Butch & Traveler - Unexpected Change~

 Mid-June, Butch began hauling trailers for Jacko Logistics out of Vancouver, WA.  He was driving Traveler, owned by Blake Scott Logistics LLC. Just recently, he was notified Jacko would be taking over authority for the six Blake Scott semis. This required a change of the DOT information on the truck, truck computer, GPS etc. 

When he arrived in Vancouver on Friday, he was sent out for a drug test.  We expected it was a requirement of the new insurance carrier.  (A tech wasn't available at the first clinic he was sent to.  Another call to Uber & the task was completed at a second clinic.) The results wouldn't be available until Monday. (With 34-hours left on his 70-hour clock he hadn't planned to be off the road.) 

Late Friday afternoon, his dispatcher found a trailer & sent him to Salem to pick up a load of paper going to Pt. Angeles.  The plan was to keep him driving, run down his clock & still return to Vancouver by Monday morning.  

Arriving in Salem - he was told the load had been cancelled.  He ended up sitting in Salem all weekend.

New blue USDOT~

Monday, he returned to Jacko in Vancouver.  Traveler went to the shop, where the identifying USDOT information on the side was updated.  Since Jacko is leasing the truck - the main logo remained the same.

A new windshield!

While at Jacko headquarters, Big Rig Glass replaced the cracked windshield.  It was just a small crack, but enough to fail a DOT inspection.

New windshield being installed~

While Traveler was getting new glass, Butch was in the office filling out paperwork.  When he called to ask for our bank account information, I realized he must be changing employers.  He hadn't been notified of that change prior to - it came as a surprise.  (He had been driving for Blake Scott over 16-months.)

Traveler, ready to roll~

I received a text mid-afternoon, Butch reporting he had passed the driving test!  He had been pulling Jacko trailers since mid-June & had accumulated over 200,000 miles of safe driving in 19-months. 

By late afternoon, all the steps required for employment as a new driver with Jacko had been completed.  It wasn't until mid-morning today; a dispatch finally came through & Traveler is - back on the road.  At least it's AZ this time & not another run to CA!  (This change in Authority resulted in a loss of over three days drive hours.)

Butch did his best to politely negotiate his way through a changed employment landscape. 

First ride of Fall~

  After the weather forecast had promised us two-days of rain, we ended up with .06 Friday evening about 8 p.m. as thunder & lightening rolled through.  Saturday had been gray, with a layer of cloud cover, high humidity & stifling air. This morning though, dawned bright, clear & fresh.  It was a relief, even if the heavy rain forecast didn't materialize.

On the dry trail~

It was another nice Sunday to go out, I always enjoy the drive to Silver City.  Even after almost seven years - it seems novel to me - to be on a road with no traffic.  I said hi to Mari Jo before leaving town.  Weekends are busy at Happy Trails too. 

Dry creek bed~

This is the first time I've seen any of the creeks completely dry.  The other two held a tiny trickle of water, but the one above had not a drop.  

Smokey with my new Handle Stash water bottle holder~

I've been looking for a way to carry a second bottle of water on Smokey.  Up to now, I've used the holder at the back of my rear pack, then put a small bottle in the pack.  It wasn't convenient & the small bottle had leaked on my things more than once.  The Handle Stash was invented in 2020.  I found it online & it's perfect!  The mount is very adaptable & stable.  It can be attached to either the inside or outside of the handlebars.  It's also supposed to absorb the bumps of the trail.

No color yet ~

It doesn't really look like fall yet, but it seems the sun has moved lower in the sky. It's been so dry the leaves are falling from the trees without turning color.  I rode to the arch in Malvern, before turning back to the park.  My picnic area was vacant, but other cyclists rode around the pond while I was there.  

Butch spent the weekend up near Salem OR - taking unexpected time off the road due to another scheduling snafu.  He was stranded for over 60-hours after a dispatch was cancelled on Friday.  This left 34 drivable hours on his clock & he ended up with another reset...  He had to find his rain jacket for a walk; they were getting so much rain!  I told him to please send the rain our way.

White fungus~

This one limb laying alongside the trail is the only one I've seen covered with a white fungus. It's caught my attention twice now.  Heading back to Silver City, a couple of the fields where I saw equipment my last visit, are now harvested.  The big field just out of town is still up. The soybeans have such a strange look when all the leaves are dry.

