Vol 14 No 4 June 30, 2010

In Daytona Beach for the Memorial Weekend - Saturday we went for a bike ride with Ron and Regina Hewitt. Gina had her ‘new to her’ Harley Davidson Road King. Rode through the back roads to The Foxhead Bar in Osteen, then to the Cabbage Patch in Samsula. Both biker bars were almost deserted on a Saturday afternoon??? With the Memorial Day long weekend - most people were away or had visitors.

Sunday morning Harvey came over to go fishing at Ponce Inlet with Jim. Ended up wetting lines and just hanging out. The Inlet was packed with tourists. That afternoon Jim and I went to Lis and Harvey’s in De Leon Springs for a cook out. Always fun to spend time with them. Monday was Memorial Day holiday and we spent the afternoon at Bob and Wendy’s - ate their food, swam in the pool, laughed with their family and friends - had a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon with them. Always entertaining people there. We had a very nice long weekend.

Delivered the storage sheds in Kissimmee, on Tuesday morning, 1 June then over to Ritchie Bros Auction. This place does not bring the shipment to the truck. The driver has to locate his freight and take it to the truck. This time we had to drive compacters. The machines used to break up and compact gravel - the roller with nubs in front. The battery was dead in the one I had to drive, so it was jumped started. As soon as I hit the key it was in full on vibrate mode!! It was hilarious as I had no idea how to switch it off!! Obviously the person who parked it there had played a little ‘trick’!!

After loading we stayed in Daytona Beach that night because we needed half a business day there to get mail and new parking passes.

Delivered the compacters to Caledonia, New York on Friday, then only 100 kms (60 miles) to Joe and Michele’s. Joe came in a couple of hours after us. We ended up having 11 days off up there. The weekend of 12/13 June was the Western New York Moto Guzzi Rally that Joe and Michele plan and host each year.

The Friday afternoon that we arrived was Tyler’s Prom night (Michele‘s son). His last year of high school. He was a knock out! He posed for photos with his mother and grandparents. A very big occasion! Courtney Zufall and her date stopped by as well - just gorgeous! Gowns, tuxedos, limousines, parties - the works.
Photo is L to R: Michele, Paula, Tyler and Kenny.

Baillie’s birthday party was on the Saturday (her 11th birthday was May 26), lots of kids and Michele’s family there for a pizza and wings party on the deck. All the kids stayed busy playing in the pool, on the trampoline, playing baseball and there was a bounce house.

Jim and Joe took the trucks in for work and service early in the week. Our tractor (prime mover) needed a front brake shoe, and the trailer needed rear axle brakes.

On the Tuesday I went to the Buffalo Zoo with Jim’s niece Kristin and her one year old son, Liam and met Kristin’s friend, Nicole and her daughter Kristin at the Zoo.

I had not been to the Buffalo Zoo before. Kristin had packed a picnic lunch and we all sat under a tree on a blanket - with a lion roaring close by!! Aussie friends were wallabies, frilled neck lizard, blue tongue lizard, lorikeets and other birds. My favourites were the polar bears and anteater. Loved the giraffe and baby, otters and Kodiak bear. Liam loves the animals and makes their ’noises’. We were there for four hours. We had a great day. Photo of two otters and Kristin and Liam at the polar bear enclosure.

Jim unloaded the motorbike off the truck, and the weather was mostly good for the week, except for a couple of rainy, cool days.

Jim and I did the rounds of Western New York food - Sahlens hot dogs and webers mustard, red hots, beef on ‘weck, WNY pizza, Buffalo chicken wings, Chiavetta’s chicken, Mighty Taco, John & Mary’s subs - actually did some of them twice! Oh, and Labatt’s Blue Light Lime beer is new this summer and very refreshing!

Jimmy flew up from Florida on the Thursday for the Rally and borrowed one of Joe’s bike for the weekend.

Jim and I rode down to the rally by ourselves on Friday morning. The weather was great and we got to the KOA Campground at Westfield early in the afternoon. Art bought Jimmy’s moto guzzi jackal earlier in the year and this was his first rally on a bike, he was very excited!

There was a cabin that had been booked, but the people could not make it, so Jim and I took it, instead of setting up a tent (there was rain forecast). Still needed sleeping bags, pillow, towels, etc. It was on the other side of a small creek from the campgrounds. There was a footbridge a distance away, so we mostly crossed the running creek via stepping stones. That was a challenge! Though opted for the bridge at night!

Our cabin up on the creek bank.

A lot of people were already there, some had been there since Wednesday. A funny coincidence was that a Guzzi rider from Ontario met three blokes about 1 km from the rally campgrounds, two on guzzi‘s, one on a triumph. He asked them if they were going to the rally. They said, “yes” and mentioned that they had two weeks to get there. They were New Zealanders who bought motorbikes online, flew to the east coast and planned to ride them to the Moto Guzzi National Rally in Oregon (west coast) at the end of June. They had no idea there was another Guzzi rally just down the road. Murray, John and Don ended up staying for two nights at the WNY rally.

Saturday morning Jim, Art and I went on the mystery ride. There was a Farmer’s Market in Westfield Town Square, so we called in there for an 'all you can eat' pancake breakfast.

The mystery ride was about 130 kms of back roads and through a few areas we had not been before. There were road directions and a list of ten questions concerning the towns/area. It was fun, and we got back to the rally mid afternoon and socialized. We have been to this rally 5 or 6 times and always did the winery trail, so the mystery ride was a nice change.

There was a loop frame lineup. Loop frames being the moto guzzi style from late 1960’s to mid-1970’s. Thirteen were lined up and it was an impressive display of old bikes.

Lee, the rider who hit the deer after leaving the rally the previous year has restored his damaged bike (a 1970 moto guzzi) and it is beautiful again. He recovered from his injuries too.

Jim and I went for a walk to the Barcelona Lighthouse about 1 km from the campgrounds. We always ride past it, but I wanted a photo!

