Andy's Travels

Me

2009-07-19T18:12:00.000-06:00

For my great grandfather

2008-12-11T12:30:00.002-07:00

A little something for my GGrandfather who fell in the second Boer War.

Caledonia

2008-07-22T13:47:00.006-06:00

Trying something new.

2008-06-26T21:11:00.002-06:00

Taken this morning just west of St. Louis,Mo. I thought I was taking a picture of a weird cloud. I guess it was, only more so

2008-06-26T20:45:00.002-06:00

It was a nice unit, just beautiful inside. Nice big screen TV with a fireplace underneath. After this 1 I picked up a real small Tab trailer back to Goshen,In. From there I took another small trailer down to Poplar Bluff, Mo. after which I went to Branson, Mo. for some time with the family. I'm back on the road now with a horse trailer going to Eaton,Oh. for tomorrow morning. Then I'll head back to Goshen,In. and see what I can get.

Sunset South Dakota

2008-06-12T22:36:00.003-06:00

Sunset tonight in South Dakota. The pictures just don't do it justice. This is about 30 miles south of Sioux Falls, Sd. where I'll spend the night. I'm taking a 34' fifth wheel camper to Missoula,Mt.

2008-06-01T22:47:00.002-06:00

After dinner on the dock as we came back to the Excursion another one just like ours pulled in. Ours is the pretty one! The other pictures are from Marathon. We stayed there because it was the only one that allowed dogs and we don't go anywhere without the dog.

2008-06-01T22:27:00.002-06:00

Hemingway's House in Key West. The penny was embedded in the walk next to the pool. His wife put it there because he threw it at her and said "you might as well spend my last cent" because she had the pool put in. The room with the table is where he wrote when in Key West. The sunset is the sunset!

Sunset 2

2008-02-27T21:44:00.001-07:00

Cabbage is located above Pendleton,Or. A lot of brakes have been burned up on this hill. I caught this a bit late and with a camera phone. Not the best, but as a photographer I'm a pretty good driver.

Sunset

2008-02-27T16:48:00.001-07:00

Taken from the top of Cabbage Mt.

Flying J

2008-02-07T18:33:00.001-07:00

This is the flying J in Pearl, Ms. Out the window of course. I had dinner here this evening and it was edible. So, I've got that going for me. On to West Monroe,La. In the morning. I'll deliver there and then probably go home I should leave home on Sunday going to Key West to pick up a 50' boat. Should be a little different.

Phone

2008-02-07T18:15:00.001-07:00

Well, after all this time I figured out how to send pictures and text directly from my pda phone. So here I go.
These were taken in a café in Snowville, Ut. Around the end of October of '06. Now I can finally delete them.

test

2008-02-07T17:56:00.001-07:00

A river does run through it! Montana.

Ups and Downs

2007-06-03T19:37:00.000-06:00

So one day I'm in this nice big camper and the next day I'm in this other thing. Life has its ups and downs.I took the big one from Goshen,In to Burlington,Wa. Picked the little one up in Everett,Wa and will deliver it in the morning back in Goshen, In.

Last Flight

2007-03-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

Last Flight

February 17, 2007, 0350 curbside at 24th and M, Washington DC. 16 Degrees with a light breeze. Going home after my second week of freezing temps to my home in SoCal. Fly my aircraft, ride a horse, climb a mountain and get back to living. I’m tired of the cold.

0425 paying the taxi fare at Dulles in front of the United Airlines counter, still cold.

0450 engaging the self-serve ticker machine and it delivers my ticket, baggage tag and boarding pass. Hmmm, that Marine is all dressed up early…? Oh, maybe,,,Hmm, “Good Morning Captain, you’re looking sharp.”

Pass Security and to my gate for a quick decaf coffee and 5 hours sleep. A quick check of the flight status monitor and UA Flt 211 is on time, I’m up front, how bad can it be? Hmmm, that same Marine, he must be heading to Pendleton to see his lady at LAX for the long weekend all dressed up like that….? Or maybe not?

“Attention in the boarding area, we will begin boarding in 10 minutes, we have some additional duties to attend to this morning but we will have you out of here on time.”

That Captain now has five others with him, BINGO, I get it, he is not visiting his lady, he’s an official escort. How I remember doing that once, CACO duty. I still remember the names of the victim and family, The Bruno Family in Mojave…, all of them, wow, that was 24 years ago. I wonder if we will ever know who and why?

