would stick to it from the
sides of the tube. An hour later the shop shows up and … the dip stick
shows full ??? I restart the truck, the warning lights are on, but as the truck
does it's checks the light go off. I'm thinking that's $120 I'm going to have
to eat.
The other down side is that this has delayed me by an hour and
a half and I won't be able to make it to Perrysburg, OH. I had planned on
staying at the Budget Inn for <> $29 (the last time I was there), the
other driver was going to stay at the Super 8 for $30+. It wasn't a Super 8 the
last time I was through but I knew which place they were talking about. It now
has a food on-site and free WiFi. I had stayed there once when they were
remodeling, I've also stayed at the Howard Johnson when the Budget was full.
But all of this is a moot point because I won't make it that far.
When
I pull into the first toll booth in IL the 'wide load' lane that I usually go
in has a few trucks in it, but others are open so I go to a different one,
there in the wide lane is the other driver. ??? Never did find out what hung
them up for an hour and a half that I was down.
My next fuel stop is
the first oasis in IN on I-80/I-90, I didn't want to take the time to pull off
at any of the big truck stops, even though I was running in the red on fuel.
Chicago was no problem, Saturday afternoon, made about 320 on this tank full.
Not sure where to stop for the night, I want to maximize each days miles and
hours. I'm going to be about an hour short of Perrysburg which puts me almost
on the IN-OH border, not much there. Not much that I can remember in the last
town in IN where another freeway crosses either. I do remember Surgis, MI, Elk
Hart and South Bend IN. I've stayed in South Bend before but get it confused
with Elk Hart, Elk Hart has a Days Inn with Corp Lodging pricing. I do call
ahead to motels past Elk Hart but a truckers rate for tonight is $85 because of
the Notre Dame football game this weekend. (I still have all the motel chains
pre-programmed in my cell from four years ago when I drove this route more.)
Days Inn was easy enough to find, and I have a toll ticket that says I
was legal : But Days Inn won't honor any coupons or CDL rates … Because of
the Notre Dame game. But they have to honor the Corp rate so that's what I go
with. (Turns out when I get the bill that it is $20 more than I expected to
pay, but that's another issue I need to deal with). When you are making
<> $100 a day, less than that on this trip, an extra $20 coming out of
the days pay is noticeable. The place was nice enough, not sure what it used to
be Holiday Inn? Original Howard Johnson's?
Time to eat, I start
walking next door to Bob Evans,' it's been a few years since I've eaten at one,
they have good food, but they also close early. They are closing in 15 minutes
and the steakhouse is another couple of blocks away, and am not in the mood for
either Red Lobster or Olive Garden so I try across the street. "How long are
you open?"
"24-7"
Callahan's Restaurant is the name of the place.
Good food, great price, I'll be back, Sorry Bob Evans. For under $10 I had
soup, salad (instead of fries) and a French Dip sandwich. I've had better
French Dips, the meat was a little dry but the bun was good and it had plenty
of au jus. The salad was a full plate of greens with ? red ? Thousand Island
dressing. I had to ask why it was red. "Beet juice, we make our own dressings."
But what made the meal great was the broccoli cheese soup. I don't know what
made it good, but it was good. All for under $10.
Sun - 10/17/10
Quick Day
This is way I like to run. 15 minutes to inspect my
truck in the AM, one 15 minute fuel stop and 10-1/2 hours driving, no wasted
time.
OK, I've been told that IS NOT the way to run
http://www.ehow.com/how_5653461_avoid-blood-clots-sitting-long.html
Back on the highway with a toll stamp matching my logbook. I came up
short yesterday, way under my 600 mile day. Today I have an hour left of IN,
then another hour to Perrysburg where I had wanted to stay, and another two
hours to Cleveland where I exit the toll way. Our mapping is wrong, it doesn't
show the part on I-90 where we need to exit I-90 because it is no longer a
truck route. The other driver is going to say on I-80 and disregard the
routing. I need to check the mileage, it would save a lot on tolls.
I'm hoping I can make it to a Flying J that I know is coming up, not sure
where. I finally dig out my truck stop guide book to find out where the stops
are, I'm not to 300 miles yet but the fuel gauge is showing I might not make it
that far. At about 300 miles as I'm going through road construction the 'check
transmission' and 'stop engine' lights come back on. I have no choice but to
keep driving to the next exit, there is no shoulder. This isn't the place but
somewhere I saw that three tow trucks sitting at one end of road construction,
not taking any chances of blocking the road for any length of time.
Where I pull off there is one little service station with one diesel pump
against the back of the building. I don't shut off the truck until I'm done
fueling, not an issue I still had eight 'usable' gallons, could have made it to
the Flying J. Today they are selling mostly beer, the clerk is surprised as the
football game has already started. I re-start the truck and the system clears
itself and I'm on the road.
Before I get to the next exit an
'electrical fault' light comes on, so I exit the next exit, as I slow for the
stop sign it goes off, so I cross the highway and keep rolling.
PA,
then NY … no cell phones. More toll roads. Again not going to make it to
my planned stop. Tonight I had planned on a $30 motel in Albany, I'll be coming
up short and staying at the Red Roof Inn in Utica, NY. AAA rate comes to $47
which is less than the Corp rate so that's what I go with, when the Ma & Pa
motels are posting $50 it's not a cheap town. Nice enough place, I don't
remember ever staying at a Red Roof before while driving before.
It's
about a ½ mile walk to food tonight, ½ a block if I want pizza,
but I go for Denny's breakfast. Not sure it was any better than McD's …
the hash browns had enough grease that even the eggs slid right down. By the
time I get back to my motel my hour and a half off time is up and it's time for
lights out. Did actually turn of the TV, it's Sunday night and I thought I
might watch 'Sister Wives' on TLC but the place didn't have TLC as a choice and
it would have been after my bed time. The place also carried 'adult' channels,
with a slogan 'that's what door's are for.'
