Vol. 19. No. 6 - 31 August, 2015

There were people working on Saturday and were happy to unload us at the Ash Pond on 1 August.

Amos Plant Fly Ash Pond is a coal ash disposal site associated with Amos Power Plant, owned and operated by American Electric Power subsidiary Appalachian Power Company near Winfield, West Virginia.

Ash ponds containing coal waste and sludge that are over 30 years old have to be dug out and lined to meet EPA standards.  (About a 15 year project just for the Amos Ash Pond.)

Steep drive in and out - spectacular though.

It was nice to deliver early, we found a truckstop west of Charleston and took the motorbike off the truck.  Weather was sunny, very warm and no rain forecast.

Our load for Monday was about 45 miles north, so we ran up to Point Pleasant WV on the motorbike to check it out.  Pleased we did because it was not actually ‘in’ Point Pleasant but 8 miles north of it, less stressful to find an address on the motorbike than in the truck.

Travelled some great roads, and scenery, crossed over the river in to Ohio, then back into West Virginia.  Found a small diner for a late lunch, then into Charleston.

Internet:  Charleston is the capital and the largest city of the state of West Virginia.  It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains.

There was a brew pub in downtown Charleston: Charleston Brewing Company and it also part of Black Sheep Restaurant.  We tried the beer sampler ‘flight’; selected one to get a glass of – they were OK, but the restaurant was very busy and bar tenders were making cocktails and mixed drinks.  It was not a place to relax.  We headed back to the truckstop late afternoon. Travelled almost 200 miles (300 kms) on the bike that afternoon.

Sunday morning we had a bit of running around to do, then fueled up and headed south.

Didn't have a plan, just picked winding roads.

A covered bridge on a hill.

Went through the town of Hamlin and discovered it was the home of Charles Yeager, “the first man to fly faster than sound”.  (It was a question at the Trivia Night I go to in Chinchilla earlier in the year.)

Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired brigadier general in the United States Air Force (World War II fighter pilot ace) and record-setting test pilot. In 1947, he became the first pilot confirmed to have travelled faster than sound.

On the highway into Whitesville, is a 48-foot-long black granite slab engraved with 29 life-size images of the coal miners.  It was built to honor the memory of coal miners who were killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine on April 5th, 2010.   The silhouettes of 29 life size coal miners are etched into the front. Etched into the back is the story of coal in West Virginia, a coal miner’s tribute, and a list of those killed in the explosion.  The monument recognizes all coal miners who have suffered illness, injury, or death while working in the coal industry.  Whitesville is a town and former coal town along the Big Coal River.

The coal industry is on the decline and most of the support towns have crumbled and are definitely depressed economically.

There was a very winding road back to the Interstate highway and we found Pies and Pints in Fayetteville.  The restaurant was on the “101 Best Places to Eat in West Virginia”, it has gourmet pizzas and craft beer.  We both had a local Bridge Works Brewery beer, (the ones with the ‘bridge’ taps) and shared a ‘Pine & Swine’ pizza (Pineapple and Bacon).  Both beer and pizza were delicious.

On the way back, we stopped at the New River Bridge lookout.  We have driven over the bridge countless times, but the visitor center has no room for big trucks.  It was exciting to walk out to the lookout and see the information on the Bridge and river.  A steep and winding stair case allows visitor to walk about halfway down the side of the river valley to view the bridge.

Completed in 1977, the bridge is the world’s longest single arch steel span bridge. At 876 feet above the river it is America’s second highest bridge.

The area is a mecca for white water rafting on the New River.

Charleston, WV’s biggest tourist attraction is the state Capitol Building, completed in 1932 and modeled after the US Capitol dome in Washington DC, though it is actually five feet taller, and is gilded in 23 ½ carat gold.

It is made of Indiana limestone and took eight years to build.  The grounds and gardens are beautiful and there are many sculptures that honour West Virginians for extraordinary contributions to the state and nation.

The statue in the photo I took from the eastern side of the grounds, is ‘Stonewall’ Jackson.  It was the first statue erected on the Capitol grounds - dedicated in 1910 in the old Capitol grounds located downtown.