Internet: Built in 1829, standing 40 feet tall and constructed of the local beach stone with 2 foot thick walls, it was built in response to the opening of the Erie Canal and the increased traffic that would travel the area. What makes this light so unique is the fact that she was powered by natural gas. This was the first Lighthouse in the world and the first public building in the U.S. to be powered by natural gas. A nearby pocket of natural gas was found under a creek bed. The gas was then piped (wooden pipes) over to the lighthouse to power the lantern.
The lighthouse and keeper's residence were sold to private owners in 1872. The tower was relit by a modern gas lamp in 1962. The light remains lit courtesy of the owner and the town of Westfield, which pays for the gas.
The Barcelona Lighthouse is believed to be the oldest existing structure of its kind on the Great Lakes.

Saturday night was relaxing with chicken barbeque dinner and the awards - 117 in attendance. The huge bonfire was the main attraction later that night.

It was raining lightly Sunday morning and on and off during pack up.

Jimmy, Jim and I headed to Sunset Beach about half way to Buffalo and visited the Stroud family. Jim and Dave are friends from high school days. Their elder daughter, Jacqui lives in South Carolina now, and was visiting her parents. Jim and I had not seen her since her wedding about 15 years ago, Jimmy had not seen her for about 20+ years. We all had lunch at the pub on Lake Erie.

Jimmy flew back to Florida Monday, Jim and I did a last round of visiting and eating. Tuesday morning we headed across the border to Oakville, Ontario and loaded. The steel frames were not ready and there were two trucks they wanted to load first. The paint was still wet when we put tarps over it. It was 7pm when we finished.

4000kms was an easy run over five days. Crossing Nebraska the wind was blustery and the added side pressure tore our tarpe on the edges of the steel frames. We had padded the sharp edges before tarping, but the tarps rubbed through, then split. We had four large tears about 40cms long, and many smaller cuts and rub throughs. We had to peel both tarps back and patch the large tears. Not easy to do, but easier than taking both big tarps off and trying to patch them while spread out on the truckstop parking lot in high winds!!! Then put them back on. That would have been impossible!

En route we stopped to get a wheel alignment (re-do of the one done in March because the tyres were wearing odd), truck wash, oil change and replaced two shock absorbers.

We spent one night at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah rest area. Had been there before and it is always fascinating and spectacular. We were there for sunset and sunrise.

Tourist Sign: The Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely-packed salt pan in Northwestern Utah.
Utah’s famed measured mile is located approximately seven miles beyond this rest area, well in front of the mountains you see on the horizon. The elevation along the course is approximately 4218 feet above sea level. The total length of the course that includes the measured mile varies from year to year, but for recent runs it has been laid out in a path 80 feet wide and approximately ten miles long (16 kms). Due to the curvature of the earth, it is impossible to see from one end of the course to the other. Timing of world land speed record runs is under the jurisdiction of the American Automobile Club.
The photo was taken at sunrise.

Arrived in Reno, Nevada on Saturday afternoon in time for happy hour at The Alamo Casino and Truckstop! The bar has poker machines embedded into the bar, if you are playing, your drinks are complimentary. Jim always puts $10 in and plays 25 cents at a time, so he plays slowly until ready to leave. I opted for $1 margaritas. Jim had four premium beers (Fat Tire) 16 oz glasses, I had three margaritas, we each had four tacos and our bill came to $6.31! Add in Jim’s $10 in the poker machine and $8 tip to waitress - we had dinner and drinks and a nice evening out.

Delivered in Oakland, California on Monday morning. Our shipment was part of a shooting range. Not sure of it’s destination as we delivered it to a warehouse and then it will be shipped overseas.

The next load was 20 kms south, crane parts from Bigge Crane.

Website: Bigge is North Americas largest crane sales and crane rental company. We specialize in heavy lift, heavy rigging and specialized transportation projects. Our headquarters are in San Leandro, CA.

This delivered in southern Washington state - a 700 mile (1130 kms) run.

Bighorn Wind Power Project: A few miles south of Bickleton is the area’s first large wind power electrical generating plant. It consists of 133 wind powered turbines. Situated in an area known for it’s exceptional wind resources.
There are many more turbines being put up, we had crane parts needed for the construction.

We easily saw over 1,000 wind turbines in an hour - they were everywhere along the ranges and valleys and river!

The highway via Roosevelt, Washington was very steep and twisty, over a mountain range and overlooking the Columbia River. Then 19 kms (11 miles) of dusty gravel/dirt road.
Bickleton is known as the bluebird capital of the world. Thousands of bluebirds spend most of the year in the area.
Saw many bluebirds!! And a fox and deer. Along both sides of the road were small birdhouses attached to fence posts. Wildflowers were spectacular as well.

Jim’s cousin, Marianne lives in Parkdale, Oregon. We haven’t had the opportunity to visit her there for several years, so spent the Tuesday night with Marianne, Vic and their two sons, Greg and Pete were there for dinner.
Their back deck has the most awesome view - Mt Hood!
Vic estimated that Mr Hood was approx. 12 miles away (20 kms). I put the deck beam in the photo to give it perspective!

We spent the afternoon watching an assortment of wild birds and animals in their backyard. Stellar blue jays, quail, pigeons, hummingbirds, wrens, and a huge squirrel.

Internet: Approximately 3,500 m (11,300 ft), Mount Hood is host to twelve named glaciers or snow fields. More than 80% of the glacial surface area is above 7,000 feet (2,100 m).

Wednesday we deadheaded to John Day, Oregon to attend the 39th Annual Moto Guzzi National Rally held from 24 to 27 June.

Internet: The city was named for the nearby John Day River which had been named for a Virginian member of the 1811 Astor Expedition. The first homestead staked in 1862 when gold was discovered. By 1887, John Day was home to nearly 1000 Chinese immigrants, who had been attracted to the area by the gold rush.

Held at the Grant County Fairgrounds, lots of space - we pulled the whole rig in and parked by the entrance and unloaded the motorbike. About 50 people were already there, even though the rally didn’t officially start until noon Thursday. We discovered the Dirty Shame Saloon in town for dinner Wednesday evening.