I had planned on stopping
for fuel at the last oasis before Utica, NY but as soon as I pass the 2nd to
last stop there are signs saying 'next oasis closed.' "What?" they could have
posted that BEFORE the last oasis? I'm under 300 miles on this fuel tank but
… guess I'll have to make it to Utica and worry about it in the AM.
Short days make short write ups.
10/18/10
Make it to
the Border
Morning at the Red Roof Inn, I realize now why I didn't
have wireless. Last night when I pulled into town I had shut the wireless off
so the computer would come up faster when I checked for the cheapest Corp rate.
A quick email this AM and I'm rolling. Truck starts, no one else came into the
truck lot last night.
4:30 AM … blah.
That's right, fuel
is still showing 'E.' There is a Hess station in town but it doesn't show it
has fuel, not sure it's open at this time of the AM, so I'll have to make it 10
miles to the next oasis, I do.
Toll roads, it'll be almost all tolls
today. NY, MA, a few miles of non-toll interstate in MA, then toll in NH and ME
before the non-toll part of ME. Crossing the I-90 bridge SE of Albany, NY I
realize that for truckers the guardrails on bridges are pretty much 'window
dressing.' They aren't going to stop anyone from going over the edge. By the
time I get to the MA toll booth it's sun up, luckily it's in the hills so the
sun isn't directly in my eyes. Being behind in my plan does help as I'm nearing
Boston after the rush hour. Toll road exists are so confusing, they wind you
around so much I loose my sense of direction.
North on I-290 in MA
traffic slows to a stop, seems like forever but likely only a half hour or so.
I see the police coming from behind us but also see the police, fire, emergency
trucks leaving in the oncoming lanes so I'm not sure what to expect. Once we
are rolling, we pass there someone had parked an SUV partway into a tree.
Looked like they had been in the on coming lanes, so our side was likely just a
gawkers slowdown. Oncoming traffic was backed up for about three miles.
Next I had a turkey fly right across my hood, I swerved to where it
was coming from, had I swerved the other way I'd have likely hit it.
Then in three lanes of traffic I'm following a truck and car that are both
going about 62 miles an hour, I soon realize that neither is going to pass the
other and back off. A few more miles down the road and that truck I'm following
slows and pulls in the center lane behind the car. 'Finally' I think maybe I'll
get around these two. So I switch lanes following the truck, cars are backing
up in the lane we were in. then I see the smoke from the trucks tires in front
of me … opps, didn't realize he was stopping that fast. I lock 'em up and
start sliding sideways, realize I'm not going to stop as fast as the truck
ahead of me so I jump back in my former lane, luckily we aren't to the slowed
cars yet, I miss the back corner of the truck by inches.
Here is a car
that has hit the center median head on, I recognize the cars that have stopped
to help, they passed me earlier, no police on the scene yet.
Once in
ME I'll need fuel, I don't stop at the first oasis, I've got enough fuel to get
to the next one. (I didn't learn anything from yesterday) I get there and fuel
and after I park a guy walks over and asks if I just fueled. "Yes." "This is a
full service station." Opps. Not much for food here, a coffee shop, some
Pizzeria Uno on a shelf and a convenience store. The oasis I pasted had Burger
King; Hershey's Ice Cream; Sbarro plus the coffee shop.
http://www.maineturnpike.com/traveler_services/service_plazas.php
Not
sure why I'm rushing so, I have plenty of time. But I pass the scenic view area
and instead try to take pictures while driving. I finally get one that shows
snow on the mountains.
I had looked at the map of Houlton a few times
and had been here before but when I got to the exit it didn't look right so I
kept going, once past I realized my mistake so I had to go another few miles to
the next exit and turn around. From there I could see the US customs, no line
there.
First I fueled, then went to the motel, Ivy's motel next door,
same side of the road. I knew this one was $70, didn't know the price on the
other one. Right next door to the Irving Big Stop truckstop.
http://iveysmotorlodge.com
The guy at the fuel desk said Ivey's and the
Shiretown Motor Inn across the street were about the same. When I asked the
clerk at the desk he seemed to like the truckstop food better than the food at
Shiretown. Ivery's only has an 'Irish Pub,' no food.
The first
internet password the motel gave me didn't work, so I had to go ask for
another, that's when I heard him suggesting to another customer where to eat. I
had asked for a discount when I checked in but $70 is there rate for everyone,
no one is special here. Room was nice enough, just more than I wanted to pay. I
could have gone down the street to the Star Dust, they show $60 but it would
have been a hike to get food.
The restaurant at the Big Stop had a
sign saying there were not connected to Irving, not sure why they'd need that
kind of sign. One of the menu items' was 'home made lasagna.' I'm not sure how
'homemade' it was but it was good. Too much tomato sauce but other than that it
was good. It was a choice between that and the meatloaf. Next time I'd try the
meatloaf. Had a dinner salad with it, it looked like the salad had been
pre-made, sitting on the shelve somewhere. Lettuce was a little limp.
Another meal for <> $10, 6 PM and it's dark. A few extra hours off
tonight as I'm not rolling until 7:30 tomorrow. Talked to the other driver,
they are now about 300 miles behind me and planning on stopping in Bangor, ME
where motels are about ½ of what they are in Houlton.
10/19/10
Border Crossing Day
I'm not real optimistic about this
border crossing, so I plan on being there 'when they open' at 8 AM. I'm up at 7
AM, out of the motel by 7:30 doing my inspection and rolling by 7:45, to the
border at 8 AM.