Dry soybeans ready for harvest~

These stellar days could go on forever, if we could just start receiving more in the way of moisture.  While parts of the state have actually received measurable rain, we've stayed dry.  The upcoming forecast is for more record-breaking heat, with temperatures soaring into the 90's for the weekend.  I'll be spending my time watering, rather than riding!

Visit to Martin Gardens Pumpkin Farm~

 After mat makers, Karen suggested lunch & a visit to Martin Gardens Pumpkin Farm outside Randolph, IA.  It was a picture-perfect afternoon. The temperature climbed into the mid-80's, but a nice breeze helped.  A little warm & humid after the rain.  Overnight a thunderstorm had rolled through & most of our area received anywhere from the .65 we had at home, to almost 2" of badly needed moisture.  The amount varied widely, even in town.  A friend just a few blocks away had over 1.5".  It was enough to freshen the air & wash the dust off everything.

Corn cribs, now growing pumpkin vines!

It was impossible to miss the farm!  We could see all the colorful pumpkins from when we turned on to the gravel road!  The two corn cribs were covered with still growing vines!  The cribs were connected by a wire walkway going behind the little gift shop.

Vines & pumpkins everywhere!

The four of us were on a mission!  Ardith wanted something unique & orange.  Juanita was looking for stackable pumpkins, the latest craze.  I wasn't sure what I wanted but decided on unique & soon found a few I couldn't leave without.

Ardith, Connie & Juanita~ (Photo by Karen)

With so many pumpkins to choose from - there were over sixty varieties - it took us a while to look around & be sure we had seen them all.  Small wagons were available, which came in handy for hauling our loot.

A wagon full of pumpkins, gourds, squash etc.!

The old wagon pulled up front, was a perfect way to display the amazing colors & types we had to choose from.

Connie, Juantia, Ardith & Karen~

By the time we felt sure we'd checked out every pumpkin, we all had a wagon with at least 3-5 larger varieties & some small ones too.  Finding pumpkins that stack was not an easy task, but Stephanie had several already made up.

Still on the vine~

We had been the first to arrive, but by the time we were done shopping, several more cars had pulled in.

A beautiful view~

Lights were hanging from the trees & I'm sure it's stunning at night!  It's a good thing Karen has a new car with plenty of cargo room!  I think it was riding a little low in the back on the way home!  Such a fun afternoon & gracious hosts.  If you live in the area, make it a must visit on your calendar!  Now to get busy with our fall decorating!  

The Last Sunday of Summer

 When I opened the curtains this morning & looked out, a tiny Hummingbird was checking out the flowers in the pots by the bedroom windows.  I couldn't think of a nicer way to start the day.  We were down to 45 degrees this morning.

It was too beautiful, perfect for a ride.  After lunch I drove to my usual starting spot, Silver City.  I stopped in to say "Hi" to Mari Jo before I left.  There were quite a few bikes in town, several parked in front of the newly opened restaurant "Silver Spokes".  I hadn't been there long, before Mari Jo had a customer.  He had parked his bike in front of the shop windows & left his music blaring.

Into the Shade

As I entered the trail, I actually felt a chill!  The first time in months!  It didn't last long & before I was to the Trestle & decided to take an electrolyte.  The humidity isn't nearly as high as it has been, but I still worked up a sweat.  

Harvest Equipment in the fields~

The harvest equipment is already in the fields.  Before long, all the corn will be down & our wide-open views will return.  We used to laugh when we heard people comment on this - but now understand the sentiment.

After my little fall a week ago Friday, my upper back is still giving me fits.  (I was pulling the mower backward, stepped back & tripped over an old narley honeysuckle stump.  I fell backward & hit the ground hard!) Every time Smokey rolled over a transition from gravel onto a bridge & off, it hurt.  I was happy I hadn't broken something.  I did make good time getting to Malvern.  I rode a loop around town before returning to the park.

Goldenrod~

I took my usual short break.  The geese decided to move from one side of the pond to the other.  I enjoyed watching them take off, then almost instantly land in the water before swimming to the other side.  They could have flown across of course, but obviously taking the water route was more fun.

