I've Been Everywhere, Man...

"I've been everywhere man, I've been everywhere..." (everybody sing!)

Ginnie training:

Joplin, MO to Springville, CO
Springville, CO to Boise, ID
Boise, ID to Rock Springs, WY
Rock Springs, WY to Denver, CO
Denver, CO to Kansas City, KS
Kansas City, KS to Joplin, MO
Joplin, MO to Siloam Springs, AR
Siloam Springs, AR to Waverly, NE
Waverly, NE to Williston, ND
Williston, ND to Plentywood, MT
Plentywood, MT to Sterling, CO
Sterling, CO to Mineola, TX
Mineola, TX to Mount Vernon, TX
Mount Vernon, TX to Port Arthur, TX
Port Arthur, TX to Laredo, TX
Laredo, TX to Joplin, MO (DONE!!)

Mark training:

Joplin, MO to Ardmore, OK
Ardmore, OK to Oklahoma, OK
Oklahoma, OK to Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, TX to Laredo, TX
Laredo, TX to Plano, TX
Plano, TX to Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX to Lancaster, TX
Lancaster, TX to Grapevine, TX
Grapevine, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, TX to Centralia, WA
Centralia, WA to Chehalis, WA
Chehalis, WA to Fife, WA
Fife, WA to Jackson, WI
Jackson, WI to Cornell, WI
Cornell, WI to Taylor, MI
Taylor, MI to Burlington, IA
Burlington, IA to Lawrence, KS
Lawrence KS to Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO to Keokuk, IA
Keokuk, IA to Elk Grove Village, IL
Elk Grove Village, IL to Eagle Pass, TX
Eagle Pass, TX to Lancaster, TX
Lancaster, TX to Lewisville, TX
Lewisville, TX to Vinita, OK
Vinita, OK to Springfield, MO
Springfield, MO to Joplin, MO (DONE!!)

Now we are in Lancaster, TX waiting to move into our own truck. Just as soon as it gets out of the detail shop...where it has been for two days...should be really clean...

Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn......

I think I've just about covered all those since Monday! Well, when I left off the other day we were on our way to Laredo to get a new truck.We arrived in Laredo around 7PM ready to get our new truck and get this show on the road. We found the truck, pulled the rental car up next to it, because we look like the Clampetts with all of our stuff piled into the backseat, ready to unpack and get settled into our new home. My finisher, Kevin, did a quick walkaround inspection and then climbed into the cab because we were gonna need some A/C while unpacking because it is screaming hot down here! Here's the keys, keys in ignition, turn key, next you would expect to hear the mighty rumble as the engine comes to life! Nope, nothing. Truck won't start! A mechanic tried jump starting the truck but to no avail so we were told to get a room. Three days in Fort Worth, then a rental car and 7 hours on the road just to find out the truck won't start. Now, we've been in a room since Friday night, with same rental car, because apparently no one can work on the truck until Monday. So I am highly anticipating what tomorrow might bring. I think my grand total of miles during all this is around 300 miles. A little behind the curve at this point. Need to get done so Ginnie and I can get moving.

Day 8

Day 8 of captivity...

Actually the folks here at the Holiday Inn have been terrific. They are evidently quite accustomed to stranded truck drivers hanging out for several days at a time either waiting on trainers, truck repairs and other miscellaneous reasons.

Good news! We met Mark's trainer yesterday afternoon at the terminal. He seems like a pretty great guy. They are hoping to head out sometime today to drop a load in Oklahoma. More to follow.

I still haven't been assigned a finisher, but I know it will be soon. I'm next on the list. Another class of students should be arriving here today and I know they'll want me out of here before assigning trainers to them.

In the meantime, we're getting Mark packed up in preparation!!

All together now..."On the road again...just can't wait to get on the road again..."