I was concerned that the border would be backed up,
that the lots in Houlton would be full. But there was only one other truck in
the motel lot this AM. Good thing I had moved my truck last night, I had parked
next to a puddle and the ice was not thick enough to walk on this AM. But no
frost on the windows.
Only one truck ahead of me at the US side of the
border, another transporter with a boom truck. As he talked with the customs
agents it sounded like he'd been this route before. 8 AM was shift changing
time so it took a minute or two longer than it might have otherwise but no
issues, on to the CN side.
As I pull in I don't see any signage and
the only gate open I see is next to the building, as I get closer I see that it
doesn't include a truck 'icon' and people are waving for me not to enter. So I
go to the last row that is a truck booth but closed, ahhh, that's where I'm
supposed to be, next to a different building. Yes, I had been worried about
waiting for hours at the border and I haven't seen a signal truck or I would
have known where to go. Oh well, I need to worry about something don't I?
The agent asks me all of about three questions, "Where are you from?"
"Where are you going?" "Any tobacco, firearms (etc)?" and for my paperwork. I
told them that it was at the brokers. Dispatch had given us a 'step by step' of
what to do (too bad it turned out to be wrong).
I go to the brokers,
they don't know what I'm looking for. Customs has everything that I don't have.
Turns out I had the original paperwork and did NOT need to see the broker.
Customs agent clears me in a few minutes, but as I wait I start talking to
another driveaway driver. He works for Spirit Miller and does a lot of their
border crossing work. He had been up here last week as one of five drivers,
today he's bring the sixth unit of the order across. Said he gets $100 for each
border crossing in addition to the usual pay. We got talking about the variety
of drivers and he said they have a former doctor working for them.
I'm
cleared to go, but my dispatch paperwork says I'm to keep all paperwork that
customs gives me to give to the customer. But customs doesn't give me anything,
other than the one page I gave them. Because of the time zone difference, I
have to wait until my office opens. I go back to the broker to see if they know
what paperwork I need, they have no idea what I'm talking about. 'We are just
an agent, walking the paperwork to/from customs. The paperwork is done by
another company and a different location.
So I wait. Finally I find
out that what I need is the 'Form 1 - Import Doc.' Customs won't give it to me
unless the broker says to, the agent has to call the actual broker. It seems
that the SOP-standard operating procedure, is for the agent to mail this
document to the customer, but they get the OK to give it to, so back to
customs.
Customs gives me the documents,still no lines to wait in. As
I'm walking back to my truck I'm looking at this all important 'Form 1' and
realize that it's NOT MINE. After a couple of minutes with customs we decide
that the other driver and I have our paperwork switched (hopefully). I had
gotten a text earlier this AM so I know that the other driver is about an hour
or two behind me so all I can do is wait. As soon as the other driver gets to
the booth, customs gives me all my paperwork plus all the other drivers
paperwork including their passport.
Off to the brokers, who after
looking at the paperwork says all we need to do is switch paperwork. The
computer doesn't know anything is wrong, back at customs and we finally get
cleared,. There was a brief second when I first found the error where I thought
… I'm cleared, I can go. But the other driver might have been here a
while, and I may have been forced to come back.
That was a two hour
mess that should have only take 15 minutes. The other driver is gone by the
time my air pressure builds up. Oh yeah, we got a few calls from dispatch
trying to make sure we had enough hours to get to Sydney tonight, there had
been a cancel and we could get on the 9:30 AM ferry. Finally, things were
falling into place. Yes, we could make it, we had less than 500 miles to go in
our 12 remaining hours.
It was nice to see this country in the day
light, the only other time I was through here I was greeted just past the
border by the local police who informed me that I was over hours, they at the
time, did not honor the US 36 hour restart. And they 'suggested' a nice motel a
couple of miles down the road, either the Econo Lodge or the Howard Johnson. No
greetings this time.
A few more miles down the road I see that the
other driver had pulled into a gas station but by then I'm past the exit. I
gave the other driver a list of stations I was going to stop at, as last time
it was dark and it didn't look like there was anything between the border and
Halifax. But there are lots of places, but they may all close at 8 PM.
At the Irving fuel station I pick the wrong row and have to wait, I finally get
to the pump and my card won't work so I go inside. Inside I wait, and wait, and
wait. Only one person and they aren't offering to help, they are trying to
figure out how to weight a set of doubles and they can't hear the driver.
Finally they page a second person to help figure out for the scale, after a
while this guy finally asks if they can help, I tell them my card won't work.
"No, the only way you'll get fuel at that pump is with an Irving fuel card." So
I have to ask him how I can get fuel. "You have to get in line at the full
service pump."
Sure, by now there are two more trucks in that line.
The first is a straight truck and fuels quickly, the second is a semi. Fueling
goes quickly but then where is the driver? Finally they come out and start
checking their tires and refer and … Finally, my turn. The gal who fuels
my truck says gal driving the semi had been in the store and after she found
her to get her to pay she stood at the counter sipping her soup. Thanks whoever
you are! Another hour and a half that I hadn't counted on, now I only have 10
hours to make my 500 miles and still have another fuel stop to make.
Beautiful country, lots of hills where you can see for miles. By the time I get
to my second fuel stop it is dark. This Irving has more card check pumps but no
full service so I have to wait for the cars in the auto line. This is what I
should have done at the last station, fueled at the auto pump. It didn't take
too many minutes driving in the dark to realize that I was not going to drive
after dark after the ferry ride. Two lane highway and lots of times I could see
the moon reflecting off the water below. Curvey road, about a foot of blacktop
for the shoulder then maybe another foot of gravel/rock and then in the dark
all I could see is water. Lots of area's did not have a guardrail.