Bright yellow Cottonwood leaf~

The Cottonwoods are starting to color & drop their leaves.  Such bright yellow spots along the trail.  There were more people on the trail than usual.  With the nice weather, everyone had the same idea.  I was passed by a couple riders - again blasting their music.  They didn't have to bother hailing as they came up behind me.

From the inside, looking out~

Later in the afternoon, I had the trail to myself.  I stopped on the Trestle & it was so wonderfully quiet.  I could almost hear the hum of the earth.  I averaged over ten mph for the third ride in a row.  I think I've reached my peak for this season.  

Back at Happy Trails, Mari Jo had a rider waiting while she repaired his bike.  I said a quick goodbye before heading home. It's the time of year I enjoy most, with more moderate temperatures, cooler nights & beautiful evenings.  I hope these days last a while!

Another Fine Day~

 Our summer has been hotter & drier than usual - our temperatures were 1.5 degrees higher than average.  Along with the heat, it was drier too, as our drought status concludes its third year. I have missed the rain, that's for sure!   

It had been almost a week since my last ride.  I've been busy at home.  Our outside water spigot broke a week ago.  Thankfully we had a brass fitting that allowed us to turn the water off until repairs could be made.  While the plumbers were here, we had them add a spicket on the back of the house & an interior main shut-off valve.  

After mat making this morning, I came home for a quick lunch before loading Smokey.  Once in Silver City, I'm always anxious to get out on the trail.  

Soybeans - turning yellow~

The Soybeans too, are feeling the effects of the combination of heat & a lack of moisture. It won't be long until they will be harvested.  It is beautiful to see the acres of gold against the blue skies.

Smokey under the arch in Malvern~

I was glad I'd decided to ride into Malvern, when I saw the Clematis on the arch was in full bloom!  It's so beautiful & one of the last to flower.  I decided to push myself on this ride & made my best time of the year.  

Smokey takes all the credit~

Of course, I couldn't do it without Smokey's smooth running! :-)  I really do enjoy riding this bike more than any other I've had.  It's not as fast as a road bike would be, but it handles the limestone trail with relative ease.  As of this ride, Smokey's miles since his purchase in November of 2021 total 1,338.  I'm a little odd I know, keeping track of bike miles - but it's something I've done since purchasing my first Garmin 2010.  

I remember how excited we were in those days - to have an accurate accounting of the miles we'd ridden our horses.  The feature I've always enjoyed most, is the ability to download the information & produce a map overlaid on Google Earth, of our route on the computer!

Silver Creek from the Trestle, upstream~

It was a beautiful, quiet day on the trail.  The squirrels are the busiest of all the small critters, collecting the walnuts & burying them everywhere.  The trail has become the yearly walnut obstacle course, but this year hasn't been one of heavy production, thankfully.

The "run-a-way" pansies~

Back at Happy Trails, Mari Jo's pansies have about run away with her step!  Each year they seem to double in size.  There's one growing out in the street!

I'm appreciating every one of these wonderful days, both at home & on the trail.  The sun is setting a little earlier each day & before long we'll be into fall!

Smoke in the Sky~

 When I think of the forests burning in Canada, it makes me sick...  The wind shifted two-days ago.  South winds had continued to bring us day after day of record-breaking heat.  Tuesday evening, the wind shifted & with the shift came blessedly cooler air from the north.  In a matter of a couple hours the temperature dropped from the 90's to the 70's.  It was a relief, but not for long...  Heavy smoke from the fires up north moved in with it...

287th Newly paved, into Silver City

Wednesday morning dawned with heavy overcast skies & a thick layer of smoke.  Our low for the night was 47 degrees, a sure sign of fall.  Today, the smoke was a little less & the sun had returned.  It had been over a week since I'd made it out for a ride.

Fields of Golden Corn~

I was ready for some time on the trail & the illusion anyway of fresher air.  The corn is already drying & turning the golden brown of the season.  The afternoon was warming into the high 70's but seemed cool in comparison to the 90's of last week!  

Silver Creek, low~

At the river, the bottom is in view.  Water levels have dropped since the rains we'd received in July.  The smoke was obvious on the horizon.  At the park, I took my usual break to call Butch.  He ended up sitting the day.  The delivery date on his dispatch was off by 24-hours.  He took the opportunity to get in a reset.  He only had 20-hours left on his 70-hour clock.

