Vol. 20 No. 6 - 31 August, 2016

Spanish Moss growing on crepe myrtle trees - Florida.

On 1 August we delivered the siding and lumber to a business that makes small outbuildings.

Arcadia, Florida.

North to Largo, Florida – near Tampa to load at B & L Cremation Systems.

Website: As a world leader in the manufacturing of human and animal cremation equipment, our commitment to research and development is unsurpassed. We are an American based company, and all of our crematories, incinerators, and small products/accessories are made in the USA in our manufacturing plant in Largo, Florida.

We loaded a cremation system.  The large piece is the oven, and the chimney pieces (lined with concrete), with a table on wheels. Inside the plant are about a dozen ovens in various stages of manufacture – they are brick lined.  Rather disconcerting to look at!

Cremation oven.

Cremation system.

We had to tarp the oven and table.

Delivered that system to a rigging place in Green Island, New York (north of Albany). They will deliver it to a crematorium there.

This awesome old crane unloaded us at Green Island, NY.

That area is very difficult to get loads out of – we spent all that afternoon and all the next morning before Jim found a load from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, 180 miles south.

Spent the time at Truck Plaza 23 at the Port of Albany.  It is on the Hudson River - so we backed right up to the edge of the River.

Thursday afternoon we loaded at a scrap yard, the business is relocating to north Florida. Loaded two large steel plates and three attachments to a CAT dozer/machine.

East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania to Lake Butler, Florida.

Could not deliver until Monday morning, so we had a day spare on the way to Florida, so visited friends near Charleston, South Carolina.

Jim worked with Don and Madonna for many years in Buffalo before we met and they were some of the first people I met here.  Don was the operations manager at Atlas Van Lines in Buffalo, and Madonna worked in the office.

About 19 years ago, they bought an Atlas Van Lines moving company near Charleston, South Carolina.  We have stayed in touch, but have only managed a few visits with them in Charleston, and they have been to Daytona Beach a few times.  Jim parked our truck in the yard of their moving company.  Jim and I mentioned the weird feeling we had walking amongst the Atlas trailers!

Our rig was a little out of place amongst the moving vans!

We spent the night at Don and Madonna's house.  They took us and one of their drivers, Frank, who was in town overnight, to Madra Rua Irish Pub.  What a fabulous restaurant!  Great atmosphere, a great variety of beer and food.  We ate too much, but it was delicious fare.

Black & Blue beer - Blue Moon first then Guinness.

We shared dessert - Bailey's Irish Cream cheesecake.

A big breakfast the next morning at Don and Madonna’s, then back to the truck late morning and we continued south. After promising it to not be so long before the next visit!

That afternoon we parked at the truck stop north of Jacksonville, Florida, and walked to the Pecan Park Flea Market – not far.  Wandered around there, then stopped at the Tiki Island Tap House bar in the Flea Market grounds. Interesting place!  There is a large pond with alligators!

Tiki Island Tap House, the big alligator can be seen above the wood pile.

One of the 'house' gators!

For the entertainment of the patrons.

On Monday 8 August, we delivered the dozer parts and steel plates to a property near Lake Butler, Florida - then to the house in Daytona Beach.

Our time there spent with the usual work around the house and truck, mail, business and a few appointments.

Lis and Harvey came over on Friday night for the Bandshell Concert: KC and the Sunshine Band tribute.  We walked to the Main Street pier for dinner on the Roof Top.

From Roof Top bar on the Main Street Pier, Daytona beach - looking towards the Band Shell. 

Bandshell Website:  Let Kip Sweeny take you back to the ‘70s performing as KC.  Dance to all your favourites hits and more ‘70s disco-era classics.

It was a fun night – energetic and entertaining!

Sunday afternoon we visited Wendy and Bob Stanton – we had intended to relax by their swimming pool, but there was lightening happening all around!  Had a lovely meal with them and some of their friends.  Great to catch up, and Wendy always sends us off with food to go!

Monday morning, we had to replace a drive tyre on the truck – during the weekend, Jim noticed a piece of tread missing – it would not pass inspection.

The Halifax River, Daytona Beach, going from the house to the truck.

On the way to load, we received a message that the load had cancelled.  Spent the remainder of the day in a rest area - looking for another load.

Loaded Tuesday, 16 August at Rebel Auction Company near Hazelhurst, Georgia. The auction of machinery and equipment was held on Friday.  It is a large facility, but very friendly and co-operative. 

We loaded a GEHL forklift and a hay baler – two ‘Less Than Truckload’ (LTL) shipments.

Two LTL shipments: Hazelhurst, Georgia to Illinois and Iowa.

Delivered the John Deere hay baler near Charleston, Illinois on Wednesday morning. The people getting the GEHL forklift stayed a half hour past 5 o'clock so we delivered that one also. Them staying late and taking delivery, gave us a half day towards the weekend.  Both pieces went to family owned farm equipment companies in farming communities, very accommodating and we appreciated that.

