Casey Capers - USA: Vol 21 No. 4

Delivered the steel pipe to a Krystal fast food restaurant in St Augustine, Florida on 1 June. Two other trucks there – we delivered first. All part of the post for a large/tall sign.

Over to the west side of Orlando to Ritchie Bros Auction near Davenport to load two LTL shipments. One shipment was a CAT D4 Dozer and blade, and a JLG scissor lift; the second shipment was five CAT Rollers.

Davenport, Florida to Syracuse, New York.

Jim loaded the D4 Dozer, then four rollers. That took some precision driving because the rollers had to go side by side, and then were the exact legal width of the trailer. Jim checked the scale we have on the dash and trailer and looked very close to maximum axle weight on the drives. Jim had planned to have the small JLG scissor lift forklifted to in front of the dozer, on the trailer deck, but too much weight. The JLG went on the back of the trailer, but had to leave one roller.

Ritchie Bros Auction Florida.

Stopped at the house for two nights, left Daytona Beach on Saturday morning, 3 June.

We put the truck on a certified scale on the way north and our scale was accurate - only 1600 pounds below maximum legal weight. We got the certified scale in case our payment is reduced because one roller was not loaded.

Jim’s aunt and uncle live near Florence, South Carolina. We missed seeing them last year, so we had time this trip to meet at the truckstop and they took us to dinner in Florence.

Pat and Belinda took us to downtown where some revitalization is happening – renovating and re-purposing old buildings. We had drinks in the court yard between three restaurants, then dinner at Wholly Smokin’ BBQ & Ribs. (I had delicious ribs). A fabulous meal, beers and catch up with Pat and Belinda – we all enjoyed the evening.

Up early Sunday morning and headed north to Syracuse, New York for Monday unload.

South Carolina started out foggy.

Sun rising - South Carolina.

Sun going down in New York, north of Binghamton later the same day.

With the weight issue when loading, delivery required a return visit. The JLG lift had to come off first at Clark Equipment Rental , then 8.2 miles to Tracey Road Equipment to deliver the four rollers, then back to Clark Equipment to unload the D4 dozer. It all worked out. Apparently the machine weights had been underestimated.

To Buffalo and put the truck in the shop. We take the first full week of June off in Buffalo each year, get work done to the truck and prepare for the Western New York Moto Guzzi rally the second weekend in June.

Work to be done on the truck - replace carrier bearing, oil change, grease and replace the four airbags on the trailer.

Jimmy was already at Joe and Michele’s. Monday and Tuesday were cold, steady rain – we didn’t do much. Wednesday was warmer and sunny, we caught up for the afternoon with Jim’s cousin Marguerite and Mike, always fun, also saw Jim’s sister, Pat and brother-in-law, Larry – haven’t seen them since mom’s funeral.

Friday we caught up with Bob Walters and son, Danny on our way to Westfield, NY for the Western New York Moto Guzzi Rally in the Vineyard at the KOA campgrounds. We met them at Aunt Millie’s Restaurant.

Bob's 1957 Ford, Danny's Moto Guzzi T3, and Jim's Moto Guzzi Stone.

Great weather forecast for the rally weekend. Friday evening chili dinner and wings. Campfire camaraderie.

Danny and Bob cooking wings.

Assorted refreshments.

A rain storm over night, but warm sunny weather Saturday.

Jim's second cousin, Nancy, whom we met last year, lives a few miles from Westfield, so we met her Saturday morning for coffee. She suggested a restaurant Jack's just around the corner from the campgrounds, past the light house. We didn't know the street was there, and found a BBQ restaurant, the Westfield Fisheries, and marina.

It was great to see Nancy again, we are still working on that branch of the family tree, and hoping to put more pieces together.

In the afternoon, a visit to Johnson Estate Wines for sampling and purchases - a favourite and the Moto Guzzi friends are welcomed.

Johnson Estate Wines parking lot.

Then to Five & 20 Distillery and Brewery.

Back to the campground for dinner, the awards and more campfire antics.

Jimmy's Ambassador.

Custom Werkz with the new Moto Guzzi motorcycles.

Dirt bike racer friend, Cody Johncox and his girlfriend, Faith spent Saturday evening wi the Guzzi club. Cody displayed one of his racebikes - there was a lot of interest.

Cody's race bike.

Sunday morning, Cody took Jimmy's ambo for a cruise around the vineyard.

The small creek running through the campground.

Sunday afternoon was busy cleaning up and storing rally equipment.

Monday afternoon we had beers and food with Rick and Marta at Ebenezer Ale House in West Seneca - a great place and good to see Rick and Marta.