A Confederate General in the Civil War, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, born January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg, West Virginia.  He was best known as a Confederate Commander serving under Robert E Lee in the Army of Northern Virginia.  He was accidently shot by ‘friendly fire’ on May 2, 1863.  The General survived the amputation of an arm, but died from pneumonia eight days later, May 10, 1863.

Jackson earned his nickname, ‘Stonewall’ at the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as Manassas) in July 1861 when he rushed his troops forward to close a gap in the line against a Union attack. Upon observing Jackson, one of his fellow generals reportedly said, “Look, men, there is Jackson standing like a stone wall.”

We covered more than 200 miles that day - back to the truck to load the bike, a bit later than we intended, but we had a great day.

On Monday, 3 August we headed north to Point Pleasant.  It is a river town on the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers.

Trivia:  Paranormal enthusiasts flock to Point Pleasant in search of Mothman, a creature said to be a harbinger of imminent disaster that inhabits an abandoned TNT factory from World War II.  John Keel published a book in 1975 entitled The Mothman Prophecies, and a film was released in January 2002.  Later another film, loosely based on the legend, was also released.  The town has the Mothman Museum, and holds a Mothman Festival that features events to celebrate what they consider “one of Point Pleasant’s largest tourist attractions”.

We loaded three generators on trailers at the West Virginia National Guard and delivered them to the Tennessee National Guard the next morning near Nashville, Tennessee.

Plerasant Point, West virginia to Smyrna, Tennessee.

For the next load we lined up three pick ups, with three deliveries - loaded a SAM at a Moving and Storage warehouse in La Vergne, Tennessee.  These have become very popular, though we have not hauled them before because they don’t pay much.  S.A.M. for Store And Move containers, packed by homeowner, stored at a warehouse, then transported via flatbed truck to another warehouse, then delivered locally from there.

Loaded something similar called Pack Rat in Chattanooga, Tennessee in the afternoon, then another SAM at a moving and storage north of Atlanta, Georgia the next morning.

Tennessee to Florida.

First delivery that afternoon in Jacksonville, Florida, the next morning in Deerfield Beach, Florida (north of Miami), in the afternoon in Fort Myers, on the west coast of Florida, then 220 miles deadhead to Daytona Beach.

Haven't been on Alligator Alley for a long time.

Five days at Daytona Beach: - the usual mail, business, working around the truck and house done.  Jimmy was in town and Jim helped him put a motorcycle rack on his truck so he can take a motorbike with him on the road.  Jimmy bought a manufactured rack that incorporates a winch and rails.  Ours is Jim’s design made by a friend, and cost $800,15 years ago.  Jimmy’s cost close to $3000 with shipping, it is larger and takes up more space, but it is quicker and easier to use.  The biggest thing with installing Jimmy’s was the fifth wheel (turntable) had to be moved back, lots of holes drilled.

Jimmy's truck and bike - photo stolen from his Facebook page.

On Wednesday, 12 August, we loaded a pump on a trailer at Thompson Pump in Port Orange – not far from where we park the truck. It was a partial load and only took up the deck space.  There were no loads close by, so the partial paid the cost of fuel to get to a better location.

LTL from Port Orange, Florida to Pensacola, Florida.

Delivered the pump to another Thompson Pump in Pensacola, Florida the next day, then loaded steel plate at SSAB, in Axis, Alabama going to Lake Crystal, Minnesota.

The steel shipment didn’t go as heavy as was dispatched, we had space on the trailer and could handle more weight, lucky to find an LTL shipment not far out of route to Minnesota.  Friday morning we loaded a new single round hay baler in Albers, Illinois, east of St Louis at a Farm Equipment business.  Delivered it the next morning at another Farm Equipment business in Strawberry Point, Iowa.

Strawberry Point is near the where the Iowa Moto Guzzi Rally is held, so we had been through there several times.  Freight is scarce and prices have dropped to 1980 rates, the LTL’s have been a nice supplement, but it is hard to find one that isn’t too far out of route and pick and delivery dates fit the truckload shipment.

We parked the truck at a truckstop at Albert Lea, Minnesota (70 miles from our Monday delivery).  Soon after we parked in the far corner of the truckstop where we could take the bike off the truck, another truck pulled in near us.  We didn’t pay much attention until the driver came over to watch the bike being unloaded.  He had his motorbike on as well!  He had an Indian cruiser with the same set up that Jimmy had, and the bike in a crate behind the cab.