That was a long ride, lots of on-coming ferry traffic. I had looked at the maps
of Sydney but it didn't 'feel' quite the way it looked. I just kept following
the ferry signs until it said 'Toll after this exit.' There was my motel at the
top of the hill, I had made it in legal. Room would be $100, restaurant was
'closed for the season.' Anything else was in town about a mile away. I was
looking for a 'family style' place, "Sorry, those all close at 8 PM." So
delivery it was.
The clerk suggested 'Kenny's Pizza'
http://www.kennyspizza.com
The bill came to $10 and I tipped another $5,
before I realized that they add a $2.50 delivery charge to the bill. I ordered
a Steak Burger, onion rings and coleslaw. Luckily I added onions to my burger
because they did not give me any condiments, they also did not give me anything
to eat my coleslaw with and no napkins. The burger was great, the onion rings
OK and coleslaw was good. So the quality of food was good, but the customer
service was not.
The motel was the North Star Inn
http://www.northstarinn.ca/
10/20/10
Ferry Day
We are
supposed to be at the ferry by 7 so I'm up at 6:30, but dragging so I'm not out
to my truck until 7, do my pre-trip, go take a picture of the ferry from the
other side of the motel in the pre-dawn, come back and wipe (luckily not
scrape) my windows off, check out and get moving.
It's only a 1/10 of
a mile or two to the ferry and there is one truck between me and our other
driver, and they are at the gate so it doesn't take long to get checked in.
Once parked, we start walking down to the ship to get some pictures, we get a
ways down and hear someone yelling from a couple blocks away … guess we
aren't supposed to be walking in this area. As we are walking back I snap a few
more pictures. Not much for tourists, just a few truckdrivers.
The
other driver gets some food, I pass. I've decided I'm going to try to make it
across without taking any pills and it may be easier on an empty stomach. I
wonder around and take a few pictures. We are to sail (we thought) at 9:30, by
9 AM they start loading the trailers, then the trucks on the lower level, then
cars on the top level. We are about ½ way back on our row so I keep
wondering around as the other rows load. I see one of the help walking up an
almost empty row so I go to see what's going on, the last truck in that line is
sitting with no driver, the help goes and knocks on the door to wake up the
driver.
As I'm standing there another driver comes over and starts
talking, complaining that he was supposed to be on an earlier ferry (I didn't
know there was more than one ship). But they had loaded the trailers then
pulled out into the harbor to let this ferry unload and load. Said it used to
be first come, first serve and it seemed to him to work great. Then he asked
which ship I'm on. "I don't know which ship, but I'm on the 9:30"
"You'd better tell this guy them, it's going to sail in a few minutes."
"Looks like my turn now, gotta run." As our lane starts to move. When
I get to the front of the line I see that the other driver has taken a wrong
turn and someone had to chase them down. They get loaded on the lower level, or
one of the lower levels, there are two levelsfor trucks. I'm sent to the top.
The guys weren't expecting me and call on their radio's before loading me.
They've got room for one more in the car row along the curb so I take a little
yellow paint with me as I scrape the curb trying to get this three axle truck
into the car lane where they want me. Then they start loading more trucks, the
one that goes past me first has about two inches between our mirrors when he
goes past.
I want to check this place out so I'm out of my truck and
up on the deck taking pictures. Watching them load, checking the place out from
end to end. I find the other driver but they aren't interesting in wondering
where I want to go. I watch as the other ferry starts to move into position and
the horn blows and we back out. As we are backing the other ferry is ready to
take our place. Once I've taken a few pictures I find that on the back side of
the cabin it is sunny and out of the breeze so I lay down on a bench and nap,
waking up to turn over so I don't burn either side of my face.
After
waking up and walking I noticed I wasn't walking straight, thought I just
hadn't cleared my head yet, until I got to the bathroom. Then I realize that
the ferry is now rocking side to side. Later when I'm in the dining area
looking out the window from the middle of the room I can usually see about 20%
water, but when it starts rocking I can see anywhere from no water to about
80%. So I turn my chair so I'm looking out the back window where the rock front
to back is less noticeable.
I find the other driver again and chat for
a while then decide that I'll go get my computer and work for a while. Opps,
that area is locked down. Thinking about how close those trucks are in there I
can see why now but didn't think about it ahead of time. I wonder for a while
and find the other driver again, eating. By the time they are done eating I'm
feeling that I may make it OK without any drugs so I'll try to eat. The ham and
scalped potatoes look good, the ham has too much fat on it so they just give me
twice as much ham. They say the special also includes some kind of plum and
raisin sauce, ahhh , no thanks, I'll pass. Even without the fat it's twice as
much ham as I'll eat. Being the cheap person I am I start to wrap up the extra
ham in the wrap my buns were in. Ham doesn't spoil does it? Later I decide it's
not worth it and don't take it with me.
The ship is geared for many
times the people that are on it today. The eating area could seat 100, maybe
200 and there was never more than a dozen in there when I walked through. The
movie area had two screens, I didn't count but again 100-150 seats and maybe a
dozen at most viewing. A bar that could hold 100+ not even open, plus lots of
seating around the edges and on the back deck where I'd been sleeping. Back
deck could hold 50? And never more than a half dozen people there when I was.
There was also a reserved area on a different level. I did walk past the rooms,
four beds and enough room to stand between them. I'm guessing that's where I
would have been for $28.
Back up on the front deck I can now see NL in
the distance but we don't close in nearly as fast as I thought we would so I
wonder the ferry for a while, take a second nap on the back benches in the sun
where it's warmer.
