Breakdown~

February fifth, I received a text from Butch with the following photo attached.  I could hardly believe what I was seeing!  

2-5-2025 Maverick II gets towed~

 Butch had been at Pixelle in Chillicothe, OH picking up a load of paper to be delivered in Columbus Kansas.  From there, he was heading home for our birthday's.  He'd hooked the loaded trailer & was doing a final inspection when he noticed oil pouring from under the semi!  Pouring was the word he used!

Maverick II, ready to be towed~

Butch put in a call to Nationwide.  Since the truck was brand new & under warranty, the tow truck was called.  It would be hauled to McMahon Truck Center in Columbus, OH. 

Arriving in the tow truck at McMahon~

Butch arrived early afternoon.  He was hoping it would be a simple fix, maybe an oil pan gasket etc.  He'd had no warning at all that anything had been wrong.  Nationwide made him a reservation at a local Comfort Inn.  He grabbed his small bag & called an uber. 

2-6-2025 Comfort Inn, Columbus, OH

 The following morning, the news was not good.  Whatever repair was needed, parts would have to be ordered etc.  Nationwide found Butch a ride back to Omaha, with a driver he'd picked up a few weeks ago, who needed a ride to Chicago.

Frank coming up the street~

As Butch described it, he was a passenger princess all the way back to Omaha!  He hadn't taken anything out of Maverick II, not expecting the repair to last any length of time, or to be sent back this way.  Frank was on a schedule, so there was no time to pick up any personal belongings.

I asked Butch if there would be a truck for him here & he replied "yes".  Frank dropped Butch off at Nationwide & there was Maverick - waiting for him!  I'd asked him if there were any chance his original truck would still be there?  Well, it was! 

2-7-2025 Maverick!  The original!

 It didn't take him long to be on the road for home!  I don't think I've ever been happier to recognize the big blue truck coming down the street!  He'd made it home several days ahead of what we'd scheduled but earlier is always better than later!  Part of the reason it's so hard to make reservations for anything...

2-7-2025 Maverick back home~

I know this truck was happy to be back home.  I was very happy to have the driver back safely home!  Butch was here for three full days, before going back on the road Tuesday morning the 11th.  We'd had to pick up a new sleeping bag etc. for the trip back east. 

Nationwide dispatched him back to OH & within 40-miles of Columbus.  He made his delivery, then drove to McMahon to check on the 24 Volvo.  Word is - the crank shaft destroyed the engine.

2-13 View inside Maverick II~

  Butch moved all of his personal belongings back into Maverick.  He'd been traveling without a microwave, his GPS, etc.  All his food was destroyed, since the truck hadn't been plugged into power.

He & Maverick are back on the road & as of last night, he was putting things away - again...   

2024 - In Review ~

 Eight years have gone by so fast. The morning of the New Year dawned, crisp & clear.  (Butch had pulled in at 11 a.m. on New Year's Eve.  We enjoyed spending the evening together at home.)  I mixed up a batch of cornbread. We'd been invited to a chili dinner!  We played our favorite game & even though we were all a little rusty, Butch won!  It was really a fun way to spend the first day of the new year!

Maverick - 1/1/24

Butch left the following morning.  Mid-month a blizzard moved in & covered us with several inches of snow.  Things warmed up enough by the end of the month, that I enjoyed my first ride of the year on the 31st. at Lake Manawa.  

Finnigan is enjoying his home with us & his new life.  He & Doris were friends from their first meeting.  He loves going to visit her when I go riding. He attends mat making every week & is our mascot.  He now owns the yard, Doris's yard & the neighborhood! 

2-26-2024 New walkway

February, I started burning some of my brush pile.  When Butch got home, he helped me trim up a couple of the trees, so we had that to burn too.  

The loss of our Grandson Mason was a difficult time.  Especially so for me.  I hadn't seen him in several years.  Butch had been lucky to see Mason in March of last year & met again with daughter Courtney, Mason & Cassidy in North Bend, last fall.

By month's end, the concrete work we'd planned was completed ahead of schedule.  The ground hadn't frozen & the weather was warm enough for the walkway to cure. 

3-29-2024 Butch & Finn on the White Cloud Trestle~

In March, we'd made the decision to buy e-bikes.  We went shopping & tried riding a couple at REI in Gretna, NE.  Butch found the one I needed & ordered it on-line.  He had purchased a different bike & after a long ride, didn't like it.  He ended up returning it & ordered one like mine.  Even Finn got new wheels!