The truck was ready Tuesday morning, Jim picked it up. Tuesday afternoon Joe, Jimmy and Jim worked at a friends welding shop trying to fix Joe's old trailer, he had a buyer for it. We all hung out there - Baillie finished work, and was delegated to the cutting torch and welding. They all worked hard, and late. I lined up 'Clifford' the old Versatile tractor there for some farm photos at sunset.

Loaded Wednesday at PODS – Depew – four PODS for three stops in Florida.

A variety of weather heading south - stormy in West Virginia.

Then fog the next morning.

Delivered the PODS on the central west coast of Florida on Friday - one in Ocala, one in Holiday and two in Pinellas Park.
Still stormy when we got to Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach storm.

This is where we park the truck while at the house.

A quick clean up and out to DeLand to meet Lis and Harvey for dinner at Hibachi's - we had missed them last time. Good to see them, and the storm had passed and there was a nice sunset on the way back to the house.

Driving past the Speedway.

Driving over International Speedway Boulevard (ISB) bridge east towards the ocean.

Always stuff to do while at the house – being ‘off’ means out of the truck. Jim usually has something to do to it – maintenance, repairs; two or three weeks of mail needs attention; appointments; then stuff around the house. Jim had to renew his HAZMAT endorsement and drivers’ license. Ended up staying five days in Daytona Beach.

One of our favourite and close by Mexican restaurants - Tia Cori's on Beach Street.

On the last evening in Daytona Beach, we made a point of walking to the beach to relax a bit. Walked past the amusements at the Boardwalk.

On our way to the Main Street Pier.

Up to The Roof bar for happy hour.

Pelicans.

Walking back along the Boardwalk.

Up early Thursday morning, 22 June - to Ocala to load at Unified Plastic Fabrications.

Website: United Plastic Fabricating is a leading manufacturer in developing polypropylene tanks and poly bodies for the fire, trucking and industrial markets.

We loaded two large tanks – a light load.

Ocala, Florida to Lyons, South Dakota.

Tropical Storm Cindy affected the weather for our trip north - torrential rain storms and wind to Illinois.

Plane approaching airport in Atlanta, Georgia.

Got to Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Saturday afternoon. Parked at a truckstop just outside the city, and took the bike off the truck.

Sioux Falls website: Chartered in 1856 on the banks of the Big Sioux River, the city is situated in the rolling hills on the western edge of the junction of Interstate 90 and Interstate 29. The history of Sioux Falls revolves around the cascades of the Big Sioux River.

On wikipedia,com, amongst writers, poets, sports people, politicians, astronauts, etc., the only notable residents I recognized were Mary Hart – television personality, Entertainment Tonight; and David Soul – actor, co-star of Starsky & Hutch, and recording artist.

It was nice warm weather, we rode into Sioux Falls, had a look at the historic downtown. This weekend was the start of a soccer tournament.

Internet: Sioux Falls will host the 2017 US Youth Soccer Region I (Midwest) Championships as part of the US Youth National Championship Series, the country’s oldest and most prestigious national soccer tournament. The championships are expected to draw more than 4,100 players and an estimated 12,000 spectators … the place was crowded!!

The downtown sculpture walk was an interesting open-air exhibit.

A very large buffalo sculpture!

Old buildings, and a plane approaching the airport.

There were many eating and drinking establishments. Decided on Monks House of Ale Repute and tried local brewed beers. Gandy Dancer is brewed there. Local craft beers were nice.

The Big Sioux River runs through the historic downtown.

Sunday morning, we visited the USS South Dakota Memorial.

Internet: USS South Dakota (BB-57) was a battleship in the US Navy, in service from 1942 until 1947. The most decorated battleship in World War II, the memorial is a full-size outline of the ship with artifacts positioned in it.

USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial.

With researching my family history, I have been communicating with a branch in the USA, that share DNA. On Sunday morning, we met my fifth cousin once removed. Christy and her family were going home after a trip, they live an hour further north of Sioux Falls. We met them at the truckstop. The term ‘distantly related’ is non existent when you can hug one! Very excited to actually meet.

Late morning, we enjoyed the Falls on the Big Sioux River, and coffee and brunch at the Falls Overlook Café.

Internet: The Falls of the Big Sioux River have been a focus of life in the region throughout history.

The Queen Bee Mill ruins of a seven-story structure built of Sioux quartzite, opened in 1881. The Mill closed in 1883. The building was used by several companies, in 1929 it was converted to a warehouse, and in 1956, fire swept through the structure, destroying the wooden roof and interior floors. The upper walls were later knocked down to prevent them from falling.