The front deck is quite windy unless you stand
right against the ferry wall which leans in. About an hour, maybe a ½
hour before we get to NL I see something to the north, a little spout every
little bit. I did manage to get one picture where I can pick it out. After I
couldn't see it anymore someone else came up on deck and I asked them if it
might have been a whale. They had no idea, he was from AB, she was from BC. The
guy was familiar with driveaway, someone at Fifth Wheel Drive Away Service in
Edmonton, AB had offered him a few trips but so far hadn't taken any. We talked
for a bit but the gal was freezing so they headed back in.
It wasn't
exactly warm but I wanted to get pictures as we were coming into the harbor so
I stayed out. Then someone asked me what the other towns were along the coast.
I had no idea, I only looked at the map to see the towns I was going through.
We chatted for a while, once I told him what I did for a living, this guy said
he had been outside at the motel last night smoking when I pulled in with the
mixer. He had been from Winnipeg, but had moved west, and moved west, and moved
west until they were now in BC. His wife had grown up in northern Newfoundland
and they were bringing a pickup out to a place they owned so they wouldn't have
to rent a car when they stayed. He said that northern NL is sort of the like
the prairies of western Canada, I didn't make it there so I'll have to take his
word for it. I asked if he had any suggestions of what to see in Saint John's,
he didn't. He'd never been east of Deer Lake, that is where they turn to go
north. But he had heard that the harbor in Saint John's where the ocean liners
come in is quite interesting.
The town of Channel-Port Auz Basques
where we dock really makes this place look desolate. No trees, just a few small
houses and a couple of motels on the side of a rock. I'd have guessed the size
of the town to be a few hundred people but Wiki says there is about 5,000. I
was only remembering what we could see from the harbor, but now I remember
there was more town north along the shoreline.
As we were turning in
the harbor I ran out of room on my camera, I had remembered to take the
charger, but not the transfer cord for the camera. And I had never deleted any
pictures directly from the camera, I should have started right away but finally
realized I needed to do it now once I was in my truck, or I'm miss even more
photo ops.
We drove on the front of the ferry, so here the ferry has
to be backed in so that we can drive out the back. Packed as tight as we are
there is no way people would be able to back out. They remind us many times
that we will not be allowed below until the ferry has docked. By this time I've
found the other driver again and we talk briefly about how far we want to drive
tonight. I had thought we'd make it three hours to Deer Lake but the second guy
I talked to said that Corner Brook at two hours was the bigger town with more
motels, we decided to see where we were when it got dark.
No massive
crowd to get below, maybe a dozen by the stairs I went down on. I was on the
wrong side of the ferry but that's where the other drivers truck was so that's
where we'd been talking. But I picked the correct door and after walking across
four lanes of trucks I was right behind my truck. I took a few pictures as we
unloaded but it was too dark for my camera. One of the rules they remind us of
is not to start any vehicles until the one ahead of you has been moved, to cut
down on exhaust. The trucks know the routine but the cars / my row didn't seem
to.
The truck in the center row goes first, then one from the row on
each side, then the first two cars on each side. At that point all the cars
start and move forward, the trucks all stay and wait their turn. After the
first row has driven off, then it is center, left, right for the three rows of
trucks, the cars wait until all the trucks have been removed. After the last
truck leaves I see the person who had been directing the trucks motion for the
guys in front to start the cars taking turns. That didn't happen, our whole row
went first so I wasn't quite the last one off.
Someone had told the
other driver that if the wind socket at the harbor was sticking straight out,
don't drive. But when we exited the ferry I never thought to look for the wind
socket and it seemed that the other trucks were going to be keep rolling.
Up on the highway there is one truck between me and the other driver,
same as when we got there this AM. We get less than a mile around some curves
and all trucks pull to the side so we did too. I walked up to ask the other
driver, they didn't know why we'd stopped but guessed we were waiting in line
for the scale. I walked up to the next truck and asked. "After being on the
ferry for eight hours, we stop here to do our pre-trip inspection, and yes
there is a scale just up the road." (But this wasn't the scale line) so we
pulled back into traffic and on our way. There was also a truck stop right
there, my other thought was all the drivers were waiting for fuel, not wanting
a full tank on the ferry. But it seems that charges are based on length not
weight, or maybe both?
Scale was closed, we kept going until dark
which by now was only an hour and a half off the ferry, another half hour and
we were in Corner Brook. The exit that showed the motels said 'trucks use next
exit' so that's what we did, then stopped at the first gas station we could fit
in, actually we parked in the Canadian Tire / Walmart lot and walked to the gas
station. They suggested the motel next door to the Comfort Inn, back next to
the prior exit. They told us how to get there on the side street, but the other
driver now in the lead missed it and had to turn around and come back. When I
pull in the lot I have to wait for a stack of trucks to park before I can, he
was the same driver that was parked a row over and one behind me on the ferry.
He's been told by other drivers that it was OK to park at this motel
and stay at the other motel and asks me if that is OK. I tell him he'd better
ask. He had pulled into the Comfort Inn lot before realizing they did not have
truck parking and had to back out. He had started with four trucks and was now
down to two, these were both going to Saint John's. He had planned on driving
another few hours but then two moose crossed in front of him and he decided to
call it a night.
By the time this guy was parked, the other driver had
gotten turned around and was ready to park, then I parked next to the two of
them. He had worked for one driveaway company, now a second one. The first had
just called him back, so he had to get back and show up for work or loose his
three years seniority. One of the companies was something 'Tiger.' (I don't'
see it in the Mylynx.com list) He was running on MO plates. (Iron Tiger
Logistics was likely it, Dick just posted it at
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Driveaway/links/Driveaway_Firms_001058302557?prop=eupdate
As we are standing talking outside by our trucks, the man and his
wife, who was from NL, walk past …. "Going to find food?" I ask.