On board, 0600: “Good morning folks this is the Captain. This morning we have been attending to some additional duties and I apologize for being 10 minutes late for pushback but believe me we will be early to LAX. This morning it is my sad pleasure to announce that 1st LT Jared Landaker USMC will be flying with us to his Big Bear home in Southern California. Jared lost his life over the sky’s of Iraq earlier this month and today we have the honor of returning him home along with his Mother, Father, Brother and uncles. Please join me in making the journey comfortable for the Landaker family and their uniformed escort. Now sit back and enjoy our ride, we are not expecting any turbulence until we reach the Rocky Mountains and at that time we will do what we can to ensure a smooth ride. For those interested you can listen in to our progress on button 9.”

Up button 9: “Good morning UA 211 you are cleared to taxi, takeoff and cleared to LAX as filed.” From the time we started rolling we never stopped. 1st LT Landaker began receiving his due.

4 hours and 35 minutes later over Big Bear MT, the AB320 makes a left roll and steep bank and then one to the right…Nice touch CAPTAIN. Five minutes out from landing, the Captain, “Ladies and Gents after landing I’m leaving the fasten seatbelt sign on and I ask everyone in advance to yield to the Landaker family. Please remain seated until all members have departed the aircraft. Thank you for your patience, we are 20 minutes early.”

On roll out, I notice red lights, emergency vehicles everywhere. We are being escorted directly to our gate, no waiting anywhere, not even a pause. Out the left window, a dozen Marines in full dress blues. Highway Patrol, Police, Fire crews all in full dress with lights on. A true class act by everyone, down to a person from coast to coast. Way to go United Airlines for doing the little things RIGHT, because they are the big things; Air Traffic Control for getting the message, to all law enforcement for your display of brotherhood.

When the family departed the aircraft everyone sat silent, then I heard a lady say, “God Bless You and your Family, Thank You.” Then another, then another, then a somber round of applause. The Captain read a prepared note from Mrs. Landaker to the effect, “Thank you all for your patience and heartfelt concern for us and our son. We sincerely appreciate the sentiment. It is nice to have Jared home.”

After departing the a/c I found myself along with 30 others from our flight looking for a window. Not a dry eye in the craft. All of us were balling like babies. It was one of the most emotional moments of my life. We all stood silent and watched as Jared was taken by his honor guard to an awaiting hearse. Then the motorcade slowly made it’s way off the ramp.

I have finally seen the silent majority. It is deep within us all. Black, Brown, White, Yellow, Red, Purple, we are all children, parents, brothers, sisters, etc…we are an American family.

What you don’t know is that on the flight I was tapped on the shoulder by Mrs. Landaker who introduced herself to me after I awoke.

Early in our taxi out from the gate at Dulles, the gent next to me (a Fairfax City Council Member and acquaintance of the Thuot family) were talking to the flight attendant and mentioned that we had sons serving on active duty, “What do you say? How tragic, they must be devastated.” He said many of the passengers had told him the same thing so somewhere in the flight he shared his tidbits with Mrs. Landaker. Our flight attendant had been struggling with what to say, to find the right words, so he told the Landaker family of passengers who were parents of service members who connected with their grief as parents. After I gathered myself, I stepped back to their row, two behind me and introduced myself to Mr. Landaker (a Veteran of South East Asia as a Tanker) and Jared’s uncle and brother. What a somber moment. Their Marine Captain escort was a first rate class act. He had been Jared’s tactics instructor and volunteered for this assignment, as he said, “Sir, it is the least I could do, he was my friend and a great stick. He absolutely loved to fly, It’s an honor to be here on his last flight.”

1115: On my connecting flight, my mind raced. How lucky I was to have had an opportunity to fly my father to Spain and ride the carrier USS John F. Kennedy home in 1981. The same year Jared was born. How lucky I was to have my father on the crows landing when I made my final cat shot in an F-14. Jared’s father never had that chance. Jared was at war, 10,000 miles away.

When Mr. Landaker and I were talking he shared with me, “When Jared was born he had no soft spot on his head and Dr’s feared he would be developmentally challenged. He became a Physics Major with Honors, high school and college athlete, and graduated with distinction from naval aviation flight school! He was short in stature, but a Marine all the way.” Visit his life story on line at www.bigbeargrizzly.net. Bring tissue.

