YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL FIND

Tuesday morning we dropped our loaded trailer full of dairy products at Inland Northwest Dairies in Spokane. We were then informed to bobtail back to the company yard to await further instructions. As we pulled into the yard, we flagged down the guys who wash the trucks, asked if we could be put on the list, and were told to park "over there" and they would get to us next. They were just about done when we received a dispatch to go 4 miles away, to Johanna Beverage Co., and pick up a loaded trailer of chilled juice headed to Food Services of America, in Kent, WA.

In no time at all, we were hooked up to the loaded trailer, fueling up and scaling the load at the company yard, and heading west. We didn't have to deliver this load until Wednesday morning at 0630, so Craig was nice enough to stop in Moses Lake for a Starbucks treat. With a caffeine induced high, we headed to the TA in North Bend.

You can see from the picture, due to us getting the truck washed, it started to rain. But as I have mentioned before, this TA is one of my favorite truck stops, not for the amenities, but for the location and the cool weather. It sits on the Snoqualmie Pass, and being one of the closest truck stops to the Seattle area, it is also one of the busiest. As we pulled in, we could tell it was packed and it was only 3pm! Around and around we went, and on our fourth circle, a truck with a prime spot pulled out, and we backed in, thankful to have a spot to stay for the night.

Arising early, we zigged and zagged our way through the improvised parking that truckers do in the middle of the night when desperate for a place to park a rig. We arrived at our destination right on time and waited for the trailer to be unloaded. After getting our paperwork, we pulled out and parked in the lot and waited to hear where we would head next. A few minutes later we knew and where headed south to Chehalis, WA to the Fred Meyer Distribution Center.

We stopped to get fuel in Tacoma, WA, and as I waited patiently in the cab, Craig comes up to my window and says "Come look at what I found on the trailer". I of course start thinking of dead rodents or something really gross, after all, don't all men like to freak out women that way? So I grab my camera, never one to miss a great photo opportunity, and cautiously walk back. I was thinking whatever it was he wanted me to see was in the trailer, but it was actually right behind the cab of the truck. I looked and saw the remains of a very large nest. Craig said he was opening the door to the reefer engine to check the oil, and couldn't believe what he saw. Up tucked into an opening was this bird's nest. Now one has to wonder just how long it had been there, and why so many drivers before Craig never noticed it. You just never know what you will find.

So, onto Chehalis, and if you remember that is where we found a very truck friendly Wal Mart, and since we didn't have to be at the Shipper until 1pm, we decided to do a little shopping. In under 45 minutes we had found what we needed to replenish our supplies and were on our way 5 miles down the road to Fred Meyer. Almost two hours later, we were once again loaded and headed to Yakima, WA. Since this entry has already gone on long enough, I'll tell you all about our beautiful drive into Yakima tomorrow.