At the truckstop in Albert Lea, Minnesoata.

We spent the remainder of the weekend on the motorbike.  The area around and west of Albert Lea is very flat farmland – corn and beans.

Historic district of Albert Lea.

Flat farmland in Minnesota.

Saturday afternoon we headed into the downtown Albert Lea.  Found a local Sports bar and asked the people there what was on this weekend.  Kernel Days in the next town!

We got there at 4pm and the streets were lined with empty chairs and blankets on the ground, but no people.  Seemed odd, we rode around the town, following the signed parade route and could not find any people.  Got back into town and stopped at the only business open and asked.  The parade started at 5pm and they told us where the park was for the food vendors.

We headed outside at 5 o’clock and the chairs and blankets were all occupied, and people everywhere.  We opted not to wait for the parade, just headed to Half Moon Park where the festival was.  All the amusements were being prepared, mostly just the vendors and workers there.  The food was cooked and ready!

Kernel Days equals fresh local sweet corn – it was delicious!  Jim also had a burger and I had a corn dog (seemed appropriate).  We were there for the food, so we had left before the parade floats and participants got there.

Back to the truckstop and caught up with the driver couple next to us and some others in the Skoll Bar.

Next morning we were on the bike about 8am, had no plans but because the area was so flat we headed east towards the Mississippi River.

We spotted the Visitors Centre in Spring Valley was 'open', so stopped and the lady there gave us a riding route.

At the Spring Valley Visitor's Center.

Trout frame as the bicycle stand.

It was lovely route she suggested – entered the Bluff lands and followed a river to the lovely town of Lanesboro.

The Root River flows through the town, with a waterfall on the edge of town.  A bicycle enthusiast destination with a rail trail and bike paths.  The river was popular with people renting large tubes and relaxing floating along.  Also an Amish community, with unique shops, and restaurants. 

Amish influence in Lanesboro.

We walked across the historic 1893 Walking Bridge over Root River, and watched people enjoying the river.

Root River running through Lanesboro.

We had coffee and lunch at Pedal Pushers Café – it was awesome! Loved the décor, the food and excellent coffee. Great wait staff as well.

Pedal Pushers Cafe.

A great place!

Stopped in the Iron Horse motorcycle shop – interesting.  Almost didn’t go in, thinking it would be a duplicate of most motorcycle shops.  It was refreshing – had a restored Honda, a Triumph Bonneville, and others for sale. The clothes were ‘generic’ brands – for all motorcycle enthusiasts. There were four different ‘vintage’ printed Evel Knievel shirts.  

The lights were antique ceiling ventilation covers, repurposed into lights and speakers.  A great shop and I liked that the Iron Horse referred to the original iron horse – the steam train.

Wikipedia:  "Iron horse" is an iconic literary term for a steam locomotive, originating in the early  Victoria culture (1825–35) when horses still powered most machinery, excepting windmills and stationary steam engines. The term was common and popular in both British and North American literary articles.  Iron Horse was used admiringly when comparing early road and railroad traction engines performance to slower, less powerful horse powered tramways.

A lovely town – great architecture, a winery, old saloons, bed & breakfasts, many activities for all.

1895 Pub and Restaurant.

We started heading back towards the truck through some old towns and stopped at JAC'S Bar and Grill and The Oasis Bar in Dexter.

Monday morning we delivered at TBEI (Truck Body Equipment Inc.) near Lake Crystal, Minnesota.  We had been there before, so called the broker to see if there was anything shipping out - there was! We loaded three truck bodies, which was an LTL and about half a trailer;

Found another LTL in Minneapolis, 12 feet of steel pipe. That was two shipments on the trailer, there was space open in the middle.

Could not find anything that fit or was going where we were until near Columbus, Ohio – loaded two stainless steel wash tubs.  Three shipments on.

Delivered the three truck bodies in Zanesville, Ohio, then loaded one TEREX roller – three shipments left on the trailer.  Still some space open, but could find nothing else.