February 7, 2007, Anbar Province, Iraq. 1st LT Jared Landaker United States Marine Corps, Hero, from Big Bear California, gave his live in service to his country. Fatally wounded when his CH-46 helicopter was shot down by enemy fire, Jared and his crew all perished. His life was the ultimate sacrifice of a grateful military family and nation. His death occurred at the same time as Anna Nicole Smith, a drug using person with a 7th grade education of no pedigree who dominated our news for two weeks while Jared became a number on CNN. And most unfortunately, Jared’s death underscores a fact that we are a military at war, not a nation at war. Until we become a nation committed to winning the fight, and elect leaders with the spine to ask Americans to sacrifice in order to win, we shall remain committed to being a nation with a military at war, and nothing more. (And possibly no funding if congress has their way!)

1st LT Landaker, a man I came to know in the sky’s over America on 17 February 2007, from me to you, aviator to aviator, I am unbelievably humbled. It was my high honor to share your last flight. God bless you.

Semper Fi

We're still here.

2007-03-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

We are still here. Our government may have changed and the world certainly has, but here in the heart of America, we are the same. You certainly won't hear of us booing kids from another country or throwing garbage on the field when another countries athletes take the field. When you look for us forget what you want us to be and remember who we are. We are a nation of immigrants, some legal some not, but all equal and , so far, free. And read the next message carefully, this is us.

Got these in E-Mail.

2007-03-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

P-51 Story-THE MUSTANG
Old aviators and old airplanes never die. They just fly off into eternity.
This is a good little story about a vivid memory of a P-51 and its pilot by
a fellow who was 12 years old in Canada in 1967. You may know a few others
who would appreciate it.
It was noon on a Sunday as I recall, the day a Mustang P-51 was to take to
the air. They said it had flown in during the night from some US airport,
the pilot had been tired. I marveled at the size of the plane dwarfing the
Pipers and Canucks tied down by her. It was much larger than in the
movies.
She glistened in the sun like a bulwark of security from days gone by.
The pilot arrived by cab, paid the driver, and then stepped into the
flight lounge. He was an older man; his wavy hair was gray and tossed. Looked
like it might have been combed, say, around the turn of the century. His flight
jacket was checked, creased and worn - it smelled old and genuine. Old Glory was prominently sewn to its shoulders. He projected a quiet air of
proficiency and pride devoid of arrogance. He filed a quick flight plan to
Montreal (Expo-67, Air Show) then walked across the tarmac.
After taking several minutes to perform his walk-around check the pilot
returned to the flight lounge to ask if anyone would be available to stand
by with fire extinguishers while he "flashed the old bird up. Just to be
safe."
Though only 12 at the time I was allowed to stand by with an extinguisher
after brief instruction on its use -- "If you see a fire, point, then pull
this lever!" I later became a firefighter, but that's another story.
The air around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel
fumes as the huge prop started to rotate. One manifold, then another, and yet
another barked -- I stepped back with the others. In moments the
Packard-built Merlin engine came to life with a thunderous roar, blue
flames knifed from her manifolds. I looked at the others' faces, there was no
concern. I lowered the bell of my extinguisher.
One of the guys signaled to walk back to the lounge.
We did.
Several minutes later we could hear the pilot doing his preflight run-up.
He'd taxied to the end of runway 19, out of sight. All went quiet for
several seconds; we raced from the lounge to the second story deck to see
if we could catch a glimpse of the P-51 as she started down the runway. We
could not.
There we stood, eyes fixed to a spot half way down 19. Then a roar ripped
across the field, much louder than before, like a furious hell spawn set
loose---something mighty this way was coming.
"Listen to that thing!" Said the controller.
In seconds the Mustang burst into our line of sight. Its tail was already
off and it was moving faster than anything I'd ever seen by that point on
19. Two-thirds the way down 19 the Mustang was airborne with her gear
going up. The prop tips were supersonic; we clasped our ears as the Mustang
climbed hellish fast into the circuit to be eaten up by the dog-day haze.
We stood for a few moments in stunned silence trying to digest what we'd
just seen.
The radio controller rushed by me to the radio. " Kingston tower calling
Mustang?"
He looked back to us as he waited for an acknowledgment. The radio
crackled, "Go ahead Kingston ."
"Roger Mustang. Kingston tower would like to advise the circuit is clear
for a low level pass."
I stood in shock because the controller had, more or less, just asked the
pilot to return for an impromptu air show!
The controller looked at us. "What?" He asked. "I can't let that guy go
without asking. I couldn't forgive myself!"
The radio crackled once again, "Kingston, do I have permission for a low
level pass, east to west, across the field?"
"Roger Mustang, the circuit is clear for an east to west pass."
"Roger, Kingston , I'm coming out of 3000 feet, stand by."
We rushed back onto the second-story deck, eyes fixed toward the eastern
haze.
The sound was subtle at first, a high-pitched whine, a muffled screech, a
distant scream. Moments later the P-51 burst through the haze. Her
airframe straining against positive Gs and gravity, wing tips spilling contrails of
condensed air, prop-tips again supersonic as the burnished bird blasted
across the eastern margin of the field shredding and tearing the air.
At about 400 mph and 150 yards from where we stood she passed with the old
American pilot saluting. Imagine. A salute! I felt like laughing, I felt like crying, she glistened, she screamed, the building shook, my heart
pounded.
Then the old pilot pulled her up. and rolled, and rolled, and rolled out
of sight into the broken clouds and indelibly into my memory.
I've never wanted to be an American more than on that day. It was a time
when many nations in the world looked to America as their big brother, a
steady and even-handed beacon of security who navigated difficult
political water with grace and style; not unlike the pilot who'd just flown into my
memory. He was proud, not arrogant, humble, not a braggart, old and honest,
projecting an aura of America at its best.
That America will return one day, I know it will. Until that time, I'll
just send off this story; call it a reciprocal salute, to the old American