Maps and suggested rides were available - great motorcycle roads were marked and had the number of corners in some stretches!

Ride scenic Eastern Oregon and take in the dramatic contrasts from geological formations of Fossil Beds National Monument to grass valleys, pine forests, and high desert sagebrush and juniper covered slopes with mountain peaks in the distance. Canyons carved alongside the many streams and rivers through national Forests and Wilderness Areas.
Every direction and every road was spectacular.

Thursday we went for 200 km (120 mile) ride around the north of John Day. Beautiful scenery, roads running beside winding streams and rivers, through pine trees, then rolling hills of grassland and mountains and the Umatilla National Forest. The scenery constantly changes. Very little traffic!

Thursday evening it was back to the Dirty Shame Saloon for pizza with friends.

Friday morning we went to the Out Post Restaurant for huckleberry pancakes - yummo! (In the bar, huckleberry margaritas were available, but I didn’t get back there!!! Also, huckleberry ice cream...)

Jim and I went for a 200 km ride to the south and west of John Day. First stop was the Fossil Beds Mascall Overlook.
John Day country is an elaborate mosaic of geologic action. Here time is measured in millions of years.
Eastern Oregon is a virtual time machine to the past. Go back some 44 million years ago to the land of three-toed horses, saber-toothed tigers, prehistoric bear-dogs and giant pigs.
At the Mascall Overlook view the awesome Picture Gorge and classic, stacked, black basalt lava flows and beautiful layered, soft, collection of volcanic ash mounds and a very rare silica enriched, pink, “pyroclastic cloud deposit” called the Rattlesnake Ignimbrite.

More beautiful roads, scenery, etc.!! We had an incident - blew the baffle out of an exhaust pipe! It was still in the pipe, so Jim kept it and pop riveted it back in the next morning.

Friday evening dinner at the pavillion: chili, cornbread and strawberry shortcake. Saturday morning there was a cooked breakfast in the pavillion as well. We ate well at the rally!

Saturday we went for a 300 km (200 mile) ride to Baker City north east of John Day.

A replica of a covered wagon used on the trails west by early pioneers and travellers. Near Prairie City and the Strawberry Mountain range and wilderness in the background, still snow in the high elevations.

Baker City is a community steeped with tradition and history. Granted its city charter in 1870, Baker City was once considered to be the premier social center along the Oregon Trail and once boasted the largest population of any city in the state of Oregon. During an era when gold mining was the norm, Baker City was born as a support center for the surrounding gold mining towns.

We traveled over Dooley Mountain which had 188 corners, someone had counted them! Had lunch in an old bar in Baker City, then headed back to John Day via another spectacular road and stopped at Melgone Lake.

Most of the roads we travelled in the area were marked as “Journey Through Time - Oregon Scenic Byway”
Uncommonly rich in history, this route tells stories of fortunes made and lost, of Chinese laborers, of towns boomed and busted, of timber, agriculture, and pioneer settlers. It also tells a special story of the earth's history; of sea beds which have long been dry and of extinct creatures.

L to R: The Kiwi's: Don, John (Lesley & Jim) and Murray.

351 people attended the rally - the Kiwi's arrived on Thursday, Howard from Maryland was at the WNY rally and was at this one too, also Rod from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland whom we met there last year.
Many of our moto guzzi friends from around the country. Socializing kept us very busy, though lots of people we would have liked to spend more time with. Met some interesting ‘new’ people too!

Ten new moto guzzi model demo bikes were available for test rides, provided by north-west dealers.

Saturday evening dinner was lasagne, salad and bread pudding. The awards were impressive: our friend, Dennis won the Peoples Choice and the Rat Bike awards! His forty year old eldorado is remarkable and he travels all over the USA on it!
Florida friend, Dale Senn won the longest distance ridden to the rally from his home in Cocoa - 4660 kms (2900 miles). A friend from Wisconsin's son won the youngest rider: Patrick Kelly age 26!

The weather was perfect for the rally - warm, sunny days and cool nights. (Locals said that it snowed three weeks prior...)

Most people were packed up and gone by 11am on the Sunday when we left.

We loaded Monday morning, 28 June in Portland, Oregon - a 400 km deadhead (260 mile) from John Day. Eight bins of hazardous material (calcium carbide). Calcium carbide’s main use is in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide.
The reaction of calcium carbide with water was discovered in 1862, this reaction is the basis of the industrial manufacture of acetylene. Calcium carbide reacts with nitrogen at high temperature to form calcium cyanamide.
Calcium carbide is used in carbide lamps, in which water drips on the carbide and the acetylene formed is ignited.
Trivia: Carbide lamps were used extensively as headlights in early automobiles.

The calcium carbide delivered to a gas and equipment shop in Escondido, California on Wednesday, 30 June. It will be used to make acetylene.

Vol 14 No 3 May 28, 2010

The week at the house was busy - Jim took the rig to Orlando to get welding done on the trailer and he also had a Right Weigh, installed - an onboard scale where we can tell with accuracy the weight on each trailer axle by how much air pressure in the trailer air bags. It will take the guess work out and having freight removed or moved if we are overweight.

Stopped at a new bar that we drive past between the house and where the truck is parked. Y Not Bar & Cafe. When I walked up to the door there was a notice saying “Smoking Allowed”. We prefer a “no smoking” environment, so decided to have one drink and leave. The cafe area was mostly empty, but there were a dozen people around the bar - all smoking. We realized that we could not smell the smoke. There were ‘fans’ spinning from the ceiling, no blades, just a circular covering. We asked the bar attendant - it is a state of the art air filtration system.

I am not sure of the smoking laws in Florida - there seems to be different rules for different venues and areas. I researched it on the internet, but still unclear:

Wikepedia: Smoking laws vary widely throughout the United States. Some places in the United States do not generally regulate smoking at all, some ban smoking in certain areas and not others, and some ban smoking nearly everywhere, even in outdoor areas.
In Florida, smoking is allowed in bars with no more than 10% of revenue from food sales.