"No, just going for a walk before settling in." he replied. He had said his
wife has to take enough drugs to put her out to survive the farry ride so she
didn't do any pacing there. The only had another <> two hours to go
before they were home, but no one seems to want to chance hitting a moose once
it gets dark so instead they are pay $100 for a motel.
Once parked I
go in and check on the price, not sure where else I was going … $100. Had
been $120 last week and booked full, the stack driver is checking in, his room
at the Comfort in was going to cost him $126. Both the other driver and I had
eaten on the ferry so we weren't real hungry but both ended up at the in-house
restaurant for soup. I ordered soup and salad, didn't need both, not sure why I
did it. Salad was too green for me, no 'iceberg' lettuce, plus broccoli and a
few other things I don't like on my salads, but I did eat most of it. The soup
I ordered was 'French Onion,' good stuff, about 1/3 cheese, 1/3 bread and 1/3
soup.
The motel was the Mamateek Inn
http://nfsales.no-ip.biz/webs/web.asp?user=mamateek
While $100 is more than
I like to pay, it would be a $100+ room in Minneapolis also so not overpriced.
I thought I was going to do some computer work on the ferry but
couldn't because I was locked out so I try to get it some done tonight, I work
on it for a while but also need my eight hours sleep.
Here are a few
links about Newfoundland
The ferry company
http://www.marine-atlantic.ca/en/index.asp
High winds on the highway.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/05/22/wreckhouse-trucks.html
This pretty much seems to be the extent of the NL highway system, we took HWY
1, known as the TCH-Trans Canadian Highway from the ferry to Saint John's.
http://www.crabbesriveroutfitters.ca/images/nlmap4.gif
YOUTUBE VIDEO'S This
one is listed as the NL ferry, but comments say it's not (and it's not flying
the CN flag)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwxtb-I6bXU
This is the
best vid of the ferry I found, we didn't have the band. Also, fewer cars/more
trucks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K-KG9AfyU8&feature=related
Winter ferry ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV-uNtXZN4s
(No way of
knowing if this is an accurate picture of winter in NL)
http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_feb2004/NewfieHwyA.jpg
10/21/10
Delivery Day
5:30 AM - the alarm goes off, I rush to get ready and send
a couple of emails and be out the door by six. Heading down the hall the other
driver pops out. "It's not light out yet." No, it wasn't. Neither one of us had
looked or asked to find out what time it would be light. So we decided to leave
at 7 instead. Back to my room, a little computer work and another hour gone.
I go out and the other driver isn't at the trucks. I do my inspection,
go back to my room, walk around, finally start my truck and there they come
from the office, they'd been sitting at the office waiting for me to check out.
Communication. So I checked out and we were on our way. By now it was almost
7:30 and just getting light.
A half hour down the road we stop and
fuel at a little gas station, had to back up a couple times just to get lined
up near the pumps. Did a little 'opps' here, I lost or never got a receipt for
my fuel, so now I'll have to find out how to get a copy. I know I paid because
the clerk asked where the trucks were going and he DID know why the drums were
turning. It was either just before or just after this stop that there was a
scale. One scale on the opposite side of the road and the trucks from either
direction take turns crossing it. Seems like every scale we've crossed in
Canada were right after a stop, so a good thing I'm keeping my log book
current. Lots of scales in NL where there is just a hole in the ground where
the scale used to be, no building but the signs are still there.
Did
see one moose on the side of road, road kill, wouldn't be much left of a car.
Lots of road construction, when you only have one (major) highway connecting
the whole country, you can't just close the road for road construction. So they
have to be creative. To replace a culvert they need to do it ½ at a
time, or in some cases build a temp road around it to keep the traffic moving.
About halfway through the day I realize that all this road
'construction' was for a reason.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100921/ap_on_bi_ge/tropical_weather
Hurricane
Igor had hit NL on 9/21/10 and this was the follow-up. Lots of wasted out, or
partially washed out roads, signs washed down hill. I did notice a lot of
culverts that were 10x the stream. Not sure if these were new or this has been
a problem in the past also.
Today we were in and out of a lot of fog,
sometimes less than a ¼ mile visibility, other times we were above the
fog. I thought if it would just rain it would clear the fog … later in the
day it did start to rain, but it was still foggy.
During the day we
crossed the abandoned Newfoundland Railway many times, per Wiki, the last train
ran in 1990. It would seem to me that this would be an ideal location for rail,
most ?? of the ferry traffic travels the 600 miles to Saint John's with no
reason to stop until there. The former rail bed has been / will be turned into
a 'multi-use' trail, based on the signs that means four wheelers and
snowmobiles.
About halfway through the day we stop for fuel and to
eat, Subway here has 'all day breakfast.' As I'm fueling, someone walks up and
says 'Hi.' This was the guy who I'd asked about the whales on the ferry, they
too had stopped in Corner Brook last night, 'no one drives these roads after
dark.' My turn to lead, I'd been following the other driver since the ferry
yesterday.
At this point the other driver asks if I talked to EVERYONE
on the ferry, "No, I only talked to two people." I just happened to meet both
of them again later in the trip. (I do know someone who likely would have
talked to everyone on the ship, but that's not me.) Watching the mile (km)
signs, three hours, two hours 45 minutes … makes for a longer trip. We do
pass through one of two national parks, Terra Nova on the north shore and a few
miles later we are only 1 mile from the south shore. With all the 'coves' and
islands there is a lot of shoreline in NL.
