Goodbye Traveler ~

Butch had driven four Freightliners in the months, since hiring on with Blake Scott Logistics, LLC in June of 2022.  He was being dispatched & hauling trailers for D&D Transportation, Gooding, ID.  

He was lucky enough to have a friend recommend him for the job, since he didn't have the required two-years of OTR experience most companies require.  The logistics also worked well, since D&D had a large account hauling cheese from Gooding to Carthage, MO. Butch would usually have enough time in the schedule each way to stop for the night.

December 16th, he was notified, a truck had been purchased for him to drive.  He just needed to drop the truck he'd been driving & pick up his new-to-him semi. He arrived at Premier Truck Group of Salt Lake City & decided on Traveler, from the two available.

12-16-2022 - The Freightliner Cascadia who became Traveler!

From that time on, Butch finally had a semi that would run & run & run.  No breakdowns, no problems & plenty of power & speed.

Odometer at the end of the first day's drive of 512- miles.  408,837~

 Just a couple days later, Butch was sent to Kent, WA & from there to Ferndale, WA near the border of BC.  Our youngest daughter Jentry, who'd just moved from Astoria, OR to Camano Island, WA - met him at a truck stop with three of our grandkids!

12-18-2022 - Josie, Papa, Ben & Skyla~

At Christmas, he brought Traveler home for the first time.  The Bronco - grudgingly gave up his usual parking spot in front of the cabin.

Traveler home for the first time at Christmas~

During this home time visit, Butch took Nika & I out on a ride to Council Bluffs.  Nika had already done her stint as an OTR dog & didn't really want to go again.  But, if I was going, she was going too!

12-26-2022 -Nika & I get our first ride in Traveler~

By January, Butch was done making paper signs in plastic sleeves for the doors.  Traveler was the first Blake Scott truck to receive the new company logo.

1-23-2023 Traveler get a new logo!

This last winter, there was plenty of snow & wind across the middle of the country.  

2-21-2023 Snow on the Utah mountains~

The anniversary of Butch's first year driving OTR happened in February!  He was also home to celebrate our birthdays.

3-24-2023 Traveler with new mudflaps~

There was time to install the mud flaps he'd purchased at the I-80 truck stop during our anniversary trip - on Traveler!  Leaving home after home time - wasn't an issue either - since D&D had a contract with a busy company in Council Bluffs.

4-30-2023 Traveler gets a bath~

On another trip up to WA in May, Butch met with our oldest daughter Courtney.  She made the drive through miles of traffic, with our Grandson Mason to have dinner with Papa.

5-1-2023 Grandson Mason & Papa

6-24-2023 Sunset La Grande, OR

By June, Butch had been with Blake Scott for a year.  On the 16th he began officially hauling trailers for Jacko Logistics, based in Vancouver, WA.  This involved a big change in area of the country Butch would be traveling.  Jacko operated in eleven western states.  

7-4-2023 Port Angeles, WA

The fourth of July, Butch ended up out at the spit near Port Angeles, WA.  Another beautiful spot.  His routes now started taking him out to the Denver area, up to Salt Lake, on to OR, WA & down to the far reaches of southern, CA across NV & into AZ.

9-2-2023 Butch - 200,000 miles

On Monday, September 25th, Butch was notified he would be driving as an employee for Jacko.  They were leasing the six Blake Scott Semi's & had taken over Authority.  Butch drug tested & filled out the necessary company paperwork.  We'd already discovered - it was very difficult for Jacko to dispatch Butch east for home time. 

10-03-2023 Granddaughter Cassidy, Papa & Grandson Mason~

October, making another run up to WA, Courtney, Cassidy & Mason met up with Papa again near North Bend, WA.  The first time Cassidy & Papa had been together in several years.

10-24-2023 Oregon~

We started looking for a company closer to home.  A friend, who parks his trailer where Butch parks his, here in town, had just started a new job with a company in Lincoln, NE.  Butch made a call, but they had no semis available.  Another friend mentioned that his son worked for a company out of Omaha.  Butch contacted them.  They offered a position & scheduled Butch's orientation.  

He gave notice to Jacko, while we were on our anniversary trip.  Returning home, he was dispatched two days later to drop his trailer in Omaha.  Another dispatch didn't come for three days.  When it did, it was to the east, bobtailing almost 600-miles to pick up a new trailer in IN.  