The rules seem to be interpreted and set by state, county, city and differ in many areas. The air filtration system must allow them to serve food there. Don’t know??? It was nice and we will go back to eat at Y Not some time.

Spent an evening at Sunglow fishing pier and Crabby Joe’s Deck & Grill - the best tasting view in Daytona Beach.
The restaurant in on a pier and about 100 metres into the Atlantic Ocean, it moves as the waves hit the pylons. One of my favourite places to spend an hour or two, relaxing watching the waves and the beach, with a pina colada. We got there on sunset and it was beautiful. The photo of the ocean and Daytona Beach is (obviously) taken through the insect screen, but you get the idea.

Jim replaced the rear tyre on the moto guzzi le mans ready for the summer and being on the truck. Also bought a new winch because water had gotten into the remote control on the previous one and it would not work., and a new bike cover. Loaded it on the Friday.

The upstairs tenants oven wasn‘t working, had to have an appliance man repair that. We need a new front door, had measurements taken for that. Always something!

Didn’t see much of Jimmy, he had temporary work in Orlando, so he stayed with friends there, instead of coming back to Daytona Beach each evening.

We got up early Saturday morning, 1 May and loaded at a tradeshow in Orlando. We stopped in the marshalling yard and the first person we saw was a Bekins driver from the ‘old’ days!

The show was Coverings 2010 : Trade show featuring ceramic tile and stone flooring manufacturers from around the world.

The exhibitor we picked up was Flow International: Website: Flow International Corporation is the world leader in the development and manufacture of ultra high-pressure (UHP) waterjet technology, and a leading provider of robotics and assembly equipment.

Flow's roots date back to the early 1970s, the first technology commercialized by that company was the use of an ultrahigh-pressure waterjet as an industrial cutting tool. Flow later invented, patented, and perfected the world's first abrasive waterjet system to cut hard materials up to 12 inches thick.
Trivia: Mobile waterjets had their brush with fame, when in 1987 a system from Flow was used to extract "Baby Jessica," from the abandoned well she fell into as a toddler. The waterjet system was used to dig a parallel shaft and then break through the wall of well.

The shipment was a large tank and machine with product and exhibit material. We tarped the whole shipment. After loading, we stopped back at the house for showers because it was a hot, sweaty day and we were dirty from handling the tarps.

On the way north we had an hour visit with our ex-Bekins, now Mayflower truck driver friend, Jack Schnorr at a truckstop in Georgia. He is selling his truck and retiring in June.

The Flow International shipment delivered on Monday morning in Connecticut to a moving company where it will be stored for another tradeshow at the end of May. We didn’t get unloaded until noon because it was a new warehouse and the bitumen had been put down the day before and they really didn’t want trucks on it yet... Jim was very careful and didn’t tear it up. There were several cuts in the tarps from sharp edges on the tank. We cover sharp edges with rugs or carpet, but it rubbed through the carpet and then the tarp! I had patching to do.

We ended up deadheading 350 kms to south New Jersey, and loaded in Bridgeport Tuesday morning at Godwin Pump.

From their website: Godwin Pumps specializes in Dri-Prime® fully automatic self-priming pumps for sales and rentals. Electric and hydraulic submersible pumps also are manufactured and rented. Godwin Pumps supplies a full range of diesel and electric Fire Pumps. Godwin also manufactures, rents and sells portable light towers with 4 -1000-watt metal halide lights, covering 5 to 7 acres, and portable generators from 20 kW to 350kW.

There were four deliveries and three pick ups for this shipment all at other Godwin Pump locations. That afternoon we delivered a few things to Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and loaded a few things. Delivered the next morning in Wilmington, North Carolina - and reloaded more. Jim discovered a flat tyre on the truck drive axle while we were delivering. We tried for an hour to fill it using the truck compressor, but couldn‘t get it to reseat on the rim, so had to find a tyre shop. They filled it and could not find any puncture. We had a six hour drive to make the next delivery north of Atlanta, Georgia and planned to get it off that afternoon.

In South Carolina, east of Augusta a drive tyre blew out at highway speed. (A different tyre.) Peeled the tread completely off and took out the mudflap and hanger! Had to drive slowly to the first truckstop and phone around for a replacement and fitting. We spent four hours in Augusta replacing and fitting the tyre. The evening before the truck was serviced and tyre pressures checked at a lube shop. Jim usually checks himself, but the truck lube place had a special for Landstar drivers - free tyre check with oil change. Will never know for sure why the tyres went flat - maybe the valves were damaged, but it was an expensive day! (Jim will be checking tyres himself from now on!)

Delivered to Godwin Pump in Kennesaw, Georgia early Thursday morning then boogied to Jacksonville, Florida and got the last pieces delivered, then to the house about 5.30pm.

Jim went to Orlando the next morning Friday, 7 May and loaded part of an asphalt conveyor. It was not needed urgently, so we spent Saturday at the house. Jim went fishing on the pier Friday afternoon. Worked on the truck Saturday - he bought a new pair of mudflap hangers and mudflaps.

We left Daytona Beach early Sunday morning and took two days to deliver in Belleville, Ontario on Tuesday morning to a new asphalt plant. The weather had changed - huge temperature drops, even some snow in Buffalo that weekend! We spent Monday night at Thousand Islands, New York near the Canadian border and there was a big frost the next morning!

There were loads around the area, but we found one in Buffalo for the next morning so deadheaded 300km. Visited Jim’s mother, sister and family and spent time with Joe and Michele and kids - a quick visit. It was windy, raining and cold.

Wednesday morning we loaded 56 empty baskets at the Buffalo Ford Plant and delivered the next day to the Ford Plant in Highland Park (Detroit area), Michigan. Car parts are moved between factories on racks or in baskets.

