Sunday 29 March 2009

Breakdown

A quick post, but a big one should be on the way as we are on an enforced reset due to a TriPak breakdown (a thing that provides electricity and keeps the truck batteries charged) so I'll have time to catch up.
We are at the Lethbridge Lodge for Saturday and Sunday, which has great internet access.
P.S. Mick and Barb, look us up if you are there.

Friday 20 March 2009

Wolf and Callie on tour

Our next trip was to Iowa, we were supposed to pick the load up near Calgary on the Saturday, waited all day for a trailer to take up there, but eventually went up on Sunday and without a trailer, so quite a wasted day Saturday.
While we were sitting in Calgary waiting for the load, we bumped into Gid (Wolf) who was actually going to the same place as us, he was picking up on Sunday, so we ran in with him and Callie all the way.

This was the weather on Saturday morning.



Wolfs new cowboy hat.



The journey down through Montana was quite nice, our load was due in Waterloo in two days time so, although it was tight, we knew we could do it, Wolf's was due the day after ours.
As we were heading towards North Dakota, we ran into an awful snowstorm, there was a travel advisory in place asking people not to travel on the i94, so we managed to get to Fargo and shut down for the night, although there was not much choice because the highway had become a sheet of ice and on the weather news it was not looking good for the next day either.The load was already 24 hrs late because it was not ready for us on time, so with that delay and the weather delay we we ran the rest of the way down with Wolf and Callie.
We left the truck stop early in the morning to try to crack on and not be too late for the delivery,
the westbound I94 was still closed in that area, even though we were travelling east we passed a 10 vehicle accident as the weather was still very poor, but if the 'wheels are not turning we are not earning', so on we went.

Better weather, and Callie keeps a lookout.


It was nice to be able to catch up with Wolf again, we both have cb radios, and Mick and him found plenty to talk about, in fact you could not shut them up, we also had a really good laugh, it must have made a difference to his trip, having someone to talk to, as it certainly made our trip go quicker.
Fargo N.D.

North Dakota

When we had dropped in Iowa,we split with wolf and Callie as they were picking up further north than us as our next assignment was three pick ups to do around Milwaukee.

We did the first one, no problem, quickly loaded, off we go, the next one we got there dead on time ( the time stated on the load assignment) only to be told we were booked in for 1:30pm, so we waited for a couple of hours, then we were told we could load a few hours early,got on the loading bay, then they told us, that we could not be loaded as they could not fit in 51 pallets in the 12ft space which was left at the back of the trailer after the first pick up. Mick rang dispatch who then told him to pull off (It was a mistake, but thanks for wasting your morning) that job and go to 3rd pick up.

On the way back up we bumped into Wolf again so ran up with him the rest of the way to Calgary and grabbed a few pics, because he says Clare and the kids read my blog and like the pictures .

Big flag at Swift Current Saskatchewan

Mick with Wolfs hat squashed down against the wind


Posers

The lovely Callie

G'it'r dun

Our next job was BC (not a good earner) yet again, and we took this job because we did not want to be waiting around for days waiting for US work.
The day after that our next job came through, BC again, to Kelowna, on the first drop we had to wait 4 hours to load, so we went for a walk in the lakeside town of Summerland, a really nice place.

We had breakfast in an excellent deli/cafe, so any drivers going there check it out whilst you are waiting for the lazy loaders to finish.

The next pickup was North of Kelowna and a quick load, but it still didn't leave enough time for us to get to Calgary legally, so a shut down and a short miles, low earning trip in Canada again.

Right now we are doing a reset in Lethbridge, where we just bumped into Phil, Montedarlo at the Sandman Hotel and had a good catch up with him.
We have not had much Internet lately, it is not very good in Canada at the truck stops so I'm making the most of it while I am in the hotel.

Saturday 7 March 2009

Calgary Tower

We delivered our last load at 6am in a freezing blowy snowstorm on Saturday morning with Mick full of cold, and then decided to take our reset in a hotel, which is quite expensive but would hopefully give him chance to shake off the bug.

So first thing this morning we set off to walk two miles into town (he said the -17 cold air would kill all the cold bugs) and had a nice visit to the Calgary Tower.
The hotel must be in a seedy part of town because we were surrounded by down and outs and beggars as soon as we started our walk!






The views from the tower were worth the ticket price (12.95) and they also allow you a return visit on the same day, which we intended doing at dusk for some more pictures, unfortunately Mick is still laid up and we have to work early tomorrow, so, maybe next time eh!

Click the little pics to make 'em bigger.