Mill ruins in background, Power plant/now cafe on right.

The quartzite building still standing on the east bank is the Sioux Falls Light and Power Company building completed in 1908. The plant was abandoned in 1974 and donated to the city in 1977.

It was remodeled to create the Falls Overlook Café.

Big Sioux River Falls.

Took backroads north to the town of Dell Rapids, for the last day of their Quarry Days festival (the 30^th annual). I had seen the event in a tourist brochure, seemed like something we would enjoy:

… golf tournament, big diesel train rides, street dance, baseball, parade, car show and fireworks.

Dell Rapids, one of the most distinctive and colourful communities on the Dakota Plains. The identity of Dell Rapids is tied to a rick vein of red quartz that runs 2,600 feet deep and hundreds of miles. The outcroppings of quartzite inspired the century-old quarry industry and the unique down town architecture. Established on the banks of the Big Sioux River, the historical Main Street dates back to 1888. Even the high school sports teams are “Quarriers”.

A great display of cars from antiques to unusual!

This one is a wood work project!

A red one, just like Bob Walters, 1957 retractable hard top.

Some interesting mototcycles,

An Aussie car!! Looks like it is owned by an Aussie. We went back a few times but didn't see the owner.

We strolled for an hour or so, ate a hot dog, then found a local watering hole - Monkey Bar & Grill.

Topped up the tank at a Cubby's convenience store - cute!

Wandered backroads on the motorbike, doing a loop east back towards Sioux Falls.

Stopped in a small town, Valley Springs at the Valley Corner Bar and met very friendly locals.

Had dinner at Wiley’s Bar & Grill in down town Sioux Falls.

Great architecture.

Then back to the truckstop to load the bike. We had a fun time around about Sioux Falls, in south eastern South Dakota.

Delivered the two poly tanks to Rosenbauer America in Lyons, South Dakota on Monday, 26 June.

Website: Rosenbauer America – Fire department equipment supplier. The majority of Rosenbauer America’s vehicle production takes place at the Lyons Plant in South Dakota. The location has an output capacity of around 700 vehicles per year and is able to produce practically the entire firefighting range including pumpers, rescues, aerials and special trucks such as industrial and wildland vehicles. The major strength of Rosenbauer South Dakota lies in the industrial production of vehicles and at the same time great flexibility with regard to their equipment.

Rosenbauer makes lots of fire trucks and emergency vehicles.

Then to Hudson, South Dakota – home to a statue known as “The World’s Largest Ringnecked Pheasant”.

Spotted some large white buffalo as well.

Loaded two small skids at Trussbilt in Huron. They were doors for a Women’s prison.

Just two skids - Huron, South Dakota to Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.

Tuesday morning, we had 70 miles left to drive to Fond Du Lac, and took a short cut through small towns and countryside in Wisconsin.

Early morning in Portage, Wisconsin.

We delivered them to Taycheedah Correctional Facility – a womens institute, near Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin on Tuesday morning. Fond Du Lac is at the south end of Lake Winnebago, we drove around the eastern shore to Kaukauna on the north tip.

Thilmany Paper Mill is a large and old mill built in 1883, utilizing the Fox River. Infrastructure Alternatives dredged the river to deepen it. We loaded their pipes, pumps, pontoons after the job had been completed.

Internet: Thilmany Papers was a leading manufacturer of specialty lightweight packaging, pressure-sensitive, technical and industrial papers. Thilmany Papers is now part of Expera Specialty Solutions.

Kaukauna, Wisconsin to Rockford, Michigan.

An overnight run, just 400 miles - except Chicago could not be avoided! Always heavy traffic.

Driving into Chicago.

Delivered the dredging equipment to Infrastructure Alternatives in Rockford, Michigan north of Grand Rapids, then south to Union City and loaded trench products - for two stops.

Union City, Michigan to Columbus, Ohio and Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

The yellow gravel buckets delivered Thursday, 29 June to a CAT dealer in Columbus, Ohio, then to Ephrata, Pennsylvania to deliver the forms and tubes the next day.

After delivering in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, a short distance to Case New Holland in New Holland, Pennsylvania.

Internet: Case and New Holland merged in 1999, at that time, CNH manufactured its products in 37 facilities throughout the world and distributes in approximately 170 countries through approximately 11,500 dealers and distributors.

Case New Holland Test Center.

We loaded at the test centre, behind the factory, where equipment is put through tests to make sure it doesn’t fall apart. We loaded a used Case IH 3162 - 30 feet long, we were told it was a rice harvester.