Our trailer was finally ready around 10pm, and with barely 10,000 pounds of home decorating items on board, we took off towards Spokane. As I mentioned previously, Craig did manage to eek out about 5 hours of sleep during the day, and I was already feeling the burning in my eyes. But I need not have worried because the adrenalin rush I would be soon experiencing, would keep me wide awake for a good couple of hours.
We stopped in North Bend, WA for a dose of caffeine, where the temperature was 44 degrees and it was raining pretty good. We took off thinking, "well this isn't so bad", and by the time we got about 10 miles up into the pass, it started snowing. Then it really started snowing, and hard. It was coming down so hard and so fast, the roads were completely covered, and as we drove further up the incline, we began to see trucks starting to slow down and loose traction.
It was a bit like playing dodge ball as Craig carefully avoided trucks on all sides of us, as he kept our truck and trailer moving, knowing that if we came to a stop as well, we would never get moving again without help. The one time we could have really used a fully weighted trailer was now, and as the drive tries started slipping, and visibility got very limited, we inched our way up to the summit. There was no worries about being sleepy at that point, as all mental and physical pistons were on high alert.Reaching the summit, we knew we just had to make it back down off the pass and we would be okay. It continued snowing, and with the wind blowing it directly into our path, it was at times hard to see where the road was, but we finally made it as the snow turned into sleet and then quickly into rain. Big sigh of relief there, and a prayer of thanks as the next Mother Nature element we began to face was high wind gusts, but after what we just faced, even that didn't seem so bad.
We arrived at our first stop a couple of hours early, and took advantage of the down time waiting to get unloaded by taking a quick nap. It took longer than expected before we were finally on our way to our last drop. Doing a quick check of the time, we knew we had to be in and out quickly in order to get back to the yard before Craig's 14hr clock ran out.
There was another TWT driver already in the dock, so Craig took off to help with the unload in hopes that we would get into the dock quicker. It worked, and within an hour we were unloaded and had just 60 minutes left to drive the 40 miles back to the yard. Craig then dropped the empty trailer and drove the truck to the shop where they would finally check into the engine fault light, the APU issue, and do a service on the truck.
Since they would have the truck the remainder of the day and possibly into Friday, the company put us up in their contract hotel in Spokane. Oh boy were we ready to head there! With very little solid sleep under our belts the past 48 hours, and knowing the comfy beds that awaited us, we were more than happy to pack up and head downtown for some well deserved rest and sleep!
I'd like to also give a shout out to 
After researching everyone's response, I think Chris got it right. It seems to be rapeseed. Rapeseed is grown for the production of animal feed, vegetable oil for human consumption, and bio diesel. Thanks Chris for the info. I've often commented to Craig that it would further the education of a lot of people if farmers would just label their crops. I think that covers our agricultural lesson for the day.
Our delivery went smooth again at Del Monte in Portland, OR, with the usual sit around and wait for a few hours, and then getting a door and being unloaded within 15 minutes. There was another driver complaining about the wait, but as Craig loves to say...."we get paid for sitting around, so it doesn't bother us". That comment usually doesn't promote a full fledged bitch session when only one party is complaining, so the other driver went in search of someone else to talk to.
A short 45 minutes later and a bad sensor was replaced and we were headed to the ThermoKing about 15 miles away to have the APU looked at. Again, within an hour, and after having to take everything off the bottom bunk, including the mattress, the APU was fixed, or so we thought.
We made Friday an easy day by stopping for the evening in Buttonwillow, CA with thoughts of having a Starbucks fix in the morning, but when morning came, we decided to postpone that treat for a rest break in Santa Nella, CA and the Starbucks there. Four hours later we were in Corning, CA to fuel up and tackle the dirty laundry issue. Once again, we decided to make an easy day of it and parked there for the night.
We recently experienced a warning light having to do with the engine of the truck. A call has been made to road service and if all works out, we should be directed to a CAT service shop after we make our delivery in Portland tomorrow at 10am. To add insult to injury, our APU is acting up as well. We're hoping we might be able to take care of that as well.....but for now, we'll just sit back and enjoy a great Sunday drive through Oregon.