Delete

2007-02-13T00:19:00.000-07:00

I have decided that my hunting pictures might be looked on as not PC, so, they are gone for now. As I am now semi retired, I'll be doing more hunting and fishing, so I might start another blog for that. And, of course, I can put all the required warnings for the limp wristed light in the loafers crowd.

2006-10-15T09:44:00.000-06:00

Here is the bedroom, which has a slide out also.

2006-10-15T09:43:00.000-06:00

And, of course, the kitchen area. Another slide out. The open door leads to the garage.

2006-10-15T09:41:00.000-06:00

Here is the living room and dining area of the same trailer. This whole area here is a slide out, which really adds a lot of room.

2006-10-15T09:39:00.000-06:00

This is a view of a 40' Weekend Warrior trailer that I delivered in Rancho Cordova,Ca. last week. This view is of the garage. These are my favorites to tow. They pull nice, even this 1 which is 40' long.

2006-09-09T21:06:00.000-06:00

No pot of gold, but this turned into a double just after I took this.

2006-09-09T21:00:00.000-06:00

This is very nice. This exit is MM 110 and is the same one that will take you to the Bridges of Madison County. That would be south of here. Winterset, where the story was set is the birthplace of John Wayne.http://www.johnwaynebirthplace.org/

2006-09-09T20:52:00.000-06:00

Call BR-549 and ask for Junior. For the younger set that would be Junior Samples from Hee-Haw. This is a friend of mine,Dan.

2006-09-09T20:49:00.000-06:00

Here is a nifty little plane we stopped to look at in Iowa. Really nice. All composite and very clean.

andys-travels

2006-08-06T00:38:00.000-06:00

This is a test. I'm trying to post using my Sprint phone. I, also want to include a picture. We will see in a minute.

I need something else to send pictures.

2006-07-02T17:43:00.000-06:00

They have really been working on the outside of the place. A little bit of Americana. Oh,Ok a whole lot. Still one of my favorites, and I don't care about the paint job. I caught them just as they opened this morning as you can see the parking lot is empty.

2006-07-02T17:37:00.000-06:00

What we have here is some smoked turkey and bar-b-que brisket from Bodacious Bar-B-Que. This is at the 562 mm exit close to Tyler, Tx. I've mentioned it before, and I highly recommend it.

2006-07-02T06:45:00.000-06:00

An interesting cloud. The spots on the windshield are from a semi that was blowing oil. I'm afraid he's not going to make it wherever he was going.

2006-07-02T06:44:00.000-06:00

Same sunset. This trailer is going to Punta Gorda,Fl. from Perris,Ca. Nice trip so far. I'll be home tonight for a couple of days.

2006-07-02T06:43:00.000-06:00

Another pretty sunset. This is around Sweetwater,Tx. on Interstate 20.

2006-07-01T15:03:00.000-06:00

A Road Runner that would give Wiley Coyote even worse nightmares. Taken in the east bound rest area above Las Cruces,Nm. this morning. This thing is made from old tennis shoes and mufflers and all kinds of junk.

2006-07-01T15:00:00.000-06:00

I moved a bit taking this. Southern New Mexico storm last evening.

2006-07-01T14:58:00.000-06:00

Picacho Peak in Arizona.

I'm Back!

2006-06-11T19:47:00.000-06:00

Ok, it looks like I am back. I can post my pictures again anyway. And maybe find a little to say along the way.