It became the strangest, most extended dispatch of all time.  He ended up sitting over six hours & inspecting three trailers, before finding one he would sign off on.  He picked up a load just south of the Chicago metro & was to deliver it to Salt Lake City.  As he read the bill of lading, he discovered it was a split load, with half going to CA.  (No - more trips to CA.)  In Salt Lake, the trailer was unloaded, the load split & another driver picked up the CA delivery.  Butch delivered his half to north Salt Lake, before picking up a load for Target. 

Travelers' final odometer - 515,209~

Eventually, 2,950-miles later, Butch arrived in Vancouver, late in the afternoon of the 24th.  He packed what was left of his belongings & walked away from the big red truck for the final time. He took an UBER to a nearby hotel & flew home the following morning. 

12-24-2023 -Traveler ~ At Jacko Logistics

From December 16th of 2022 to October 24, 2023, Butch & Traveler covered 96,888 miles!  It's a big number & a testament to Butch's driving ability & a really good Freightliner.  Butch made a lot of memories driving this truck, getting the opportunity see the kids was at the top of the list.  

He was told team drivers would be out on the road the following day.  He's sure a team had driven the truck before him.  Traveler was a 2020, so it would have required constant travel to have racked up as many miles as the truck had when Butch took the keys.

We hope this change, to an Omaha company close to home, will be a good move.  Soon - Butch will be driving his sixth truck & another story will begin...  The first of this coming year, will be the second since Butch took on this occupation.  I won't say the time has flown by - but it has - for us both. 

Trail Time & a Busy Time ~

 It had been just over two-weeks since I'd been out on the trail.  Butch had given notice to Jacko while we were away on our anniversary trip.  Once we returned home, he emptied all of his personal items from Traveler & had expected a dispatch on Sunday the 15th.  The wait stretched into the week.

I was happy he was still home on the 16th, when the contractor came to remove the recently cracked, garden style tub from our master bath & replace it with a walk-in shower.  Late that same day - Butch was dispatched to drop his trailer in Omaha.  Without a trailer, we both wondered how much longer the wait for a dispatch would be.  The goal was to return Traveler to Jacko's Vancouver office in a timely fashion, so Butch could fly home for orientation with his new company on the 23rd.

Again - on my way~

The remodel took two full days & was finished late in the day on the 17th.  The same day Butch's F-150 decided to have issues, he had it towed to Little Red's.  As if that wasn't enough, the washing machine decided to go out too.  By the 18th, we made a trip to Menards for materials & Butch started repairing the shiplap in the bathroom.  Late afternoon, a dispatch finally arrived, he was to leave for Indiana the following morning.

Smokey with a standout golden walnut~

Butch pulled Traveler out of the driveway for the last time Thursday morning.  I was very sad to see the big red Freightliner go...  He's been such a dependable semi & has taken great care of my husband for many, many miles.  They would be bobtailing all the way to Wabash Used Fleet Sales in Lafayette, IN to pick up a trailer.  Isn't Indiana in the wrong direction from Washington state?

The Walnut Cathedral ~

By Friday - I was ready for some R&R.  October has been so stellar!  Every day seems more perfect than the last.  As I was leaving Silver City, I was cut-off by two ebikes intent on getting ahead of me on the trail.  I'm seeing more & more of them & as they passed, one rider told the other his top speed was 27 mph.  Way too fast for the trail - at least in my opinion.

The Silver Creek Trestle in Gold~

Butch was still in IN, he'd refused the first trailer, due to damage.  He was delayed 6.5 hours as a second trailer had issues & the third - which he had on the road when I called - doglegged to the center line.  His dispatch had been changed & he was going to pick up a load in Bridgeview, IL.  We knew by now; he would not make Monday's orientation.

Entering the park~

I hope the photo above is a good visual example of just how stunning our days have been!  I think we need to delete July & February from the calendar & add two Octobers in their place!  After our call, I turned back north, this time with the wind at my back.

Silver Creek - so low...

I passed a woman off to the side of the trail with an ebike.  She looked tired & I had a feeling I knew what would happen.  Sure enough - as I watched my rearview mirror, I saw her pull out & start following about 100 yards behind me.  After a couple miles of this, I decided there was no way I was going to set the pace for someone with an electric bike.  I pulled off at the trestle - she had to go around & keep up her own momentum, or lack thereof!