Ever since I've been back on the truck, I have refused to put on shoes. I have been more than happy to wear my flip flops everyday, rain or shine, and was adamant about refusing to wear shoes.......until this past Wednesday, when we were forced to live in snow for the better part of 30 hours. 
With a great Mexican lunch waiting about 200 yards away, I was finally forced to put on my shoes and trudge through 6 inch deep snow to my oasis down the street Dos Amigos. It wasn't as inspirational walking back to the truck, after all the victory was already mine with my tummy full, but cautiously I made my way back with a helping hand from Craig. 
We made a swap, our full trailer for an empty trailer, with one of our buddies in the parking lot of the new TA in Wheeler Ridge. He had the pleasure of trying to make the delivery of the frozen french fries as it began to rain and possible snow over the Grapevine. We found a great parking spot and retreated to our bunks for a bit of rest and relaxation after an all night driving stint.
We had been given our next assignment already, so we knew we had the rest of the day and night to kick back. Up this morning for a hot shower, and feeling quite refreshed, we headed to Port Hueneme for another load of pineapples, going right back to the Del Monte processing plant in Portland, Or for a Monday morning delivery. With driving hours back on the books again for Craig, it will be yet another great weekend of driving in store for us the next couple of days.
After scaling in the morning we were headed south by 10am and watching the skies darken and cloud up. By the time we hit LaPine, OR it had started raining and with our sights set on Weed, CA, we hit snow showers about 45 miles away. The snow stopped by the time we got there, and we snagged one of the last few legal parking spots, and crawled into bed.
When we awoke and looked out the window, it was a winter wonderland covered in white fluffy snow. Craig enjoyed my play by play of trucks trying to leave the parking lot and getting stuck as more trucks, not wanting to lose their momentum, all jockeyed for position. It was nice to know that since Craig was out of driving hours until midnight tonight, that we wouldn't have to try and make our way out of the mess as well.
As of now, we are still waiting to hear if there will be a swap on this load or not. We are thinking that with the weather conditions playing havoc on both Interstate 5 and Highway 97, they just may try and change our appointment day/time instead of finding someone to swap with. In either case, we have no worries today, other than to figure out what time we want to brave the elements and walk to the Dos Amigos restaurant for lunch.
Sunday morning, we took advantage of the free soda and coffee at the casino, and fortified with sufficient caffeine, we headed north again. I couldn't believe how high the water was at Shasta Lake. On previous trips through there, we have marveled at how low the water level was, and I know I have a picture of it somewhere on my blog, but just couldn't get up enough energy to go hunt it down for comparison. 
It was another great driving day on Sunday, and by 5pm we had made it to Aurora, OR where we have been ever since. Our delivery today isn't until 1pm, and although we thought about calling to see if we could get in earlier, we thought better of it in case there was a night load in our future after we go empty.
Craig checks in and gets the info on how the loading goes and grabs himself a seat at one of the picnic benches by the office with everyone else. After awhile, I notice that Craig is sitting by himself, and then see a guy in a truck pull up and talk to Craig. Seems it was the bewitching time for lunch and the loaders and office personnel made like cockroaches when the lights are turned on, and vanished from the area not to return until 1pm.
This time however, we totally bypassed LA and took Hwy 126 out of Ventura to get back to Interstate 5. Along the way, I enjoyed seeing the fields of flowers being harvested. As an added bonus going that route, we also bypassed the scales in Santa Clarita, not that we had anything to avoid, as we only had 40,000 pounds of pineapples and not anywhere near being overweight.
Hwy 126 was a nice departure from the hustle and bustle of how we normally get out of the LA area. It was almost like being in the Salinas Valley area, with the abundance of fields of produce and fruit, and the many little fruit stands erected along side the roadway every mile or two. Going through the City of Fillmore, I noticed a McDonald's which still had it's vintage McDonald's sign still proudly displayed. 
We arrived at Wheeler Ridge, CA thirty minutes before Craig's 14 hour clock would have expired. After putting together something for our dinner, we were both more than happy to lay back and relax, and before too long, I heard the sound of Craig fast asleep. I was more than happy to join him in peaceful slumber.