2006-06-11T17:50:00.000-06:00

Butch looks a little rough, nothing at all like Paul Newman.

2006-06-11T17:30:00.000-06:00

Still at Capitol Reef.

2006-06-11T17:29:00.000-06:00

The Dodge with a nice background

2006-06-11T17:12:00.000-06:00

These were taken at Capitol Reef, in Utah. This is the area Butch Cassidy hid out in.

2006-04-10T00:06:00.000-06:00

Here is a shot looking north into Washington State from Oregon. I'm having a hard time keeping everything working in the Dodge, not enough room. Even my little camera gave up the ghost. No promises. I just have to find the time.

I'm Back

2005-12-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

Finally, I've got enough of my stuff running to start posting again. The link to Andy will show my position again. I'm still working on the site for a camera that will be showing the road ahead. The APRS radio is the main thing that makes this work. As you can see I'm on my way to Manteca,Ca. so come along for the ride.

Long Time Gone

2005-10-15T21:16:00.000-06:00

I'm working on this as much as I can. I should have things working again with in a week. I've been suffering from a sort of Butterfly Effect. I'll try to explain later. I know that sounds like some kind of hippy, environmental wacko thing, but nothing could be further from the truth. I will try to explain. Later.

Gretna

2005-09-03T09:27:00.000-06:00

I'm in Nipomo, Ca. this morning waiting to pick up a portable shower going to Gretna,La. The bridge going over to Gretna on US 90 goes right by the Superdome and the convention center. But the news this morning says things are much calmer today. And surely they will have all under control by the time I get there. This shower unit is going to the Gretna Police Department. They are going to meet me and escort me in, so all will go smoothly.
I got everthing working on the new computer so I'll be able to post more from now on. Its hard to work on the computer and do all the driving, but I got it done. And now to work.

Pink Floyd

2005-08-14T12:05:00.000-06:00

Just got back home after a 2 week trip. I'm still having problems with computer on the road. Will have it all worked out this week-end. Saw the Live 8 tape my wife made for me. Great work. I loved the guy in London with the banner" Pink Floyd Reunited, Pigs Have Flown". If only they would make 1 more album. Ah well. And now to work fixing this thing.

Home at Last!

2005-07-25T01:18:00.000-06:00

After two full months on the road I'm finally home. Lots to catch up on and lots of work around here. I haven't been able to post as my laptop went out on me. It won't charge anymore. Picked up a new one last week, but didn't remember my password so I had no access. I'll get it all set up while I'm home. I drove a thousand plus miles yesterday so I'm off to my bed.

2005-06-10T07:14:00.000-06:00

Here I am in Utah out in the salt desert. The mountains in the back are in Nevada. This is somebodies idea of a tree. I'm not sure its from this planet.

2005-06-10T07:07:00.000-06:00

This is the little travel trailer that I took out to Manteca, Ca. It was nice to pull though, good fuel mileage.

2005-06-10T06:57:00.000-06:00

Not the best place to be, but this little guy has been here for a long time. Tenacious comes to mind.

2005-06-10T06:55:00.000-06:00

From Lockport, In. I went to Goshen, In and picked up a little travel trailer going to Manteca, Ca. A nice straight shot across I-80. This is interesting, a tree growing in a rock. Its in the Sherman Mountains of Wyoming.

2005-06-10T06:42:00.000-06:00

Boy, I have really fallen behind on my posts. No excuses, just gotta do better. Here is the Porta-Pottie I picked up at Indianapolis. I think these guys did quite well in the race.

2005-05-29T06:07:00.000-06:00

After a couple of days home I'm on my way out again. This is in Brewton, Al. waiting for the train. I'm on my way to Sneedville, Tn to pick up a little horse trailer that is going to Semour, In. From there I will go to Indianapolis, In. to pick up a huge new Porta-Pottie that is at Andretti-Green. Notice the date. The 500 is today and I'm going to pick up this morning. I think that this garage must be off site, cause nothing will be moving at the track. But if not and I make a wrong turn I might be in the race. I can just see the head lines. Dodge with pottie wins at Indy! Film at 11!

2005-05-29T06:01:00.000-06:00

Americana alert! Heading south, this is the giant peach on I-85 in South Carolina. If you look closely you can just see a leaf on the left side. I couldn't get a picture as I passed further on because I'm an old crane operator and if I look that way I will go that way. Thats good when flying or operating a crane but useless for a driver. And I might add it makes the other drivers nervous and all red in the face. On to Florida.