Delivery near Hopkinton, Iowa.

A great corn crop!

Found a butterfly on the driveway near the fuel island at a truckstop in Illinois.  A Limenitis Arthemis - red-spotted purple or North American brush-footed butterfly, common throughout much of the eastern United States. (I didn't notice its' "brush feet'.)

Travelled via US Highway 20, over the Mississippi River at Dubuque - a beautiful old bridge.

IowaDOT.com: The Julian Dubuque Bridge is a continuous steel-arch truss bridge with a suspended deck that traverses the Mississippi River.  It joins the cities of Dubuque, Iowa and East Dubuque, Illinois.  It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Loaded twelve (12) utility trailers at Karavan Trailers in Fox Lake, Wisconsin on Thursday, 18 August.

Hurried over to Buffalo, New York area to deliver Friday afternoon at a Home Depot hardware store in Amherst. First stop - delivered 8 trailers there.

Delivering trailers to Home Depot, Amherst, NY.

Photo stolen from Facebook page.

Then enjoyed the weekend in our camper at Joe and Michele's.
Joe, Michele and Jimmy went to the Road Runners Rally; Jim and I would have been able to attend for only one night, so we opted to catch up with a few people in the Buffalo area.  Bailie was around though - we saw her between her work and weekend activities.  Enjoyed a Friday night fish fry with Bob Walters; Saturday a big breakfast at Bob and Janice’s; spent the afternoon watching the Buffalo Bills pre-season football game with Jim’s high school friends, Bob and Barb Hildebrand, at Route 78 Sports Bar, and Sunday afternoon with Jim’s cousin, Vince and his wife, Kathy.  As well as visits both days with Jim’s mother, sister and family.

I was busy socializing, forgot to take photos.

Joe, Michele and Jimmy got back from Road Runners late Sunday afternoon – they had some hot weather and rain for the weekend.

Monday morning, we delivered the four remaining trailers to a Home Depot in Victor, NY.

The next load was set up for Erie, Pennsylvania, so on the way there we stopped at Sunset Bay to visit with Dave and Sandy Stroud.  Had not seen them this year - it was a great dinner and catch up with them.  Sunset Bay is south of Buffalo, beside Lake Erie - a popular 'beach' destination.

The next morning, we arrived at the shippers to load, and were told the freight was not ready - could we wait until the next morning? After looking for another load nearby – there was nothing, so Jim said we would wait.

At 4pm, we were notified that it would not ship until mid-September.  Wednesday morning, we loaded out of Blasdell, NY (south of Buffalo) - the same place and product we loaded in June - hot rolled bars at Republic Steel, going to the same place in Richmond, Kentucky.

The old steel plant in Blasdell, NY at Republic Steel.

Delivered it to Asahi/Koyo the next morning, then reloaded at Infiltrator Water Technologies in Winchester, Kentucky that afternoon.

An interesting place!

Website:  Infiltrator offers a full line of plastic leachfield chamber products, tanks, risers and accessories for use in septic systems.  Chambers and tanks can be delivered to the site in a pick up truck and hand-carried into position.  For most jobs, two people can install a system in less than half the time it takes for a comparable stone and pipe leachfield.

Loading at Infiltrator Water Technologies, Winchester, Kentucky.

Winchester, Kentucky to York, PA and Vernon, NY.

The shipment was two stops, and because of the weekend, we could not deliver until Monday, which gave us a long weekend.

Admiral Merchants Motor Freight (the trucking company we are leased to) had their Driver Appreciation BBQ in London, Ohio, on Saturday and it was not too far out of route for us to attend.

We arrived at the truckstop Thursday evening and unloaded the motorbike the next morning.  Our destination was the American Motorcycle Association’s Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, on the east side of Columbus (the capital of Ohio).  We had been to the Hall of Fame years ago, when it was at another location.  So, first time at this one.  Jim is a 'lifetime' member of the AMA.

Website:  The main floor of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame celebrates inductees – the heroes of the track, road, trails and halls of government who have elevated the sport to new heights.

The current exhibit spotlights how Hall of Famer Craig Vetter reimagined the BSA brand for the American market.

I especially enjoyed the Toys and Collectables exhibit!

A moto guzzi model.

Jim got to see inside a moto guzzi engine.

Evel Knievel display - a replica of his motorcycle.

We stopped in the historic downtown of Pickerington and found an old style pub – Chef T’s Pub and had a local brewed beer and a fabulous braised brisket sandwich with ghost cheese!  Wow!  Different because we were after the lunch hour and the only ones in there.  Chef T was behind the bar, and spent a lot of time explaining his menu, the locally crafted beer and a bit of history of the area.  Also a biker!

On the way back, we stopped in Canal Winchester.  The township was planned with construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal, the town flourished because of agriculture and transportation.