We never did get a real
address for this customer, dispatch had given the other driver more info but it
didn't match what I had found on the internet last night. Satellite imaging is
interesting, I was able to follow Hwy 1 until I found where I thought the
customer was, based on arial photo's. But when I got there it didn't add up and
I got confused. One exit past where I thought it should be we turned around and
exited the hwy on a side street, called the customer and sure enough he came up
the side street, but then took us back on on Hwy 1 to get to the office. Ahh,
coming from the East you can read their sign, there is no sign coming from the
West.
He quickly signs our paperwork and offers us a ride to the car
rental place, then offers to call them. The closest office didn't have our
cars, they were at the airport so he took us there. "No problem, that's where
I've taken the other drivers." He had gotten six others before ours plus there
was still one on the way, he was asking if we'd seen the driver as he had left
a few days before us from the same location.
Seems business is booming
in NL, companies are coming in all the way from BC to get in on all the work.
(Yet just looking at
http://www.hrmguide.net/canada/jobmarket/canadian-unemployment.htm
it shows
a 14% unemployment rate for NL, it could be seasonal. It's 'off season' there
already and this doesn't split out St John's or even Newfoundland, it includes
Labrador)
A couple of interesting notes about Labrador
http://www.hvgb.net/~themdays/history.html
Labrador has changed hands many
times. In 1763 it was confirmed as a possession of England but, for a number of
years, it bounced back and forth between Newfoundland and Canada. In 1906,
surveyors from Quebec precipated the Quebec/Labrador boundary dispute by
claiming logs from the Mud Lake sawmill operation. The Judicial Committee of
the privy council established the western boundary at the height of land, where
the waters divide (1927). It is interesting to note that Newfoundland tried to
sell Labrador to Canada in 1909 for nine million dollars and again in 1932 for
one hundred and ten million dollars. On April 1, 1949, Labrador, with
Newfoundland, joined Canada as the tenth province of Confederation.
And Newfoundland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Newfoundland_and_Labrador
During
its history Newfoundland and Labrador have had many forms of government,[4]
including a time as the Dominion of Newfoundland (1907-1949), equivalent in
status to Canada and Australia. Newfoundland and Labrador became the tenth
province of Canada on March 31, 1949.
By now it was 5:30, raining and
I wasn't sure I wanted a car. I wanted a bed. The other driver was still saying
the car was the cheaper way to go 'you'll be fine grungy for a day.' When we
get to the airport I first go to the airline, Air Canada, in hopes of getting
out on flight tonight. With all the regulations in Canada I thought that just
maybe they wouldn't charge a change fee. No such luck, $75 plus the change in
fair, I told them not to bother checking, it was out of my range.
Had
I gotten to Montreal I would I knew where a motel was cheaper than the $150 I
was finding here. Actually not finding anymore, Super 8 had had rooms the
cheapest online but by last night they were NA - Sold out. I checked a site I
hadn't seen before
http://www.hotels.com
and it showed half the motels
sold out, others were 'non-chain' and nowhere near the airport. The customer
had mentioned an 'Airport Inn' that was within walking distance that was
'reasonable.' He didn't think it was the Comfort Inn, but it is now. I asked
info for their number and instead they dialed it and handed me the phone.
"$129"
"Come and get me." I said.
Once in the
airport I had remembered that I had forgotten to leave my tools in the truck
for the customer. Canada does not allow any tools in carry on luggage, where in
the US I can carry tools up to six inches. So as I'm waiting for the motel
shuttle I dig them out and then give them to the taxi drivers.
I
didn't ask for a better price, it was a room and they would get me to and from
the airport. Or from and to. I didn't ask how long it would be so I quickly
found the other driver at the car rental place and told them I was set for the
night. Also gave the agent my confirmation number and told them to cancel when
they had time. As I'm walking to the door I realize I didn't ask if the motel
had food, or should I quickly grab a Tim Hortons. I've already eaten once today
so I pass.
Again at the motel I don't ask for a better price, I just
sign and go to my room and spend the next few hours on the computer. I did take
a break and go down and eat at the in-house lounge. I chose their (French) Beef
dip sandwich, and asked for a salad instead of fries. This meal is going to
come in over $10 so I stick to water.
As I'm sitting there blankly
staring at the muted TV it suddenly hits me. That's right, I'm in a foreign
country almost 3,000 miles from home. Being on the internet, everyone speaking
English, exchange rate is equal, in a multi-national motel … seems like
home.
The meal was a surprise, French Dip is usually thinly sliced
beef on a 'sub style' bun with a cup of 'grease.' This one was the same thinly
sliced beef, but sitting on two bread sticks and the cup was full of thick
gravy. And the other ½ of the 12 inch plate was filled with my salad.
Iceburg salad so something I'd like, but it also had way too much …
mushrooms, green peppers, red peppers, even onions. All in all a good meal,
slightly over priced but in line with the motel.
Finally at about 10
PM (or was it 11) local I decide its time for lights out, 3 AM was going to
come early.
10/22/10
Travel Day
3:45 AM - (1:15
my time) the alarm goes off. I've been running slow enough in the mornings that
I gave my self an extra 15 minutes this AM. I usually get it done, or try to,
in a half hour. I want to be ready by 4:40, at the airport by 5 for a 5:55
flight. In this part of the world they are used to early raisers, the free
motel breakfast starts at 4 AM. I usually am not hungry until 10 am so I just
look at it to see what they have. The basic's, breads, rolls, cereal, hard
boiled eggs. A shuttle is already leaving as I check out, but being only a mile
from the airport I knew they'd be right back. I was so glad to find a motel
last night that I never even asked for a discount, this AM I ask for a AAA
discount. It comes to 10% / $13, so it all helps to ask. By the time I was done
checking out the driver was back. In a short conversation with the driver he
commented that he had a passenger a few days ago that wanted the driver to call
the airport, call the airline, stop that plane … the one that was lifting
off. Seems passenger had too much to drink the night before and didn't get out
of bed in time. Big 'Opp$$' to have to re-book out of this town.
