Another Sunshine Ride~

 Our Thanksgiving meal was  excellent - if I do say so myself!  We had a piece of pumpkin pie covered in homemade whipped cream, to go with our lattes this morning.  With plenty more pie to enjoy, we decided getting the bikes out again - was a good idea!

Butch on our way north~

Today, we parked at the Depot in Malvern & rode north toward Silver City.  I was really surprised there weren't any other cars in the small parking lot.  Being Black Friday, I guess everyone was shopping.

Golden cattails~

Never one to pass up any day this nice to be outside, it was fun to have my husband as company & familiarize him with my favorite areas.

The new development - expanding~

This view though - was a surprise!   Since the land clearning photos I'd taken on October 28th, the area has expanded to the far side of Key's Ave.  This development is going to be larger than I'd imagined.  It's going to be hard to see houses going in where fields once were.  Not as diffficult as watching acres of forested land go under the bulldozers of development - but difficult nonetheless. 

Butch discovered a loose bolt on the Cochran bridge~

We stopped on Cochran bridge & Butch found the railing to be very loose.  He located the cause - a bolt coming out at the bottom of one of the rail support struts.  I've posted a short video on the Wabash Trace FB page.

A rider was coming towards us about half-way to the Trestle.  She was wearing a pink jacket, so we knew it was Mari Jo!  We stopped to chat - as we all admired the gorgous day.  I guess it's easy to know those of us adicted to fresh air :-)  We're the one's on the trail!  She was happy to see Butch out on his bike twice in one week!

The two of us on the Trestle~

The Trestle was our turn-around point.  The water level seems to be a little lower each visit. We stopped at the park on our way back to Malvern.  The level of the pond too, is lower by the day.  Our rain for this week, has been moved out until later next week.  Even then the chance is only 24%.  We're now 8.75" below our seasonal norm...  As much as I enjoy this weather - I'd enjoy seeing a few days of some nice rain even more!  

Ready to go home~

Back at the depot, it was so nice having Butch to load up the bikes!  I'm taking advantage of every minute my husband is home!

A Happy Thanksgiving!

 It took a 40-mile taxi ride & three flights for Butch to get home - but - he's Home for the Holiday!  It took me three-days, but we made it out onto the trail yesterday!  We found Mari Jo walking Gracie in the first mile & she took our photo :-)  At first she was worried a stranger was following me!  :-)

11-23 On the Trail~

Butch had put in for home time & was dispatched this direction last week.  He was in Boise on the 18th, heading to Gooding, ID to pick up a load of cheese.  Arriving in Gooding, he found that the load wouldn't be ready until the scheduled pick-up date of 11/19.  With an extra day to wait, he had time to take Blue over to D&D's shop for an oil change.  It took all day to get the truck into the shop & by evening when the mechanic looked at it, they found a slight oil & coolant leak.  

11-18 Blue in the shop~

The company owner had already made arrangements for a different truck for Butch, coming in December.  Rather than the wait to have Blue repaired - since the semi was due to be traded in next month - he sent Butch home until the new truck arrives in Salt Lake.  The date for that delivery has been moved up - to hopefully this coming week.

Corrine, UT - Blue on his last run with Butch~

Friday evening, I spent on-line, finding flight connections to bring him home.  Everything was pretty well booked up this close to the holiday.  The first flight out, wasn't until Sunday.  He spent Saturday packing up his things, disconnecting all his electronics etc.  Sunday, Butch's day started with a taxi drive to the small airfield in Twin Falls. (The Taxi owner/operator had been an OTR driver!) The first flight took him back to Salt Lake, the next to Minneapolis/St. Paul.  The final flight brought him home to Omaha.  I picked him up just before 11 p.m. Sunday night.

Butch on the trail~

The weather this week has been as incredibly wonderful as it was cold & awful last week.  I've often said, all I have to do is schedule any kind of appointment & the weather will be nice!  It happened again & I ended up loosing a perfectly good ride day.  I was ever So happy the mild weather continued!

On the Trestle~

A ride to the Trestle & back was all I had time for, with pies yet to bake!  I did put cookies in my pack & Butch was surprised when I pulled them out for our treat!