The corn is down!

I made it back to Silver City in really good time, almost catching up to the two ebikes who had cut me off earlier.  Go Smokey! :-)  Of course, I paid the price yesterday & today.  I can hardly walk!

Butch waved as he passed by Council Bluff's this morning - on his way to Salt Lake City.  He'll make a delivery, drop a trailer & bobtail to pick up another load.  He should eventually reach Jacko by Wednesday.  Traveler will be left behind in Vancouver.

With any luck at all - Butch will finally - be flying home by Thursday.  Hopefully, this new company will still have a truck available!  Based out of Omaha with a Midwest territory, we're hoping to improve our chances of more timely home time!

Finally! Fall~

 Rain!  Welcome Rain!  About 5 a.m. I woke to the sound!  A total of .54 - but it was Wonderful & just enough to give the lawn the little burst of moisture it so badly needed.  A year ago, the weather had been so similar - dry, dust & dirt.  We'd yet to see rain then, so I was more than happy with what we received.

Change happening!

Mari Jo's morning trail report wasn't encouraging.  She mentioned the trail being sticky & soft in places.  The wind was light & it was a beautiful afternoon, so I decided to make the drive & if it wasn't rideable, possibly go to Lake Manawa.

Harvested Fields~

Starting out, once I rode off the concrete, the surface was fine!  Just one soft spot a short distance from town, but otherwise in the best condition it had been in, in weeks.  The rain had settled the dust & the air was so fresh & clean!

The Big Cottonwood by the Trestle~

It was one of the first fall days, or any day in a long while I would call perfect!  I was at the trestle in no time.  I hadn't seen a single person the entire way.  As I stopped, the quiet was intoxicating.

I took the video above, there was absolute silence...  

Boehner Pond, Malvern

I stopped as usual at the covered picnic area to call Butch.  With no Canadian Geese to be seen, it was even quieter than usual.  We were having a conversation when suddenly - I heard a loud noise - right behind me!  It startled me - I turned to find a man with his bike, not three feet away.  He hadn't announced his presence in any way. (I've become more protective of my personal space, without the field of vision I used to enjoy.)

With the entire park empty & plenty of places to sit, I thought it somewhat rude & nervy of him to come so close without a word.  I jumped up, told Butch we'd talk later & couldn't get on Smokey fast enough! As I was leaving, he said in a loud voice; "What's the name of this place?"  I tossed the name over my shoulder & kept going.  I will never again sit with my back to where the trail enters the park. 

Northward bound~

The incident had given me a nice adrenalin rush which I used to my advantage.  Smokey covered about 3-miles before I felt comfortable stopping.  The beauty of the day soon smoothed my ruffled feathers.  

Poison Ivy~

The Poison Ivy, usually a highlight of color, isn't as pretty as it was last season.  It still shows up so bright against the bark of the trees.  Back at the trestle, a few clouds were rolling in.  It was the first ride in weeks where the temperatures were so moderate.

Smokey on the trestle~

Butch is doing his best to make it back home in time for our planned Anniversary trip, but as of our conversation, it's not looking promising at all.  If he isn't dispatched directly home from Salt Lake, he won't be here on time & I'll be working to change our reservations.  He had been promised this time off if he stayed out five-weeks, but now it seems that isn't going to happen.

A very large widow maker!

About three miles from Silver City, this tree lost a huge branch.  I gave it a wide a berth & hustled underneath!  Back at Happy Trails, I had a bag attached to my bike rack!  It was full of the most beautiful green peppers!  Now I wonder where those came from?  :-)

A Great Surprise!

 Butch had arrived Monday afternoon & parked at the Travel Center in North Bend for his 34-hour reset.  He'd be there until early Wednesday morning.  When I realized how close it was, to where our daughter Courtney's family lives, I called to let her know.  With the busy schedule they have & Granddaughter Cassidy now working - it came as a surprise when Courtney told me she & Mason could make the trip on Tuesday!  Cassidy had the day off work & would be coming with them!  She was excited to get to see Papa too!  (Her 20th birthday was Monday!)