We called it a night in LaPine, OR and was up and driving by 6am this morning. The sky is blue and it looks like a great day for driving. Our plan is to get as close to Lebec, CA as we can to stage for our delivery in Oxnard, CA on Friday. Freight is still moving hot and heavy and after a great week off, we're ready to take on anything they can throw at us.
We did venture out one day, into town about 15 miles away, to pick up some supplies and have lunch. A stop at the hardware store had us crossing off one of our "to do" list items, by purchasing some address numbers to put on the house. Craig managed to put them up and get right back to his comfy chair without so much as breaking a sweat. Not much else is planned before heading back to the Company yard in Spokane on Wednesday, but unlike in our pre trucking days, when we would dread the thought of heading back to work, we are actually looking forward to it. Something to be said for loving what you do for a living.
We've had 50mph winds, rain, the aforementioned grauple, and below freezing temperatures, and we couldn't be happier. This time at home has been long overdue and Craig has been taking advantage of it by doing absolutely nothing. We made sure to have plenty of supplies on hand to keep us fortified in our inactivity, and have been thinking that maybe tomorrow, we just might venture down the road to the nearest city to get a change of scenery. Afterwards, I'm sure we'll be happy to come back home for yet a few more days of idleness.
All too soon Wednesday will roll around and we will be packing up the pickup, and loading up the big truck for a couple of months out on the road. At least this time, there will be no trainees, and Craig and I can go back to doing what we love best......enjoying each other's company, traveling the roads together, and now knowing first hand the difference between grauple and grappa.
I could just hear Gomer Pyle exclaiming......"Surprise, Surprise, Surprise", when I received the phone call from Craig Monday afternoon saying he would be starting his vacation about 4 days early. I had just settled in at my friend Cori's guest cottage, and we were already planning a week full of activities, when Craig's phone call put a halt to those plans. But no worries, we quickly went into Plan B mode and planned a couple of weeks together toward the end of May. I know Craig won't mind, as we plan on going to the Farm Chicks Antique Show in Spokane on June 5th, and I have it on good authority, that Craig would rather watch paint dry than go to that show.
Craig had dropped his load of bananas in Clackamas Monday morning, and was given a load out of Chehalis, WA for 9pm that evening. The load would have two drops, the first in Spokane, and the second in Coeur d'Alene, ID. He had casually asked if they were planning on him starting his vacation early since he would be in the area and was surprised to hear "yes", but I'm sure not as surprised as I was when he told me the news. Thankfully, I had gone and had my hair cut earlier in the morning, so I was set to head to the company yard when he could give me a time, and we could coordinate our arrivals. 
Tuesday morning, after a night of driving and completing his two deliveries, Craig called to say that he should be at the yard by 11am, and since I was a good two hours away, I quickly packed up and hit the road. By 1pm, we had loaded up the pickup and were headed home for the first time in over 4 months. It sure felt good, and it didn't take long for us to unload the pickup and sit back and relax. I don't know if we will venture out at all this week or not, I'll leave that up to Craig, but my money is on him itching to get out and about after a few days of relaxation at home.
One of the things about being in a big 18 wheeler, is the lack of access to some really great places to visit while on your travels. One such place is the Multnomah Falls just outside of Portland, OR on Interstate 84. I have tried to capture a bit of the falls as we drive past, but never with any success. Finally, on Sunday, I made it a goal to stop there on my drive into Walla Walla, WA. My only regret was that Craig was not there to see and experience it with me.
I don't think I could have picked a better time of year to take in the beauty of the falls. The color of green was every where, you could actually feel the mist from the water falling, and on top of that, with it being Easter Sunday, the normal crowds I see were almost non existent. 
My best friend Cori and her children kept commenting on how much the location reminded them of the movie Avatar. Not having seen the movie, I can only imagine how magical the scenery must have been after being immersed around the grounds of the Multnomah Falls and Lodge. If you have never been, I would urge you to find a way to stop, and if you're in an 18 wheeler, find a friend or rent a car to get you to this idyllic, magical place.