Bikes back at Happy Trails~

All was quiet back in town, everyone home enjoying the perfect day & probably cooking!  Just what I should have been doing!

Pumpkin & Southern Chess~!

It took me until early evening - I don't think Butch would ever let me get away without baking pies!  I do enjoy it though & never deviate from our seasonal favorites.

When I got up to get the turkey in the oven this morning - it was another glorious day.  We miss the kids & Grandkids especially during the holidays, but it's great to have time together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The November Chill ~

I was expecting to enjoy the same type of weather we had last November - this November! So much for my expectations! Instead of those crisp, sunshine days, we've had almost nothing but bitter cold & wind! I could add the two skiff's of snow we received this last week. There was almost no moisture in them at all. It was just an irritant, to blow off the cars, porches etc.

After getting in at least four beautiful rides November of 21, I've only enjoyed one so far this month... Not enough by a long shot. Instead, we have had a couple days where I could work outside, with thermal pants & a couple layers.

11-5 Marsh looking SW

I ended up raking most of the Marsh. First time for that, as usually the winds blow all the leaves out. It did stay so much greener than higher up on the hillside. The creek is still flowing too.

Friday the 11th, I'd hired a company to come in & cut out all the dead limbs, branches & trees in the woods. It was a new-to-me company & I should have known eough to outline the scope of work in writing. I ended up with two beautiful snags cut down :-( One had been the home of a woodpecker family.

11-5 Our property to the left of the white tape~

It wasn't that there wasn't plenty to cut! Plenty! But none of the wood got hauled out - the excuse being that the ground was too soft. It was, but a wheelbarrow has worked in the past. If equipment can't be used, it doesn't get done. The big windstorm we had in June, made a mess.

The neighbor had to cut down our big Box Elder tree (stump far left) to get the trunk of the Cottonwood on the ground. 

11-5 hung-up limbs~

Another Box Elder near by, had two big limbs broken off that were hanging in another tree. I wanted those gone. At least two other trees had large limbs broken. The trails were torn up quite a bit, just getting the chipper down the hill. I was told it wasn't big enough to chip up all the limbs.

11-11 -After

Instead, it was decided the rounds & limbs etc. could be laid out where they thought they looked good. Not the look I wanted. I'd asked that anything left, be cut to a size I could move. I must I look stronger than I thought!  

Sunday the 13th, I worked on the Marsh again. I'd had two trees taken down there. One long dead by the creek & the other a Mulberry with insect bore holes in the trunk. It was still growing every year & too close to our south fence.

11-13 SE corner, no mess here!

I raked up what was left of the small branches, what a difference it makes. Just doing things by hand. The dead tree had been a Silver Maple & had been dying off when I first cleared this area.

11-14 Start of my cleanup~

Monday, I went back into the woods... I'd delayed long enough. All the sedum's & hosta's I've planted along the edge of the trail were well smashed manuvering the chipper & track skid loader in/out. All of this to be left with a small pile of chips. Most from the pile of smaller limbs I'd made since the storm.

11-16 Looking SE

I was out again Wednesday afternoon. It had warmed up just enough that wearing thermal lined gloves, my hands didn't freeze. Where to put it all was the problem. I finally decided to try to make it work - re-establish the edge of the trail & curve of the hillside.

11-16 View SW

By the end of the afternoon, things were looking a little better. I've still a lot of work to do before I can use the chips to cover some of the bare earth on the trails. It won't go very far. I'm using some of the leaf debris to throw over the bare, beaten ground where the flowers were. It will be interesting to see if the root systems are hardy enough to survive.

Tinkle Branch Trail~

The far west end of the woods is much more open than before the storm. A new look that will be less barren when spring rolls around again.  

November's Long Shadows~

 Butch was home late Saturday afternoon through today, but after lunch, he was back on the road.  Sunday was such a nice day, we both worked outside.  Butch did the few items on my honey do list & fixed a mirror on the truck while I was busy raking leaves off my trails.

Today, after lunch he was back on the road heading toward MO.  I decided with the wind & rain forecast for the rest of this week, I'd get in a ride.

