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!