Delivered the wash tubs at Yancey’s Fancy Cheese near Corfu, New York.  We visit Yancey’s Fancy / Kutter’s Cheese Factory often when in Buffalo area as a customer.

Website:  Following World War I, Leo Kutter emigrated from Bavaria, Germany to New York State, home of North America’s first cheese factory.  He brought his cheese making knowledge and skill to a small factory in Cowlesville, NY where he made Limburger.  Mr Kutter made cheese in Cowlesville from 1926 until World War II broke out. The war left the area with too little milk for cheese making so Mr Kutter had to wait until it ended before he could get back to his trade.  In 1947 he built a new factory in Corfu, NY and began making Swiss, brick, cheddar and Limburger cheeses.  Throughout its sixty plus year history, Kutter’s Cheese / Yancey’s Fancy has established a reputation for high quality, innovative products.  In recent years they have launched in excess of fifty new and exciting varieties of cheeses that reintroduced the flavours that made New York famous for handcrafted cheddar cheeses many years ago.

They are building a new, larger cheese factory nearby and keeping the old one for the aged cheeses.

New Kutters// Yancy's Fancy building - cheese factory in Corfu, New York.

 Photos taken when we were there in July of the existing cheese factory.

Delivered the small roller to an asphalt and paving company in Rochester, NY, then the steel tubes to Crosman Corp. in East Bloomfield, NY.

Internet:  Crosman Corporation is a small arms manufacturer.  An American designer, manufacturer and supplier of products for the shooting sports.  The company has a long-standing presence in air gun design and a tradition of producing pellet and BB air rifles and pistols.

The tubes were soaked / dripping with oil, covered with plastic, then we had to tarp them, but oil was all over the trailer and the tarp.  Messy!

Going to be gun barrels.

Empty and headed to Buffalo.

Friday morning, 21 August we sorted some camping gear (borrowed Joe’s), packed up and headed to Watkins Glen, NY with Joe, Michele, Frank and Penny for the annual Roadrunner’s Rally at Paradise Park campgrounds.  Jimmy was already there with his whole rig, and had his Ambassador unloaded and out enjoying himself.

Held in the Finger's Lakes area of New York State:  Internet:  New York’s Finger Lakes region takes its name from 11 freshwater lakes placed like a handprint between Lake Ontario and the Pennsylvania border.  Skiing, hiking and biking trails traverse the landscape; visitors can also indulge in various wind, cheese and beer trails.  The area is a culinary bounty, with an emphasis on farm-to-table cuisine.  Rich history and culture are found throughout the region, with one attraction more inviting that the next.

After setting up the tent and settling in a bit, we headed into Watkins Glen to find Jimmy.  Stopped at Rooster Fish Brewery, and also their Nickle’s BBQ restaurant.

Rooster Fish Brewery, Watkins Glen, NY.

Campfire antics that night, weather was considerably cooler temperatures.

Saturday was overcast and cool, but we left for a late breakfast in Dundee, back to the campground until we all met at Hazlett’s Winery early afternoon.

In town for breakfast.

At Hazlett's for Red Cat.

Then started the round of breweries and wineries on the east side of Seneca Lake: Wagner’s Winery and Brewery.

Wagner's Winery and Brewery.

The Grist Iron is a new one, and everyone enjoyed it.  Great view of Seneca Lake, a lot of space and nice open setting on the hill.

Lesley, Joe, Michele and Jim.

Two Goats Brewery is becoming a favourite.

Two Goats Brewery.

Heavy dew each morning, so tents were packed up wet.

After the rounds of good-byes, Jim and I headed off with Joe, Michele, Frank and Penny about 9am, which put us back at Joe and Michele’s early afternoon.

Warm lake, cool air made fog over Keuka Lake.

Following Frank and Penny, Joe and Michele - both towing trailers.

Had a few jobs to get done, and dry the camping gear.

Monday morning, 24 August, we loaded steel tubing at Markin Tubing in the town of Wyoming, NY, not far away.  Took four hours … (slow loading!), then we had to tarp.  Had a 3ft overhang at the back.

Wyoming, NY to Detroit, Michigan.

Delivered that the next morning in Detroit, Michigan, then to Quincy, Michigan in the afternoon and loaded auto racks at EAB Fabrication. 

Quincy, Michigan to Kansas City, Kansas.