Leaving Silver City~

It felt really chilly, even in the mid-50's. I wore my lined tights for the first time this season & didn't regret it.  The wind was coming from the SE.  With all the fields down now, they no longer provide any break from the gusts.

Only a few of the trees are still holding onto their leaves.

On the trail~

The surface of the trail has been swept clean of leaves & walnuts too.  Much easier riding than just a couple weeks ago.  Arriving at the park in Malvern, the RV camp was empty, a very quiet afternoon. 

Taking a break~

I love having the trail & the park to myself.  Even though I'd just ridden through the underpass when the train came roaring by overhead!   On the way back, I took my time, enjoying the warmth of the sun, so low in the southern sky.

The rear view~

Here we are - again adjusting to the change to Standard time.  The extra hour of light in the the mornings is paid for by the suddenly shortened afternoons.  I'd managed to get on the trail thirty minutes earlier than usual, but even so, I planned to return to the Explorer by 4:30.

Bright Red!

Watching the lengthening shadows, I still had to stop to take a photo of the bright red foilage on this bush!  I have no idea what it is, but it's beautiful.  The green intertwined is Greenbriar, the bane of gardners everywhere.

Fungus~

Not too much further, my eye was drawn to the contrast of the fallen leaves, with the white of the fungus growing out of the old limbs.  Not the bright colors of some of the varieties I'm familiar with, but very pretty in it's own way.

Cattle in the corn stubble~

I climbed up the small hill between the trail & this field to get an unobstructed view of the black angus grazing in the freshly harvested corn field.  Such a beautiful sight in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun.

Smokey waits~

Smokey is a very paitent bike.  He waits calmly while I take short excursions.  This time of year I can - without being sprayed down top to bottom with bug spray!  It's a relief to be done with the biting bugs for this year!  (Even so, I still ended up with two large bites on the side of my neck last week!)

5 p.m. Home~

By the time I reached home & put Smokey away - the sun had set behind the woods.  What a difference a week makes!  Now I've got the outdoor timers to adjust for the change.  The earlier it gets dark, the more I enjoy having lights out on the deck & porch.  They seem to expand the indoor living space & give some warmth to the cooler nights.  My rides on the trail are now numbered, providing we receive the moisture we need!

Butch's first 100,000-Miles!

 Congratulations to my favorite Over the Road Truck Driver!

11-1-2022 - Butch & his big Blue Freightliner - at 100,288 miles!

Butch hit the big number at the end of today's drive!  Nine months to the day from when he first left Joplin with his trainer - the first of February.  Most new to the road drivers have arrived when they've reached 100,000 miles.  It can easily take a couple years to attain those miles.  Accomplishing it in nine months doesn't surprise me - knowing my husband!  It takes a lot of skill, grit, consistant dispatching & trucks that don't break down often!

An outline of the journey~

Butch completed his month of training at Truck Dynasty in Springfield, MO for CFI the end of January.  He was sent to Joplin where he met his Finisher, Steve.  The two of them left Joplin on February 1, 2022.  That first day Butch drove Steve's Kenworth T-680 623-miles.  

2-23-22 Butch is assigned Big Red!

By February 23rd, he had completed his time with his finisher & was assigned a truck!  From then on - he was on his own & on the road full-time.

3-3-2022 Big Red comes Home!

Early March, Butch came by home to outfit his new truck & pick me & Nika up!  We were going to see if we'd like traveling with him!  I did my best, but I've had difficulty with motion sickness my entire life.  It was a relief to me - when he was dispatched back through Council Bluffs a few days later.  I was happy to be home, but sad traveling wasn't for me.

5-26 - Big Red gets a tow~

Butch enjoyed another short home time in April.  The problem with asking for home time, is the difficulty in dispatching you to home & then back out!  We were lucky to be close to a large customer of CFI, so usually only lost an additional day or two.

By the 26th of May, Big Red's computer had gone out & the semi was towed into the Dallas Kenworth dealer.  When the mechanic said it would be a wait for the parts, Butch flew home.  After a five-days, Butch was told the parts could be weeks out. 