En route we stopped at a rest area and Jim checked the load and straps. A car traveller walked over to the truck section and asked Jim if he hauled kangaroos in the cages? (serious!) Jim said “no”, but was a bit confused by the question (one he has not encountered before!???)
The kangaroos on the sides of the truck cab and the empty ‘cages’, it was an obvious and logical question (if you don‘t think about it too long...)

Delivered the ‘kangaroo cages’ the next morning to the Ford Motor Plant in Highland Park, Michigan.

Wikepedia: The Highland Park Ford Plant became a National Historic Landmark in 1978. It was a production plant for Ford Motor Company and was opened in 1910. The complex included offices, factories, a power plant and a foundry. Because of its spacious design, it set the precedent for many factories and production plants built thereafter. In 1913, the Highland Park Ford Plant became the first automobile production facility in the world to implement the assembly line. In the late 1920s Ford moved automobile assembly to Dearborn, Michigan.

About 15 kms away we loaded and tarped some steel rods. A quick 900 kms to Hopkinsville, Kentucky and delivered bundles of steel late that night.

Only 100kms to Calvert City, Kentucky to load plastic pipe the next morning. We were required to tarp the front and back of the pipe. A smoke tarp is needed on the front of the load to keep the exhaust soot out of the pipe, but because there was a 70cm overhang at the rear, we had to tarp the back as required by the shipper, but it was an unusual request. At 110kms a rear tarp fills with air - lots of straps, bungys and rope were required to keep it on for 1500 kms!

The pipe was destined for Bradenton, Florida, but we had a wedding to go to!! We set our loads up so we could attend, though had to leave it until the last minute to RSVP. On Saturday, 15 May we took a little detour with the whole rig into Milledgeville, Georgia. The motel had truck parking out the back, so it worked out perfect.

The bride is the elder daughter of our friends Gary and Diane Barber from Atlanta, Georgia. (Gary and Diane came to our wedding in Wandoan, Queensland in 1992.) 300 guests witnessed Michelle and Russell’s marriage in Freedom Church, the reception was in the adjoining gymnasium - beautifully decorated. We had met many of Gary and Diane’s extended family over the years and it was wonderful seeing everyone again. The wedding and reception was beautiful - great hospitality and we thoroughly enjoyed the people, food, music (awesome band!) and fun. We had not met the groom, Russell before, he and his family were welcoming and embracing.
After the wedding Fran, Charlie and their daughter Tara (from Brooklyn, NY and close friends of Gary & Diane‘s), Gary and Diane, Jim and I went to the Mexican Restaurant near the motel for drinks and eats and enjoyed good camaraderie and unwind a bit for Gary and Diane.

The next morning the seven above and the bride and groom met for breakfast at I.H.O.P (International House Of Pancakes). We felt honoured that they could spend the time with us. It was a very special weekend with special people.

Jim and I were in the truck and rolling at noon on Sunday. Still had 740kms to go. Delivered at a street construction project in Bradenton, Florida on Monday morning. Then 200 kms north to Ocala and loaded a man-lift and three scissor lifts at Sunbelt Rentals. Delivered in Carlstadt, New Jersey on Wednesday, 19 May. Then loaded a steel coil north of Philadelphia that afternoon. Delivered that to a company that makes car parts for Chrysler in Ridgetown, Ontario.

We tool a slow trip towards the border because Joe was driving toward us, we met him about 20kms into Ontario at a truckstop and we had dinner and a quick catch up.

Loaded at Michigan Seamless Tube just west of Detroit on Friday morning. We delivered the load to a freight forwarder in Houston, Texas but the shipment of steel was destined for the United Kingdom. Odd because the closer ports are on the east coast ?? Monday afternoon we loaded at Siemens Wind Energy near Houston and drove back the same highways via Detroit to Cottam, Ontario.

We delivered to an area where a windmill farm is being constructed near the north shore of Lake Erie. We had an ‘elephant foot‘, part of the base of the windmill. The concrete had been poured and the crane was being pieced together. We saw about ten new windmill sites on the road we were on.

The covered area behind the cars is where the windmill will be planted.

The Memorial Day holiday on Monday 31 May, and we found a load for Florida. Thursday we loaded and tarped storage shed kits on skids for delivery after the long weekend, so we will spend the three day weekend in Daytona Beach.

We were on the road for month (approx. 12,000 miles / 19,000 kms) and did not take the motorbike off the truck... We will have to do something to fix that in June!

Vol 14 No 2 April 28, 2010

Even though we had a week “off” at the house - that really means just “off” the truck. Jim spent three days under the truck, replacing the exhaust, and every time he touched or moved any part, other parts cracked and would then require replacing as well. He installed a Pittsburgh Power exhaust which is flow through (less baffles) and increases fuel economy. Makes the truck louder, especially the jake brake.

I stay busy working through the housework. We are at the house infrequently and usually for only a day or two at a time, once I get through the mail and business, the house work is always waiting.

Saturday morning we met Ron and Regina at Little Drug in New Smyrna Beach for breakfast, then rode south to Titusville for a wander through the big flea market there. On the way back we stopped at the bar where we usually watch the shuttle launches, the vehicle assembly building and launch pad are across the bay.

Stopped at the Last Resort Bar - home of ice cold beer and killer women - where the USA‘s first female serial killer used to hang out. Aileen Wuornos’s killing spree ended with her arrest on 9 January, 1991 in the Last Resort (She was played by Charlize Theron in movie “Monster” 2003.)

Sunday afternoon we went to Bob and Wendy Stanton’s for Easter eating and fun. Their parties and gatherings include a large group and we have met most before. We had a wonderful afternoon/evening with them all. I always enjoy watching the ‘kids’ dye the hard boiled eggs.
This is Bob and Wendy's daughter, Megan and her son Maddox with the egg dye.

Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy space Centre on Monday, 5 April at 6.21am. We were up early getting ready to leave. I walked out of the house to the middle of street and it was an easily visible glowing streak across the early morning sky. Amazing that I could hear the hum of its rockets from so far away.
It is delivering spare parts, supplies and science experiments to the International Space Station laboratories.
A thirteen day mission and It’s crew of seven included four women - that is a first!

