That was a HECK of a start!

 Well, we got on the road... hope that doesn't spoil anything for you!  It took us until Wednesday, June 22nd, to get everything together and loaded in the truck. We went to Bellefontaine to fuel up, fill up water tanks and get our weight. From there we went to Detroit and on to Montgomery,  AL. 

We were almost delivered, when Panther called wanting us to deadhead (drive empty) to Dallas and deliver in California. So here we are in Arizona, hoping Gem & Stray can learn how to cat in a giant litter box! 

Since we made it to the weekend and had a few days until we deliver, we stayed over at a Love's truck stop so we had parking, access to bathroom and showers, and plenty of time to organize our stuff. We are also able to top off all the tanks, before we head out. 

We are a little spoiled by all the accommodations in the truck. We can eat or drink what we have with us, watch movies, play games and chill with the dogs. We are also able to get whatever snacks strike our fancy from Love's. It's going to be a challenge to avoid gluttony. 

On the positive side, Nick & I have probably talked as much in the last week as we did in the entire last year he worked at Abrasive. We drove I-20 from Monroe, LA to Marshall, TX in the middle of the night, and being back on familiar territory, seeing all the familiar names and roads and towns, brought back a LOT of memories and thoughts of people we used to know. 

This brings us back to Monday, a week after we got the truck. First delivery done, the second followed right behind it. We got almost all the way north and south, then almost all the way east and west. Not a bad week. Not too bad at all. 

We're excited, but REALLY nervous!

 It's Sunday night, the day before move-in day, and we aren't completely sure we have everything we need for the truck, but we think we can wing it with what we have.....I hope. 

With the Spotted Dogs, Stray & Gem, being 80 & 40 pounds respectively, this old couple ordered a set of steps from www.PetLoader.com to get them in to & out of the truck. We went last Monday (6/13/22) to see if the steps would fit in the doorway of the truck, and if there was a good spot to keep them stored while driving. We were expecting a "same as" truck, but our truck was there so we got to see it. Beau even got to sit in it. I think we got his seal of approval. 

My main concern when driving long distances, for work or personal trips, is being stuck somewhere with no bathroom. The bigger, better trucks have more kitchen facilities and some even have a full bathroom with toilet AND shower. As we are brand, stinking new, we don't have a bathroom, so we got on Amazon and got us a Porta-Potti. I'm ready for ALMOST anything now! 

We are organizing everything we've been told we need, plus everything the dogs need, plus things we THINK we might need or will at least appreciate having on hand. Stuff for a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, office, living room AND the truck! The fleet owner is providing everything we have to have in the truck to do deliveries, so we don't have to stress over that, thank goodness! 

I'm hoping once we can start putting this stuff INTO the truck I won't be so worried about setting something down, putting something else on top of it, and then losing it FOREVER...

TOMORROW: we get the keys of a 2019 Freightliner

TUESDAY, June 21st: we will go

The school year is over....

 

....and I must move on. We cleaned out our busses, turned in our keys, and sent in our resignations. It is officially over, we aren't backing out now. It was so hard watching our boss stress over getting new drivers, so when she got more good applicants than she needed, I was happy for her. The fact that I had to watch everyone else get ready for summer school and next school year, and I couldn't jump in and volunteer to drive MY bus and haul MY kids was an expected twinge, but that didn't make it feel any better. I tried to let all of my kids know I wouldn't be back next year, and gave their parents the web address to this blog if they wanted it, but that still won't replace seeing them everyday, and being an integral part of their school day. I am so excited to be able to go and see and experience what comes with my absolute favorite person in the world, but I will miss my friends from Bus 37.   K