A friend mentioned the company she worked for - was looking for a driver.  Butch was hired by Blake Scott Logistics LLC.  Making this change would require a road-trip back to Seagoville, TX to unload Butch's things from Big Red.  He officially gave notice to CFI.  It was fun to take our truck & make the drive.  I hadn't been to TX for many years - so we made a short holiday out of it. 

Butch left for Salt Lake on June sixth, traveling light, with his duffle bag & a sleeping bag.  After an unplanned overnighter in Denver due to weather - he was in Salt Lake & on the road the following day.

6-7-2022 "Ranger" a 2016 Freightliner Cascadia

It didn't take him long, to appreciate driving a Freightliner, over the Kenworth T-680.  The larger engine, spacious cab & overall drivability of the semi was great.  Not being governed at 65 mph was a nice change too.

6-10-2022 Ranger comes home to be outfitted~

A short time later, Butch came home to outfit the truck & after an all too short stay, left again.  This time with Nika!  She was thrilled to go & seemed to love having a job to do.  Guarding the truck was an opportunity to bark!

7-9-2022 Nika on the road~

Butch was putting in some good miles but ended up with two flat tires on two separate occasions.  One drive tire & one steer.  Then another flat on a trailer.  Toward the end of July, he was notified Ranger was to be sold & he'd be driving another truck. 

A few weeks later, another driver met Butch & they exchanged trucks in the middle of WY. (Ranger was to be sold in TX & the other driver was picking up a almost new Kenworth.)

8-6-2022 Ranger & Blue~

It was fun to see the bright Blue Freightliner parking at home!  Another truck to thoroughly clean, replace air filters in the cab etc.  This truck was two-years newer than Ranger & sported new brakes & tires!

8-6-2022 Blue comes Home~

Just a couple weeks later, the AC went out!  Not a good thing in the middle of summer!  Butch drove to Gooding, ID with the windows down - where D&D Trucking called out a Freightliner mechanic.  Another part needed to be ordered & that was weeks away.

8-15-2022  Nika paitently waits on the cool concrete!

Butch was given another truck to drive in the interim.  Way better than waiting days & weeks for truck parts to arrive.  (As far as we've heard, Big Red is still parked at Seagoville, TX.)  The truck below was another Freightliner, newer with more options.  Butch really enjoyed driving it.  

8-18-22 Nika in their temporary truck~

By the 30th, Butch & Nika were back in Blue & the red Freightliner was given to a new driver, who would be driving a new truck/trailer dedicated route.  

Our 40th anniversary was the second week of October & we'd planned a trip to the far side of our state.  It's always a beautiful time of year to travel.  We visited the trucker's Nirvana - the I-80 Truck Stop.  Butch had stopped by once but hadn't had time to look around.  We spent a night in the area, which gave us time to tour the amazing museum.  We also did some shopping!  It was fun to see all the extra gadgets & customized items available.  Blue is sporting a new Look!

10-14-2022 New Bars & Mud Flags~

When we left for our trip - we left Nika with our friend Doris.  Doris said Nika slept for almost two-days straight.  We decided that her days as a trucking dog were over.  She'd lost weight & even though she had the heart for it, at ten-years young, it was too hard on her physically.  Since then, she's picked up weight again, has stopped shedding so heavily & her new winter coat is rich & beautiful.  (She let  the mailman know she was home!)  Butch misses her terribly & she listens to our daily phone conversations :-)

The trucking business is having ups & downs currently, as our economy suffers.  We're thankful Butch was able to make the move to Blake Scott Logistics LLC, when he did.  Driving refrigerated & moving supplies of food from one side of the country to the other is probably one of the most reliable trucking jobs.  There have been only a few cancelled loads.  Dispatches can run from; have it there yesterday, to four days to make a two-day run.  Even so, the wheels are turning!  Driving for a small company has been more beneficial for us so far - than if Butch had stayed with CFI.

10-27-2022 Heading out!

  Butch is able to occasionally come by home for a night or two - nice for us both!  We still have a few months to go before this first year of OTR driving is complete.  His goal was to drive the miles.  We're expecting he'll probably do at least another year of over-the-road to gain experience, before possibly moving to a local route.