These are used to transport car hoods; delivered them at noon the next day in Kansas City, Missouri to GM Fairfax Plant.

Website:  The General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant has been producing World Class Quality vehicles in the Kansas City area since 1945.  Fairfax Assembly was the first industrial facility to operate as a dual purpose manufacturer producing both automobiles and jet fighters in the same building.  The present facility, constructed in 1985, has received numerous awards, it I the largest employer in Kansas City Metro Area.  It operates 24 hour and produces one vehicle every 58 seconds. Fairfax has produced more than 12 million vehicles since 1945.

We reloaded different GM racks at the same place going back to Michigan (blue ones) and another big overhang.  Delivered them the next day at a GM plant in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Kansas City, Kansas to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

About 15 miles away we loaded an old air filtration system from a medical plant, and delivered it the next morning near Cleveland, Ohio to a company that refurbs and resells them.  Used machinery is our least favourite commodity. Pieces are often loose and rusty, nuts and bolts fall out in transit.

Kentwood, Michigan to Brook Park, Ohio.

Over to Coshocton, Ohio and loaded pipe at Clow Water Systems – a full load of pipe for Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.

Coshocton, Ohio to Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.

I always take a photo crossing the Mackinac Bridge from Lower Michigan to Upper Michigan across the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan on the west, Lake Huron on the east side. Toll is $25 each way for a truck, the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world.

We got to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Saturday afternoon and unloaded the motorbike at a truckstop just south of the city.

Took a trip to where we were to deliver on Monday, then parked in the historic downtown.  Watched a couple of huge Great Lake freighters go through the Soo Locks.  We had spent time in Sault Sainte Marie ten years ago, and the huge freighters are always a thrill to watch.  There is a three level viewing stand next to MacArthur lock, so very close.  Many of the freighters are over 800 feet long and some 1,000 feet long.

Viewing stand and front of ship heading towards Lake Superior.

Rear of ship.

Brochure: More than 11,000 vessels, carrying up to 90 million tons of cargo pass through these locks every year. 

The locks operate usually 46 weeks a year, and close in winter because the lake water freezes and ships can’t move.

Wandered through the Visitors Centre as well.  It had been remodeled since the last time. 

The St Mary’s River is the only water connection between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes.

Then found something new since last visit – Soo Brewing Company.  The people there were very friendly and they suggested another brewery further down the street for different beers and great food, so that was our next stop.  Well recommended – we both had a personal pizza and they were delicious.

Saturday was a bit of maintenance around the truck, then brunch at Studebaker’s Restaurant just down the road.  The décor was all old cars and memorabilia.

Saw this fellow in the parking lot near the Auto Parts Store.

We headed south on the motorbike to check out where we were scheduled to load on Monday in Cedarville, Michigan – about 40 miles south of Sault Sainte Marie.  Found Thick & Thin Lumber easily.  Then headed east along the top side of Lake Huron to the Village of De Tour.  Temperatures were much cooler near the lake and we were getting chilly, so stopped in the village of De Tour for coffee at Shipwreck Grille.  We sat down at a table and the waitress turned the fan to blow directly on us!  She saw us walk in with our motorcycle jackets on and because it was so hot outside, was trying to cool us off!  Haha – we thanked her, but said we really didn’t need the fan on us.

Ship Wreck Grille in Village of De Tour.

For the most part we followed St Mary’s River back to Sault Sainte Marie, mostly straight roads.  Stopped at the boat launch again and talked to some fishermen cleaning their fish – some nice salmon and walleye.

Back to Soo Brewing Company for a stout, then back to truckstop and load the bike.

                                   

Monday morning the pipe was unloaded at William R Gregory Boat Launch beside St Mary’s River, and another big freighter cruised by very close to us.

South to Cedarville, Michigan to load a partial; nine bundles of lumber (cedar) at Thick & Thin Lumber, going to Ohio for an Amish company.

We had another partial load lined up, but found out too late that they required it to be loaded on the rear of the trailer.  We had already loaded the lumber on the rear as it was to be delivered first.
Ended up with only the one LTL on the trailer for Ohio, just ran with it - paid for the fuel.

Cedarville, Michigan to Loudonville, Ohio.