After this mission, only three more shuttle launches remain before the space shuttle fleet is retired, even though we have seen many launches and landings - it will be sad knowing it may not happen again. As well has the huge impact of 32,000 people in the Cape Canaveral area who are directly or indirectly connected to the space program - they will lose their jobs!!

We loaded at the ports at Blount Island near Jacksonville - three military vehicles and delivered them the next morning in Fort Eustis, Virginia.
Wikepedia: Fort Eustis is the home to the Army Transportation Corps. The U.S. Army Transportation Museum is located on the grounds. A museum of Army vehicles and other transportation related equipment and memorabilia.

Easy delivery, just drive them off via a loading dock, then 10 kms to the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown. A large facility that provides weapons and ammunition storage and loading facility for ships of the US Atlantic Fleet.

We picked up a cargo trailer and two generator/lighting trailers. Then 1600 kms to Gulfport, Mississippi to deliver at a Naval Base on Thursday morning. 120 kms to Mobile, Alabama and loaded and tarped drums of silico aluminate.
A quick 1500 kms to Chesterton, Indiana and delivered early Friday afternoon.

The next morning we loaded in Chicago, Illinois. Another plant closing and moving to Tennessee. Took a long time to load all the bits and pieces, and we had to tarp it. We had planned to get to Nashville in time to go out Saturday night but didn’t get there until 11pm.

Had some stuff to do Sunday morning around the truck, then at noon we walked from the truckstop over the Cumberland River bridge to downtown Nashville “The District“ of restaurants, bars and honky tonks.

Ate lunch at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and listened to a band. Nice atmosphere and the band was good. Tootsies is one of Nashville’s most famous bars since 1960. Many artists got their start at Tootsie’s. There is never a cover charge at Nashville bars, the bands play for tips only. Almost every bar has a live band, just wander past the door and decide if you want to go in and listen for a while.

Revisited the Big River Grille and Brewery and ordered the sampler of their beers (again). Then we chose the one we liked best. (We had dinner there on the trip with Dave and Linda last October.)

We walked around the District and to the waterfront along the River. Spent an hour at the Charlie Daniels Museum on Second Avenue.
Internet: Welcome into a walk through the life of one of the most down home, patriotic men in country music today. He's played everything from rock to jazz, folk to western swing and honky-tonk to award winning gospel songs. The Charlie Daniels museum is jam packed with memorabilia including thousands of photographs, guitars, tour merchandise, awards and all sorts of other memorable pieces of Charlie Daniels history.

On display is Charlie’s golden fiddle, the 911 commemorative guitar, his CMA, ACM, Living Legend, Dove and Grammy Awards, and gold and platinum records. Lots and lots or memorabilia.
Wikipedia: Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels (born on October 28, 1936, is a musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is known primarily for his number one country hit “The Devil Went Down To Georgia“, and multiple other songs he has performed and written. Daniels has been active as a singer since the early 1950s. He still tours and fills venues at 73 years old.

Being a Sunday afternoon many of the bars and restaurants were closed, but Broadway was starting to pick up pace.

Well, we had walked past Roberts Western World several times - now it was time to go in. Roberts Western World - Home of Traditional Country Music.

A band we had not heard before was playing: the Spaghetti Westerneers - five men and one young lady. As expected these were world class musicians and entertainers, performing a mix of old and really old country songs. Faron Young, Gene Autry, Slim Whitman, Marty Robbins, a little Elvis. (Thank you to my parents and grandparents for exposing me to their music - I could sing along with many tunes. Especially Marty Robbins!) Though, I left he yodeling to the very talented young lady performing!

Three fiddle players at once - then a visiting fiddler from Ireland did an impressive four fiddle rendition of Orange Blossom Special, very memorable.
(In the photo - it is still daylight!)

The old songs are ’stayers’ - been recorded many times over the years:
On 5 March 2009 broadcast, Chris Isaak and Stevie Nicks duetted on "Red River Valley"; Nicks recalled it was one of the first songs she'd ever sung, harmonizing with her grandfather when she was a child.

Trivia: The United States Postal Service recently unveiled the 2010 postage stamps and Gene Autry will receive a stamp as part of the "Cowboys of the Silver Screen" commemorative set. The four stamp set will feature cowboy movie stars William S. Hart, Tom Mix, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. The stamps will be sold at U.S. Post Offices and outlets beginning Saturday, April 17th.

Had 70 kms south to deliver Monday morning in Columbia, Tennessee. A beautiful town on the Duck River.
Wikipedia: In 2009, Hannah Montana, the Movie was filmed in downtown Columbia, at Maury County Airport, and a local dairy farm.
The town is the self-proclaimed "Mule capital of the world" and honours this fact with Mule Day, a large celebration held annually every April. A celebration of all things related to mules. It began in 1840 as "Breeder's Day", a meeting for mule breeders, it now attracts over 200,000 people and takes place over four days.
(I wanted to attend Mule Day, it was on over the weekend, but the main day was Saturday and we were still enroute.)

The machinery delivered OK, then we went 100 kms south to Decatur, Alabama and loaded a boom part to a big crane.

Delivered that to Middletown, Connecticut on Wednesday 14 April.

Drove down to Randolph, New Jersey and loaded at a warehoused which stores overseas freight. Loaded three crated machines, they were big, so we had to use the big tarps to cover them completely.

An easy run down to North Carolina. An appointment had already been made for riggers required for delivery - and we ended up with twice as much time that we needed to run the trip. Delivered at 8am on the Friday morning.


100kms back to Charlotte and loaded a tri-lifter (a huge, heavy duty forklift thingy). I had to research - the mobile tri lifter works like a gantry, forklift and crane to provide the ultimate in flexible, cost-effective rigging. Specifically designed to move heavy loads in confined spaces.

We loaded at a rigging company and a crew from there was leaving on the weekend to take delivery of it in Frackville, Pennsylvania on Monday.

Another easy run over the weekend, it only went 900kms. The weekend was cold, windy and not at all pleasant.