Break spot~

The grass in the park is turning brown, as are our lawns...  Ours at home had been the so beautifully green.  Even with increased watering - it too - is showing many spots of brown.  

There had been no other cars in the parking area when I'd left Happy Trails & I'd only seen two other riders on the trail, I think the smoke was a deterrent.

Fields of Gold~

At least the Goldenrod & sunflowers are in full bloom.  Providing blazing shades of yellow for quite a distance of the trail, at the northern edge of Malvern!  I stopped again to get a photo of the corn against a smoke gray, hazy sky.

Drying corn & heavy smoke~

I made my best time of the year on my ride today.  Looking back at my stats from previous years, it was last September Smokey & I set our record for speed.  I'm within a fraction of it now - but haven't gotten in the ride days I had by this time last year.  Of course, my record is nowhere near what most riders do, but I enjoy the personal challenge.

West toward Glenwood on Gaston Rd.~

I stopped to chat with Mari Jo before heading home.  The shop has been busy & she's had some interesting repairs.  Now that we're nearing fall, it seems like the summer months have flown by.  Only another few weeks & Happy Trails will close for the season.

The smoke was even heavier, than it had been earlier in the day, by the time I turned for home.  It was a beautiful evening, but would have been more so without the smoke.  Our forecast is for a weekend back in the 80's, but a wonderful cool down to the 70's with rain chances next week.  I'm looking forward to both!

200,000 Miles!

  Another OTR milestone!  August 23rd, in 19-months of driving, Butch reached 200,000-miles!  The red Freightliner Cascadia we named Traveler is the truck he's currently driving & best of the five trucks he's driven.  It took ten-months this time to travel 100,000 due in part to a slowdown in the economy earlier this year.

9-2-2023 Butch & Traveler~

 On the 22nd in Port Angeles, Butch had to ask that the trailer he was picking up be reloaded.  CA requires the center of the rear tandems to be at 40 ft. or less to navigate the highway & ramp configurations. The delay caused him to drive late that evening & travel south on WA Hwy 101 to I-5.  It was after 11:46 p.m. Pacific time when he stopped driving for the day. 

9-23-23 - 9:13 a.m. Gee Cee's Truck Stop, Toledo, WA

It was late morning the 23rd before the ten-hour break was over & he could again get on the road. Leaving Toldeo, it was a typical start to a cool Washington day. (The dispatch was to Stockton & on to Sacramento, CA.)  

8-23-23 Near Grants Pass, OR - 4 p.m. 

Smoke from the fires in Oregon was thick in the air the length of the state.  Even so, driving through Oregon is always beautiful.  The goal for the week, was to get Butch back to IA for his home time.  It takes some doing, now that he's driving the west coast.

TA Travel Center, Redding, CA - 8:19 p.m.

By evening, Butch reached Redding, CA & had passed the 200,000-mile mark!  Since November first of last year - there have been a few changes.  In December, Butch turned in his Blue Freightliner to be sold.  While waiting for his new truck, he picked up Rebel in Louisiana & drove that truck until December 16th, when he returned it to Salt Lake.  At the Premier Dealer, he made the move to his third red truck & third Freightliner, a 2020 - Traveler.  

Mid-June of this year, Blake Scott Logistics made a change from hauling trailers for D&D Transportation Services of Gooding, ID to Jacko Logistics in Vancouver, WA.  This change moved most of Butch's dispatches from the mid-west to the west coast.  On the positive side, the dispatching is improved & Butch is getting consistent miles.  The downside - Omaha is at the far eastern range of Jacko's usual routes.  There are no more overnight layovers at home & we both miss that.  He does manage to get home within 3-to-4-week intervals for a few days each time.

8-30-2023 - Traveler finally home, the night of the Blue Moon~

Traveler had 408,310 on the odometer when Butch took the wheel & he's enjoyed issue free driving for his second 100,000-miles. During Butch's drive today, Traveler's odometer turned over 500,000 miles!  The two of them make a great team!  Congratulations to my husband, an outstanding driver & to Traveler for staying sound!