2005-05-29T05:50:00.000-06:00

Here is the inspector very carefully examining the interior finish. Hope he doesn't fall asleep. And I hope he gets done real fast as I'm on the way home from here. Actually they were very good and had me all done in no time at all. By the way those swivel rocker recliners are a 900 dollar option. I sat in one and I'd have to agree they are worth it.

2005-05-29T05:44:00.000-06:00

These aren't very good, its hard to get in a spot that gives a good perspective, but it gives an idea of what they are like. This trailer sells for half of what the big one I delivered in Pomona, Ca. will sell for.("http://photos1.blogger.com/img/264/2346/640/CamPic15.jpg") And, for me its just fine. Of course I'm not buying one.

2005-05-29T05:36:00.000-06:00

From Watertown, SD I went to Rochester,Mn and picked up a little travel trailer going back to the factory in Pennsylvania. That got me through Dayton, Oh for the Hamfest. I pent 2 days looking at all the new radios and all the old radios and just about everything under the sun dealing with radios or computers. And for the first time in years I showed remarkable retraint as I only bought 1 little antenna. Which, by the way, I'll never use. But, I've got 1, and thats what counts, right? I picked up this 33 footer in Winchester, Va. after I delivered in Pa. It went to Vale,Nc. and I delivered it the next day.

2005-05-29T05:08:00.000-06:00

Windmills are taking over on the plains. It seems like everywhere you go they are putting up these giant windmills. These are in South Dakota, but they're everywhere even Texas. Well they have free wind so I guess " its a good thing" as Martha would say.

2005-05-29T04:59:00.000-06:00

After I delivered the horse trailer in Goshen, I picked up this 33 footer and delivered it to White Marsh, Md. I grew up not far from there. As my parents are buried just a few miles from where I delivered I thought I'd drop by for a visit. What a shock when I couldn't find them. At first I thought it was me, but after about an hour, I knew something was wrong. I went to the office and a very nice lady looked up their location and then took me out to find them. Well, imagine her shock when she couldn't find them either.She called the maintenence people and they came out with rods to push into the ground and after a short while found Mom & Pop right where they were supposed to be. They only allow flat markers and the grass had grown over the stone. They said they had never seen that happen before and that they would raise the stone. The nice lady called since and told me it was all taken care of. Now I'll need to get back and check it out. I need more time there anyway as I haven't seen some people for a long time and none of us is getting any younger. After this I went to Williamsport, Md and picked up a trailer going to Watertown, SD.

2005-05-22T11:53:00.000-06:00

This was taken in Goshen,In. These are Amish People. Most of the work done on these campers are the result of these peoples craftmanship. I know they have beautiful farms and their horses are also beautiful. One time about 10 years ago I was heading east on US 20 in Indiana when I saw 2 Shire horses at a gallop heading the other way. Just as I passed I saw that they were pulling what looked like a square axle about 12 inches thick with rubber tires. Standing on that axle, with nothing to hold onto, except the reins, was a little girl of about 10 to 12 years old. Her hair was loose and she was laughing. She looked like she was having the time of her life. As I passed she turned those enormous horses into a driveway and I just knew she would go flying, but she just flexed her knees and up the driveway she went. Just one of those visions you never forget.

2005-05-22T11:28:00.000-06:00

Here is the 40 ft horse trailer that I picked up in Kenawha,Ia. on the way back. The big square holoe in the side is for a slide out that will be added in Indiana. The front part will be made into living quarters.

2005-05-14T07:37:00.000-06:00

Wyoming 4

2005-05-14T07:36:00.000-06:00

Wyoming 3

2005-05-14T07:35:00.001-06:00

Wyoming 2

2005-05-14T07:35:00.000-06:00

Wyoming 1

2005-05-14T07:34:00.000-06:00

I-80 near the Wyoming border.

2005-05-14T07:33:00.000-06:00

Interstate 80 just east of Salt Lake City. What a view!

2005-05-14T07:29:00.000-06:00

The other side. This puppy had 4 slide outs. A really nice 1.

2005-05-14T07:28:00.000-06:00

At the customer, they carefully inspect everything while I sweat whether they will find anything. They usually find some minor problems, but nothing I have to worry about. If they sign the bill of lading " No Driver Damage", then all is well. Believe me with all the pieces of tires and other junk on the roads its a chore getting that no damage.

2005-05-14T07:24:00.000-06:00

All pretty, now on to the customer.

2005-05-14T07:22:00.000-06:00

The last was actually later in Nebraska. Good shot of the XM radio. This is the truck wash.