At
the airport there is a line, I try to do self serve but no luck, so in the line
I go. The other driver shows up and has better luck with the kiosk. I realize
then that I should have gotten my tickets last night when I was trying to get
out of town. Actually I've done this four trips in a row, been at the airport
the night before and talked to the agent but never gotten a ticket ahead of
time. Getting through security was nothing unusual, we don't have to take off
our shoes unless there is too much metal on them. I do.
Once through
we only have about 15 minutes before they start calling rows. The other driver
tries to log on to WiFi but no luck. It was then we realized that neither of us
had checked for earlier flights out of Montreal. There are about eight gates,
we get gate 1. I'm in a middle seat so I don't even try to plan on using my
laptop. Nice ride. AC power at every seat, XM radio, on demand movies, flight
tracking. Still dark so I didn't get to see the landscape as we lifted off.
I'm off to sleep and it's still dark when we get to Montreal, I've
noticed that the announcements are made in the language of the country first,
so leaving NS it was English/French but arriving in Montreal it was
French/English. Sometime during the flight the agents came through with border
crossing cards, the gal next to me didn't ask for one in time so I gave her
mine as I had '12 hours to wait in Montreal.'
Because we were changing
flights and airlines we had to go out past security and come back in. Once we
past a screen schedule I noticed there was a flight leaving in an hour and a
few minutes … "Let's go." Not thinking that time was critical, I walked at
the other drivers pace. The other driver goes to a kiosk to see if there are
seats, I go directly to the counter, no line. It takes a while but they think
they can get us on, once I'm cleared the other driver says 'don't wait for me'
and I don't. I forgot how long the security line is at this airport. Now I'm
wishing I had kept that 'declarations' form … and walked at my pace. About
half way through the line there is a sign that says '20 minute wait from here.'
I notice the other driver having problems getting into line, I find out later
that it was less than 'the 1 hour prior to flight' time, but they did let them
through. Before I got to the 20 minute sign someone was calling 'Anyone for the
8:30 flight to MPS?' They pulled us to the expedited line, which was a mess
because people were getting into the line that were not called there.
Having given away my tools, I now had an empty pouch to put all my pocket stuff
in. Just didn't know I should have put ALL my pocket stuff in there, all I put
in were the things that would set off the metal detector. As usual I use four
buckets, lap top, books, shoes, liquids, shoes, all need to come off/out of my
backpack. After the metal detector, we then have to do a body scan, then I need
to take everything out of my pockets. They have two people ask if you have
everything out, then when I come out of the box the guy asks what is in my
shirt pocket (dark stuff, white shirt). "Lint" I said. But he doesn't
understand (English is not his first language), so I pull some out and show him
… I'm on my way … to customs. The other driver had been in another
line and is now ahead of me. Customs only had a few questions, 'Where do you
live?' 'What were you doing in Canada?' 'Are you bringing anything back?' 'Are
you traveling with anyone?'
I was in a rush to get through customs so
I never took the time to tie my shoes, now I wish I had … we had come in
at gate 1 and were leaving out of gate 85. Walking fast got so bad that I
thought of taking off my shoes and running, I didn't dare stop. I wasn't sure I
was on the flight until I got to the gate, they usually try to close the doors
10-15 minutes early, was I was seated I heard that it was '4 minutes to
departure.' So I was cutting it close. That was today's workout. But for $50 I
would be getting home 10 hours earlier, and I had a window seat in a exit isle,
plenty of room to work on my computer.
I wasn't able to pick out any
landmarks as we lifted off, I didn't look right away to see which direction we
headed. As soon as I could I was on my computer, but that only lasted about 45
minutes. My battery used to last three hours until about a months ago, now it's
dying fast and no plug in's on this flight. So I looked out the window but
couldn't tell where we were. Didn't know we were flying over Chicago, across
Lake Michigan or still across Canada. I dosed. Once the captains said we'd be
landing shortly I looked out again and saw a 'round about.' It took me a minute
to realize where it was, shortly after I could see we had one truck sitting in
our company parking lot.
Off the plane and past the 'concourse
connector' I realized that I didn't know where the concourse connector went
(looking now, a day later, it could have saved me about 20 minutes walking the
airport.) I was heading to the city bus, $1.75 … $2 today because I don't
have correct change, US change. Less than five minutes and I'm on my way. No
way I could ever be a bus driver with passengers, some gal got on talking on
the phone "I need to find some guy to give me $100, then I'll be in a good
mood." … "Yes, and I'll be a b until I find some guy to give me $100" for
about five minutes.
Halfway to the office I need to switch buses, it's
about a five minute wait today (1/2 hour on weekends). I do notice a gal that
seems to be a little jumpy but other than that looks ok … until the bus
comes and she starts screaming and beating on the side of the bus. Someone asks
me if she's OK? I say she had been. After the rest of the passengers are on,
this gal asks the driver if he's seen her bike. So that's why she's upset.
Another half hour reminder of why I could never drive city bus.
I get
to the parking lot and find a flat tire. The tire I had just put on before I
left, good news is that it is easy to get off, not last week when I had to use
WD-40 and long handled sledge hammer.
At the office both the owner and
one of the dispatchers ask how the trip went, told the boss I was up for a trip
to AK now.
So instead of heading straight home I decide I better get
these tires fixed, so that's how I spend part of my afternoon, at the junk
yard. |
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