4-26-2024 Tornado that hit Creston, IA

April, it seemed like nowhere was safe from a string of Tornado's. I couldn't believe my ears when I was listening to the noon news.  Creston & Greenfield had been hit.  It was a helpless feeling to know so much destruction was going on & think of all the lives affected.  

It was a great month for bike riding & I was on the trails a lot.  The tulips were blooming & our world was turning green again.  

May, I was busy keeping up with the mowing.  Even though we have Troy to mow the backyard, I do the marsh, front yard & woods.  Butch convinced me to try a self-propelled mower & I love it!  

5-26-2024 Greenfield, IA

Over Memorial Day weekend, we made our usual trip to Greenfield.  The "Sew & Sew" quilting club at Trinity Lutheran sent me with ten quilts to donate to Greenfield.  We were admitted through the check point & signed in at the DOT trailer.  It was a huge relief to see my grandmother's house on the highway still intact.  My A. Evelyn's prior home wasn't so lucky & sustained quite a bit of damage.  

The end of the month, I made the drive again, to attend my 55th High School Reunion.  We lost one member to the tornado.  Our group was subdued as we discussed the long road to recovery.  (We made donations to several organizations helping with the recovery efforts.) 

6-27-2024 The Marsh~

June ushered in the summer months.  We'd been getting more rain than usual, which kept things green & my mower going at least twice a week.  Butch crossed the 300,000-mile mark driving OTR!  

7-21-2024 Flowers~

July was very warm & very humid, as usual.  The flowers loved it & the wetter summer contributed to plenty of color & less watering.  I fell getting out of the Explorer when Butch was home & managed to damage my knee.  That kept me off my feet for most of two-weeks.  Thankfully, friends helped with watering outside, taking me to Dr. appt's & keeping me in groceries! 

8-7-2024 Goodbye Bronco~

Early August, the Bronco sold.  I'd had it on the market for over two-years.  I was thrilled it was purchased by a mechanic at the Creston School Bus Barn.  It was sad though to see him drive it away.  The last of the vehicles that made the trip with us from WA.  We'd owned it for over twenty-years.

8-11-2024 Mason's Celebration of Life~

Early August, we packed the Explorer & left for WA.  Butch wanted to make the drive & I was looking forward to seeing the country again.  Daughter Jentry, arranged for us to stay in her camping trailer at a beautiful private park on Camano Is. just blocks from her house.  

Mason was a bright spot in so many lives, his H.S. friends drove long distances to be there & the turnout was a testament to all the people he had touched.  His mother had reserved the beautiful Novelty Hill Farm & provided a catered meal of Mason's favorite foods.  There was live music & many of Mason's favorite songs were played.  A fitting tribute to our courageous grandson.

9-23-2024 Hughes Private Sewer Project

Fall, was the most unpleasant we've experienced in Glenwood.  A private sewer project, to connect a new low-income housing development at the edge of town, started construction. Yards were torn apart, lawns destroyed, fences taken down; streets were closed & dirt was flying for weeks & weeks.  There was no consideration given to residents.  It was sheer luck the city easement was on the far side of the street from our properties.  Even so, after weeks of no rain, the dust & dirt had me making a visit to the Dr., unable to breathe.

10-12-2024 Spirit Lake~

By October, I was more than ready to get away from it all, for our Anniversary trip.  We spent a few days at Lake Okoboji.  The beautiful bike trails to Spirit Lake & beyond were outstanding.  The weather was a combination of sunshine days & clouds.  Perfect to enjoy the fall colors.

11-24-2024 - My Germaniums, Nika's tree & Finnigan~

Back home, November was a beautiful month.  We finally received rain, after a dryer than normal September & October.  The watering chores I thought I'd missed during the summer, fall made up for! 

The sewer construction kept on & on & on. Heavy equipment making a mess of the roads.  Yards that had been covered with beautiful green lawns, were left dirt for the winter months... 

Butch & I spent Thanksgiving at home.  

12-25-2024 Bronco Sport, on the Plattsmouth Trestle~

December, Butch surprised me when we turned in to a dealership on our way to lunch!  We found a Bronco Sport.  Just my size & with so many new to me features that make driving easier & more fun.  

Finn & I walked the Wabash again & walk our woods daily.  The weather turned cold, gray & mostly gloomy.  Very few days did the sun appear.  Regardless, we had a beautiful Christmas day & I finally got in a bike ride on the 30th.  (It had taken a while to get the hitch installed on the Bronco & for Butch to get home to put on the lift & rack.)