2005-05-14T07:20:00.000-06:00

Here I am in Hesperia,Ca. having the trailer and my truck washed before delivery.

2005-05-09T06:23:00.000-06:00

Nice!

2005-05-09T06:22:00.000-06:00

Here are a couple of shots of a storm down in Florida. One of those lucky times when a tornado didn't hit. Sure missed a good chance though.

Sayre,OK

2005-05-09T06:13:00.000-06:00

Well, its been awhile. Lots of changes since last post. I've been in my dually for about 2 weeks. It takes me a little while to get used to the dually as I don't have the room in here that I do in my big trucks. But as you can see, on this trip I'm living in luxury. This is a 36 foot Escalade with everything you can imagine in it. Its going to Pomona,Ca. I picked it up in Goshen,In. on Saturday. Its a lot of fun to be in the dually. Hopefully I can stay organised now so my posts will be more regular. I've got to get going, more from the road. By the way this was taken in Sayre,OK. I'll be in New Mexico in a little while.

Home Once Again

2005-04-20T07:19:00.000-06:00

I just got in a little while ago, got all the paper work done and here I sit in front of the computer. Read all the blogs I usually check on and now I'll post an update.
I'll be taking my Dodge dually out for awhile. I still don't have a driver for the blue truck and it needs a little work so I'll put it in the shop today. I'll need to put at least 1 radio in the dodge, so I can get APRS working. I also want to rotate the tires and check all the tire pressures. I'll be hauling huge porta-potties[http://andys-travels.blogspot.com/2004/11/here-are-2-trucks-that-i-run.html] to the golf course in Hallandale, Florida from Ellenton,Florida. I'll have around 10 or 12 of them to move. If I get everything done today and I don't have anything else to do I'll be on one of my jet boats playing. that sounds like more fun than working! Oh well, we'll see how it goes today. I've gotta get going.
Anybody who reads this pray for Pamela's Dad. Please!

2005-04-16T08:13:00.000-06:00

Here I am in Eloy,Az. As you can see fuel prices are worse then last time I was here. http://photos1.blogger.com/img/264/2346/640/CamPic14.jpg

2005-04-16T08:09:00.000-06:00

Downtown LA. On my way through to pick up my east bound load. I picked up in Commerce,Ca. Going to Hollywood,Fl. with a stop in Ellenwood,Ga., which is just on the south side of Atlanta,Ga. I'm now in Pecos,Tx. playing on the internet via Wi-Fi. I should be in Atlanta tomorrow afternoon, so no big rush. I'm going to put up another picture or two and then I'll be on my way. New link, this one to the USS Saratoga museum. They are still trying and it looks good. Take a look.

2005-04-13T13:44:00.000-06:00

Coming off of Tehachapi, Ca. heading for Taft, Ca. and the San Joaquin Valley.

2005-04-13T13:42:00.000-06:00

Fort Sumner, NM. I've added a link to Peter W7LUS. He has a dually like mine and is moving campers and things like that. I haven't met him yet but I wanted to get this link up so any who are interested could see it. He has a webcam on his dash that is running and as it refreshes you can see him going down the road. Pretty neat. I gotta do this.

Sunset on Alligator Alley

2005-04-09T21:55:00.000-06:00

Sunset on Alligator Alley. I-75 between Miami and Naples. If the view looks a little different, its because I'm in my other truck. My driver got sick and had to quit. He has some kind of lung problem. I've been cleaning for days and I can still smell the cigarette smoke in here. Hmm, I wonder if that could be what caused the problem. Nah, couldn't be.
I'm in Jackson, Ms. now, on my way to Taft,Ca., for Tuesday morning. I'll be driving this truck for a couple of trips. I have a few things to get done on my truck and I might as well get it done while I'm between drivers. With fuel prices I'd rather just make the payment on the truck then worry about a driver's wages on top of everything else. Its getting really tight. Oh well, I can park both of these and run the dually if I have to. We'll see.
I don't have my radios up in this truck, so my link will only show where I am when I'm parked and have internet access. I may get the APRS up tomorrow if I have the time, we'll see. More tomorrow.

2005-03-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

The wind farm just west of Palm Springs.

2005-03-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Nice sunset. As you can see its getting to the buggy time of year. At least in the south.

2005-03-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

This is the tree in front of Bodacious Bar-B-Que. It must have died and they had somebody carve it. Americana at work. http://photos1.blogger.com/img/264/2346/640/Bodacious%20Bar-B-Que.jpg

2005-03-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

Ontario,Ca. at the TA travel center. My home away from home.This only shows a small portion of the parking lot. It is huge.