We bobtailed to a mall on Saturday afternoon to get some groceries, then to Frackville Sunday morning. Parked at our delivery and walked up and down the main street - it had steep hills. There were only two restaurants open, so we stopped for pizza and beer at an Italian restaurant. There wasn’t a TV signal either, so we watched DVD’s.

Delivered Monday morning at St Jude Polymer in Frackville. St Jude Polymer is a plastics recycling plant that closed this plant in January because sale of the plastic strapping made from recycled plastic drink bottles has declined and no longer profitable. 41 people out of a job. The rigging company was hired to move the plant equipment out.

Had the tri lifter off by 6.30am, then 300 kms to load in Alum Bank. The shipping company was Creative Pultrusions - we didn’t know what a ‘pultrusion’ was: Pultrusion, is the pulling of material, such as fiberglass and resin, through a shaped die. The product looked like channel steel, but was actually fibreglass. This was a ’hot’ load - needed ASAP. It was only one crate, and weighed one tonne (2100 lbs).

It was a quick, no time to waste trip south. 1900kms, delivered Wednesday morning in Lafayette, Louisiana. Then 2 kms away reloaded nine metal drums of hazmat. 1500 kms north and delivered them the next day near Chicago, Illinois at the Lemont Citgo Refinery.

Had two loads set up for after that and both changed, so we didn’t take them. The next morning we loaded in Fishers, Indiana (north of Indianapolis) a large diesel air compressor on a trailer.

Delivered that 1500kms south Saturday morning in Jacksonville, Florida.
Got to Daytona Beach mid-afternoon. We had a busy few weeks, time for a break from the truck!

We caught up with Lis and Harvey and friends at Brian’s Barbeque in Deland for nickel beer night on Monday. Jim took the trailer to Orlando to get a broken rail welded. We need to replace the winch on the truck that is required to load the motorbike. We want to take it with us for the next trip.

Lots of stuff needs doing - we just work through the list! Weather is warm, storms last Sunday night - fine forecast all week for Daytona Beach.

(New! M&M’s with coconut centres!!! Yum.)

Vol 14 No 1 March 30, 2010

Back in the USA after three and a half months and summer in Australia, we arrived at Orlando airport in Florida at 12.10am on 26 February, I had checked what the weather would be like and it was about 4 degrees C. Ron Hewitt picked us up and he had jackets for us!

There were already people at our house for Bike Week: Jimmy, Joe, Michele, Art and Frank. The weather was cold, but the weekend was sunny.

Sunday afternoon Tim and Helena held a Moto Guzzi Bike Week Welcome party at their house in New Smyrna Beach. About 30 motorcycles there - lots of people from up north. Tim and Helena put on great food and it was a fun time. We left just on dark as it was getting much cooler.

Had a group photo of the Guzzi Floozies in attendance: L to R at rear: Michele, Helena, Jan. Front: Mary Lyn, Cindy, Lesley and Penny. The ladies who ride their own or are passengers on a moto guzzi! (Thanks to Frank for taking the photo and Penny for sending it to me!)

A group of guzzi friends wandered around the tents and exhibits on Beach Street, weather was not good. Cold and rainy, then the five guzzi's parked outside The Helmet Shop in Daytona Beach and created some interest - the MOST moto guzzi's they had seen in one spot??? Frank and Penny, Art, Joe and Michele, Jimmy and Jim and I.

Had the annual guzzi gathering at the Pantheon Pizza on the Monday night. Lots of friends and fun!

Jim and the others went to the AMA Flat Track Races Wednesday night, but the forecast was for near freezing temperatures, so I chose to stay at the house. Good decision - everyone froze at the racetrack!

By Thursday our visitors had departed (except Jimmy who has been living at our house since November and may be there for awhile yet - a casualty of the economic downturn).

Jim and I had business to get done - Federal income taxes were due and also Jim had to re-qualify with Landstar. Another physical and drug test, more paperwork to be sent in, we had done the majority of paperwork at the beginning of February while in Australia which sped things up considerably this year. The truck and trailer had to be inspected. Jim spent Thursday 4 March in Jacksonville for Landstar orientation, got new log books, manuals, door signs, etc.

The last weekend of Bike Week was much nicer weather. Chris and Judi Collins, Moto Guzzi friends from Wisconsin were around and we went to the Cycle Show at the Convention Centre. I spent some time with our neighbour, Diane.

We were ready to go back to work, and loaded Monday, 8 March in Davenport, Florida about 1 1/2 hours from Daytona at a heavy machinery auction, Ritchie Bros. We loaded a Ford F250 vehicle, a hydraulic hammer and a coupler. Then drove 1000 kms over to Lawrence, Mississippi for an excavator. The whole shipment was going to the same company in Ontario, Canada.

We got to the second stop in Lawrence, Mississippi at 10am the next day and it had been raining heavily for hours. We were taken to a forestry and to a CAT 314 C excavator, a small one. A soil loading ramp had been made the day before and the excavator was sitting on top of it. Because the soil was not compacted and with lots of rain, the excavator had already sunk in 20cm. We had intended taking the Ford F250 off, then loading the excavator in front of it (for weight distribution), but the state of the ‘loading dock’ would not allow us to attempt that! Also, it had a blade that made it 10 cms overwidth. No phone signal at the forestry, so we were taken back to the owners home to make all the phone calls because the cost of permits had to be approved. The shipper was nice, his wife made us hamburgers for lunch.

The excavator was temporarily loaded on the tail of the trailer at the forestry. Because the area in front of the ‘loading dock’ was on a slant, the whole rig was bogged there, just sat and spun in the red Mississippi mud. Luckily, there was other equipment there and we were towed out by a bulldozer. The loading proper was done on the side of the road - at least on solid ground. The shipper had a set of small ramps and the F250’s front wheels went up on the deck so the excavator could be put more towards the centre of the trailer with the bucket on the rear with about 60cm overhang . Took seven hours from when we arrived until we were ready to leave the shippers. The rain only let up for a little while, then more thunder and lightning and downpours.