Butch will be starting his fourth year of OTR driving.  This last year with Nationwide has been smooth sailing.  (In October he received the "Driver of the Month" award!)  It's also wonderful to have him home on schedule & an occasional extra night or two each month.

I've agreed to act as President for our Glenwood Garden Club.  I'm looking forward to the programs scheduled for this coming year.  I still attend mat making & love the friends I've made there.  More time on the trail is always a goal, too.

We're looking forward to 2025!  

Wishing our family & friends the Happiest of New Years!

Past year 2023~

Second Year OTR ~

 The end of February marked the completion of Butch's second year driving Over-The-Road.  During the past two years, Butch has safely traveled 254,654 miles.

2-20-2023 Corinne, Utah

Butch began driving for Blake Scott Logistics LLC, June7, 2022, pulling D&D Transportation trailers.  He picked up his Freightliner -Traveler in December of the same year. His routes were fairly consistent, taking him from ID to UT, NV, NE, CO, WY & MO.  He was getting home about every three-weeks.

3-1-2023 Hwy 50, CA  26 degrees. 

2023 - Winter driving was, well, winter driving again!  Leaving Wells, NV the morning of 3-1 & arriving in Carson City, NV by nightfall, had been a day of treacherous driving.  My husband though - is an expert at driving the mountain passes & has done them all.

3-5-2023 1:07 a.m. Flying J, Snowville, UT

The morning of the fifth was thick with snow & fog too!  Butch waited until things warmed up a little before leaving.  Several semi's had slid off the road.  On to Hayden, UT the weather improved.

4-4-2023 Arkansas Rest Area~

Arkansas weather was warmer & turning springlike by April.  Dispatches were covering more states, D&D Transport had lost a large contract.  Without that contract, Blake Scott was down to six drivers.

4-18-2023 UT

On April 18th, the day's drive took Butch from Santa Rosa, NM to Green River, UT.  The country was beautiful.  He enjoyed seeing the southwest again driving in NV, NM, AZ etc.

5-1-2023 Mason in the driver's seat! Traveler~

The first of May, when Butch realized how his schedule was going to work out, he called daughter Courtney.  She & Mason were happy to make a long road trip south, through lots of traffic to have dinner with Papa!  Butch had driven 621-miles to make the meet-up happen!

6-24-2023 Oregon~

By mid-June, Jacko Logistics in Vancouver, WA was leasing the six remaining Blake Scott semis.  Butch's home base had moved from north of Salt Lake, all the way back to WA.  When he asked for home time, it seemed impossible for Jacko to get him home anywhere near the dates he needed.  

7-1-2023 Crossing the Hood Canal Bridge, WA

Butch spent the weekend of the fourth-of-July in Port Angeles, WA waiting for a trailer to be loaded. It was also the beginning of his second year driving for Blake Scott.  

8-18-2023 On the way from Beaver, UT to Coors in Golden, CO

In August, Butch sat a new personal best - driving 745-miles in 10:27.  To do those miles on an 11-hour drive clock takes long open stretches, no traffic, a light load & a lot of luck.

9-21-2023 - What happens when a semi takes a curve too fast~

September 25th, Butch was hired to drive for Jacko Logistics who had taken over authority on the Blake Scott semis.  (Butch was the last of the Blake Scott drivers.)  This change resulted in dispatches taking him up & down the west coast.  It wasn't long before he realized why so many drivers refuse to drive in or out of CA.  

10-3-2023 Cassidy, Courtney & Mason~

By early October, Butch had made several dispatches to the pacific northwest.  On one of those trips - he had a layover in North Bend.  Daughter Courtney brought both grandkids with her to have lunch with Papa.  (This was the last time Butch was with our Grandson Mason.)

By the end of October, Butch gave notice to Jacko Logistics.  He drove one final extended dispatch to get Traveler back up to WA before flying home.  He had been looking at companies in the Omaha area & with a friend's recommendation, settled on Nationwide Transport.  

11-5-2023 Maverick, Butch's new ride~

Butch had a few days at home the end of October while he had orientation at Nationwide.  His new truck, a Volvo VNL860 was not the Freightliner he had hoped for, but within a few weeks he was happy to be driving it. Maverick was more comfortable, had a bigger cab & was smooth ride.  