Internet: The Ohio and Erie Canal brought passengers, freight and a means to transport grain to market.  The first canal boat floated through Winchester in 1831, in 1869, the railroad came to Canal Winchester, bringing continued prosperity.

Canal Winchester, Ohio railroad station.

We rode past Bob McDorman Automotive Museum – looked like a very interesting place! We turned around and spent a couple of hours there.

Website:  If you would like to look at the third 1978 Chevy Corvette Pace car to come off the line, or maybe a 1936 Chevy Coupe, a 1953 Buick Skylark or a 1949 Chevy pickup, all in mint condition, you can do it a Bob McDorman Automotive Museum.  Also, one of the finest collections of working neon signs in the country.

The Bob McDorman Automotive Museum, Canal Winchester, Ohio.

Automotive toy collection.

Absolutely fabulous!

On the way back we had a look at the town of London.  The truckstop is close to Interstate Highway 70.

Madison County Courthouse, London, Ohio.

The old railroad station in London, Ohio.

We got back to the truckstop at London late afternoon and met another driver and some of Admiral Merchants corporate personnel that had arrived.

A group of fourteen went to Ann & Tony’s Italian Restaurant for a great meal and socializing.  We had met several of Admiral Merchants corporate at the last two truck shows we had attended since leasing on.  They are all very nice and it felt like we were greeting long-time friends.

Saturday, we stayed around the truckstop, and met drivers as they rolled in during the morning.  Tents were up and all the items required for a bbq feast appeared!

Getting ready for the Admiral Merchants Driver Appreciation BBQ.

The food and drinks started at 11am - burgers, brats, salads, etc. were abundant!  Wow, it was an impressive spread!  More Admiral Merchants corporate, agents, and drivers showed up.  A lot of information was available - questions answered, new procedures and rules explained.  Very informative - we met a lot of the people we had been talking to over the past year and a half; met people that will help us in the future; and formed friendships.

After lunch, there was a more formal part of the event.  A welcome and thank you from the company President and CEO; door prizes were drawn for some great gifts; everyone in attendance were given the opportunity to get new t-shirts, hats, road atlases, key chains, etc., as well as four new 4” straps.  Christmas in August!

A lot of drivers left after the door prizes, to deliver their loads.  We were only 420 miles from our delivery.  We did not have to rush away – and got a motel room for that night.  A quick ride on the motorbike into London to get groceries for the truck. A huge storm passed through and we just made it back to the truck before it hit.

Had a lot of laughs at Saloon 42, next door – also known as Dick’s Bar.

Admiral Merchants corporate people had flights scheduled for Sunday morning, they invited us and other drivers to the hotel lobby for pizza and drinks that evening, and the laughs continued.

Jim and I had a fun weekend.  So pleased we were able to attend and get to know the people that work with us.

Sunrise, up early Monday morning to deliver near York, Pennsylvania.

Monday morning, we delivered three skids on the tail of the trailer to Monarch Products near York, Pennsylvania.

Website: Monarch Products make concrete products – manholes, catch basins, box culverts, septic tanks, water meter pits, pump stations, utility vaults …

Monarch Products, York, PA

Then north to Vernon, New York to empty out at a Plumbing and Heating company.

There was no load on the internet load boards that we wanted to put on the truck, freight and rates are very slow and low this year.  We spent the night at the truckstop in Waterloo, NY.

A popular country duo, Florida Georgia Line (FGL) were playing in Syracuse on the weekend and I was excited to see eight of their tour trucks gather around us.  (Saw them in concert at the Country 500 in May!)

About noon on Tuesday, we headed to Cleveland, Ohio.  A 300 mile (480 km) deadhead on toll roads!

Loaded at the Halvorsen Company that evening – an oversize load.

Website:  The Halvorsen Company is a manufacturer of industrial grade pressure vessels and also engineers and designs pressure vessels.  We custom fabricate heavy steel and alloy plate into cones, segments, shells, heads, cylinders, gear blanks and other components.  We also design and fabricate large, heavy and complex weldments and weldment assemblies.

The first 'oversize' shipment we have hauled with Admiral Merchants - so had not hauled one for about two years.  Oversize shipments pay better, but a lot more work, effort and planning is involved.  ‘Oversize’ banners front and back, flags on front corner of truck and rear corners of trailer, flags on each corner of the widest part of the load.  Permits are a hassle – we don’t like hauling oversize much, but the only thing that paid at the time.  Our banners and flags were on the bottom of our equipment storage boxes!

Oversize from Cleveland, Ohio to Batavia, New York.

Encountered a lot of rain along the way, the steel cylinders were orange with rust when we delivered!

Wednesday afternoon, we delivered the steel cylinders to a manufacturing company in Batavia, NY.  Looked for a short haul to keep us busy for the next couple of days - but nothing suitable.  The Labor Day long weekend here this weekend, so we will stick around.