Luckily there was a truckstop at the exit on the Interstate Highway, so we spent the night there. With an oversize load we had to wait for permits and also not allowed to travel between sunset and sunrise. The first few state’s permits were faxed to us that night, so we started at sunrise the next morning (after putting the flags and signs on the front, rear and sides). We didn’t put the oversize requirements on prior to this because legally we should not have moved from the forestry with out permits. This was impossible as we had no fax machine or internet access there. Barely a phone signal. (It was a frustrating day!)

Because of the daylight only driving restrictions, we try not to stop during the day as it is better to get as far as we can before sunset, when we have to stop. Arrived at the Canadian border at 5pm on Thursday afternoon and the customs broker had not completed the paperwork (an important document had been misplaced). We were there until 9.30pm waiting to be cleared, then it was dark and we could not drive any further, so spent the night in the parking lot.

It was an interesting delivery - there was NO loading dock to get the excavator and F250 off. There was a big pile of dirt! The consignee used a front end loader and deposited heaps of dirt at the back of the trailer. Then got in the excavator on the trailer and used the bucket to pack the dirt and bring it up higher than the trailer. Then just drove it off. No worries! The F250 unloaded the same way. Jim pulled the truck forward and he scooped all the dirt and put it back on the big pile.

We had already lined up to load in Buffalo on Monday morning, so had the weekend at Joe and Michele’s. The RV survived the winter - it had up to a metre of snow on it a few times over the winter. Always worry the weight might be too much. Jim had to shovel snow from previous falls so we could get in the door on Friday afternoon.

Wet and windy all weekend, with about 10 cms of fresh snowfall on Sunday morning. Visited a few people, and ate at a couple of our favourite places.

Sunday morning was the Western New York Moto Guzzi breakfast, the second Sunday of each month, so we all attended and met with other guzzi friends in the area. (We did NOT go to the restaurant on motorbikes!)

Loaded used machinery on Monday morning in Buffalo and delivered it the next day in Detroit, Michigan. Reloaded rolled roofing and adhesive (hazmat) in Toledo that afternoon. Delivered near Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday morning. A quick trip over to Schenectady, New York (300kms) and loaded two large steel casings. These went to Bay City, Michigan.

Trivia: So, who remembers the Bay City Rollers???? (I am guilty of having a poster of them on my wall in the early 1970’s.)
Wikipedia: The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish rock band of the 1970s. Their youthful, clean-cut image, distinctive styling featuring tartan-trimmed outfits, and cheery, sing-along pop hits helped the group become among the most popular musical acts of their time. For a relatively brief but fervent period (nicknamed "Rollermania"), they were worldwide teen idols.
The group was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1966 as “The Saxons“. Shortly afterwards, seeking a less English-sounding moniker, they chose a new name allegedly by throwing a dart at a map of the United States. The dart landed on the map in the state of Arkansas, but since "Arkansas Rollers" did not sound quite right, and might also lead to problems with pronunciation, they tried again and this time the dart landed near the community of Bay City, Michigan.

Bay City, Michigan is a lovely town though we didn’t see much - drove through the city, delivered then back out. Loaded 120kms away in Remus, Michigan. Three tree munchers - poke trees in one end, blades munch it up and chips come out the other end. Delivered one the next morning (Saturday) south of Pittsburgh, PA.

We had Sunday off in Harrisburg, PA at the truckstop. Caught up on laundry and maintenance on the truck and trailer. There was still Mississippi mud to clean up. Weather was a beautiful Spring day - warm and sunny.

Raining the next morning and we delivered one tree muncher in Harrisburg and the last one in Marlton, New Jersey near Philadelphia. Reloaded that afternoon in Philadelphia - two Ford F250 pick up trucks. Delivered them near Detroit the next morning and loaded shelving in Detroit late morning. Martin Sprocket and Gear closing a plant near the Ford Factory and relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. We had large, steel shelving racks and the wood shelves that had to be tarped. Detroit is fast becoming a ‘has been‘ city. We drove through the inner city last week at 9am and it certainly didn’t look like peak hour traffic - more like Sunday morning and whole neighbourhoods of vacant, boarded up, or burned out homes from what we could see from the highway.

Delivered the shelving in Nashville the next morning (Wednesday) and went a bit south of Nashville and loaded two jumbo steel beams going to Marion, Indiana (between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne) to the GM plant.

A busy three days - didn’t have much time to spare for anything. After the rain the weather was clear and warmer.

We arrived at our next pick up Thursday morning, but it wasn’t until 3pm before the shipment was ready to be loaded in Michigan City, Indiana - six Sullair generators going to Miami, Florida. The large generators on their own trailers.

Another winter storm was coming across and we experienced heavy rain, freezing rain, high winds and below freezing temperatures again! We hope that will be the last of winter we experience for this year!

Friday afternoon we stopped in Louisville, Kentucky for the Mid-America Truck Show.

The 39th Annual Mid-America Trucking Show encompasses more than 1,000,000 square feet of indoor exhibits and more than 200,000 square feet of outdoor exhibits. Showcasing the most innovative products and services the industry has to offer. The latest innovations in trucks, trailers, and equipment; advanced product services and a wide array of cutting-edge trucking technology. The largest annual event in trucking.

The event goes for three days, and it would take three days to cover the area. We spent five hours there and covered as much as we could - Jim had an agenda, so we made a beeline for certain exhibits. (There are more than 10,000 exhibitors.) We haven’t been to this show for several years. Stopped by the Bekins Van Lines recruiting and visited with our friend, Steve Yacko whom we knew from our tradeshow days with Bekins.
I forgot to take my camera in, but took a couple of photos with the phone camera.

We headed south to Daytona Beach and arrived there Saturday evening. Weather is much warmer anyway.

Jim went to Miami on Monday 29 March to deliver the Sullair to a freight forwarders - they are bound for Peru.

We will be working around the house and truck for a few days. Had a profitable three weeks on the road, so that is great!