2005-03-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

South of Clearwater,Fl. leading up to the Skyway Bridge.

2005-03-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

Another view of the Peak. Notice how green everything is. Its usually brown. The wall is hiding a nice camper park, you can just see the tops of a couple of the campers.

2005-03-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Taken from Eloy,Az. east. You can see Picachu Peak on the right. Nice view of the fuel prices,also.

2005-03-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

Another shot of Mexico.

2005-03-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

This little trickle of water is the Rio Grande River. This is the border between Mexico and the US. It is very windy today so there is a lot of dust in the air.

2005-03-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

Texas is the only state that can fly their flag at the same level as the US flag. This is because Texas was a Republic before joining the US. They also have the right to split into 4 states. I can't imagine why they would want to , but they could. This was taken on I-20 just south of Ft. Worth,Tx.

Here we go...

2005-03-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

I'm loading this afternoon in Montgomery,Al. going to Rancho Cucamonga,Ca. This will be a nice slow trip as I have an appointment at 6PM on Monday. Give me time to get comfortable. All is loaded and I'm off to the shower and then I'll leave. More from the road...

Ready to go!

2005-03-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

My truck is fixed and I'm ready to go. Usually I get something that will load on thursday or friday that I can unload on monday, so that's what I'm hoping for. My truck was $3400 and the other truck was $8400 so they both missed the estimates by quite a bit. My other driver should have unloaded in south Florida yesterday, so I'm expecting him in this morning some time. Meanwhile I'll be getting my truck ready to go. If I load tomorrow that will be 2 1/2 weeks at home, its time to go. I'd better get started on the truck, so more from the road.

2005-03-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

On the way home last trip, somewhere in Louisiana. My truck is still in the shop. I hope to get it out tomorrow. Its time to go, I've started doing yard work around the house. lol

2005-03-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

In southern Utah a couple of trips back. Durn slow trucks.lol

Change in Plans

2005-03-03T05:01:00.000-07:00

A small change in plans, apparently both my trucks will be done today,so no trip in the dually this time. Almost two weeks at home and hardly anything done at all. Well I did get some new software installed, so I guess it wasen't a complete loss. I also put a new lift pump on the dually. Which,by the way,should have been done under warrenty. Hill-Kelly Dodge in Pensacola said it went out because I had a 115 gal aux tank put in the bed. They couldn't explain how the truck was running by gravity feed out of that tank, but they said it strained the pump. And they wanted 650 dollars to fix it. I had the pump overnighted from Indiana and it took about an hour to put on. Total cost 326 dollars. I think I might just get a spare pump to carry with me. The heart attack comes this afternoon, both of my big trucks are supposed to be done today. I'm looking at around 9000 dollars for the two. And it might even be higher. Oh well, I didn't really want to retire this year anyway,lol.
I added a few more links to Ham friends in trucks, and while I was at it I put every bodies call sign in with their names. I don't know if anybody checks these links out or not, but it is interesting to see where everybody is and where they are heading. You can also see their speed and elevation. Lots of info there. I actually get calls when I'm on the road from people who follow me if I don't move for awhile. Last trip I had a little time so I stayed in Jackson,Ms. and read a book. Dan and Tony Baloney thought I'd had a heart attack so they got the manager at the Flying J to come out and check on me. I'd let my cell phone go dead and nobody could call. Lazy bums were afraid they'd have to be pall bearers!

Time Off

2005-02-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've been home since Monday evening, not because I wanted to ,but because I put my Tractor in the shop. I told a friend on the way in that the truck was making me nervous because it was running to good. Well I was right ,it has a blown head gasket. And just before they told me about that my other driver calls and my other truck dropped a valve out on the Grapevine in California. Well, everybody always says" when it rains ,it pours". I guess I'm in the middle of the rainy season. I'll be taking the Dodge Dually out this week while everything is being put back together. I guess I'd better try to put a radio in it before I go. I like to have the APRS working so everybody knows where I am. It's a little early for me going up north, but I guess I'll survive. That's all for now, more from the road.

2005-02-24T05:05:00.000-07:00

Us 95 in Nevada again. This is 1 of those drives, very little traffic and a nice smooth road. I could drive forever on roads like this.

2005-02-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

Dawn on US 95 in Nevada.

2005-02-24T04:49:00.000-07:00

The Chimneys. As you can see, landmarks like this were very important, not just for surveyors, but for navigation.

2005-02-24T04:46:00.000-07:00

The next picture is of the "chimneys".