Cassidy & Mason outside the restaurant~

Butch & Cassidy had only seen each other twice in the last almost seven-years.  Once on our trip to Washington - December of 2017 for Christmas.  Today, they were picking Butch up & taking him to lunch in North Bend!

12-25-2017, Cassidy with her two Grandfathers - Don Peters & Butch~

The photo above was on Christmas day.

The second & last time Cassidy & Papa saw each other, was when the entire family made the trip out to visit us, summer of 2018.

8-26-2018 - Mason, David, Cassidy & Courtney, in Malvern

Since then, Cassidy has graduated High School & graduated from Central Washington University last June with her Bachelors. 

8-29-2023 - Cassidy in a Hardware & Garden Facebook post~

Working (part-time while in college) for the Ace Hardware in her hometown & currently full time, she's been recently promoted.  

May 2, 2023 - Mason & Papa

Courtney & Mason had made a long drive south a few months ago, to have dinner with Papa when he made a delivery in Auburn, WA. (Cassidy was still in college.) 

Every visit is special to us all!  When we made our move, we all envisioned yearly visits.  It's easy to plan but difficult to implement with today's busy schedules.  I still hope our entire family will be able to schedule time together before our Grandkids become too scattered.

Cassidy, Courtney & Mason~

Butch was absolutely over-the-moon with excitement & anticipation of their arrival!  He said it was the best reset he's had in a very long while! 

Cassidy, Butch, Courtney & Mason!

Another driver was kind enough to see what was going on & offer to take a photo of everyone!  For all the driving he does, it's so seldom things work out in his favor & he gets to spend these special times with our family...  I had to mention to Courtney that both the kids are now taller than she is!  Butch mentioned their maturity & their mother responded with laughter!   :-)    

Traveler to the Rescue ~

 Butch is - as usual - taking the long way home.  By way of CA, AZ & to Tacoma, WA.  He was running out of hours on his 70-hour clock.  He had just enough time to navigate mid-day traffic through Seattle & get to the TA Travel Center, just east of North Bend, with 49-minutes to spare.  By the time we talked in the evening, he'd started his 34-hour reset. He'd been driving in rain for two-days.  In the evening, I received a text with the Google Earth image below.

Butch's map~

Yes, in case you're asking, Big Brother, i.e., most trucking companies, know exactly where their semi's & trailers are at all times.  You can see the icon in the top left corner of the image with Butch's name, truck number & trailer number.  In the bottom right corner, is another icon which had the same information on another truck, which had broken down on the eastbound side of the I-90.

A Volvo~

Butch was asked if he could go pick up the trailer & bring it back to the truck stop.  That required filling out paperwork for the TA.  Truck stops do not allow trailers to be parked on the premises without being attached to a semi.  He also had permission from the company safety person, to drive on Personal Conveyance.  Butch unhitched & left his trailer where he'd been parked before bobtailing to find the driver, truck & trailer.  

Traveler, on the eastbound side of I-90

When Butch researched later, he found that in WA state, it is illegal for a towing company to haul both the semi & trailer.  This was a surprise, since when he had broken down in TX pulling a hazmat load, the tow company had towed both semi & trailer to the Kenworth dealer in Dallas.

May 26, 2022 - Big Red being towed~

It still takes a big tow truck to take a semi anywhere.  If they have to come back for the trailer, the fees can range upward of $2,000.  The liability of leaving a trailer unattended along the side of an interstate would be daunting enough & an open invitation to thieves. 

Tow truck arrives~

The tow truck had to get the Volvo into towing position & move it forward.  That gave Butch room to back Traveler & pick up the trailer.  Butch only had to drive up one exit, to turn around & return to the TA.

Tow truck picking up the Volvo~

When he pulled in, every single spot was taken, except for a few that were blocked off & marked reserved.  As he was circling the lot, one of the employees drove up & after hearing of the breakdown, told Butch he could park the trailer in one of the remaining reserved spots.

 Butch was impressed with how accommodating the TA was to the entire event.  This particular truck stop is one of the busiest anywhere.  Trucks are usually parked for miles along the off ramps, on ramps & along the edge of I-90, especially in bad weather.  

Butch & Traveler were back in their parking spot by 8:30 p.m., Traveler mumbling something about Volvo's.  :-)