11-2-2023 Maverick's dash~

The first time I looked in - I was amazed at all the bells & whistles!  Of course, the one problem Butch encountered was the horn...  It wasn't loud enough.  Traveler had a very loud horn that got other drivers' attention.  This truck hardly sounded like a truck at all.  A trip to Iowa-80 solved the problem with a beautiful new horn that sounds off at 175 decibels!   

12-15-2023 - Silver Lake Rest area, IL~

We were both happy to have him based closer to home.  Nationwide is only about 25-minutes away which makes it handy for Butch to come home overnight when he's in the area.  It took a few weeks for the dispatching to smooth out, but it's been very consistent.

12-19-2023 - I-80 Sunrise, eastbound~

The views have changed too!  From the mountains & snow to the prairies of the Midwest.  Butch was very lucky this winter & managed to skirt most of the storms that rolled through.  Not having the passes of CA, CO & WA to navigate has saved me a lot of worry.

1-7-2024 - Great Sauk Trail Rest Area, IL~

It's not that he didn't have some interesting driving conditions.  He's traveling to MI, IL, IN, AK, KS, MO, WI, KY, TN, AK, OK.  Of course, IA, SD & NE too.

1-13-2024 Bosselman Travel Center, Grand Is. NE

Travel in the winter months along I-80 is rugged no matter what state you're in.  NE is almost as notorious for bad weather as WY.  IA saw a record number of accidents during a big blizzard that rolled through.  

It's gratifying for us both to know this second year is in the rear-view mirror.  I won't say it was any easier, with changes in companies, trucks & dispatches.  All's well that ends well & this year ended with Butch home for Christmas & a New Year's Day spent with our closest friends.

This new year, I'm no longer home alone - since Finnigan became a member of our family early December.  His cheery little attitude does wonders to keep me smiling.  I'm happy every evening when Butch calls to say he's done driving for the day & is parked somewhere safe.  

Butch's first year~

2023 - In Review~

 The seventh year in Iowa - on the Home Place!  The New Year dawned chilly & gray, but the temperature was moderate, especially for January!  What little snow we had left on the ground was melting.  

New Years Day - Tinkle Branch Trail~

Mari Jo & I decided if the weather was decent, we'd start the year with a bike ride.  Even without sunshine, it wasn't too cold.  It was great to get out in the fresh air & it felt pretty amazing to be on our bikes so early in the year.  Butch pulled in at home by 8:30 p.m. in the evening.  It was a short stop, but he managed to come by again a day later & a total of three times during the month. The last time was the saddest - we lost Nika...

2-16-23 Lots of snow!

February was a tough month for me.  Nika had helped to buffer the loneliness of having Butch gone.  Without her, it was so quiet, so still & so lonely.  Butch completed his first year of OTR driving on the 25th.  (He made it home for our birthday weekend, but Nika's recent loss cast a long shadow.)  During the winter months, Butch made some interesting drives through snowstorms in WY, CO & CA.  The weather cooperated enough I could do some riding at Lake Manawa.

3-9-23 Beautiful Snow~

March gave us a couple good snowstorms with several inches of white stuff.  I met Mari Jo & Gracie for a few walks on the trail, but it wasn't the same...  Luckily, when I saw the first of the tulips emerge from the ground, my spirits lifted.  Butch made it home & we had fun riding our bikes at the Lake.   By month's end, the Wabash was open again & we loved getting back out in the countryside.

4-7-23 New trees planted~

April - with nice spring days - I decided to get some long overdue projects done.  The first, was to get all the old Mulberry tree trunk & limbs we'd had stacked against the east fence since May of 2017 - removed!  That was a nightmare.  The fence ended up with a $800. repair.  The yard was torn from end to end, but having the mess finally gone was worth it.  Butch came home & we took Traveler to pick up new Emerald Green trees to plant along the now bare looking east fence. 

5-18-23 The Marsh~

May, the most beautiful month of the year, didn't disappoint.  It was dry, I did spend a lot of time watering, but it was so rewarding to see the flowers I've planted grow & bloom!  The end of the month I took my yearly trip to Greenfield & Creston.  The weather cooperated & the flags flew at the Memorial Day Service in Greenfield.

6-1-23 Rain!

June roared in with 3.1" of badly needed rain!  The novelty of it kept me outside watching most of the morning.  The month was wetter than usual.  It didn't make up for the deficit - but it was a huge relief anyway.  I almost was caught out in a thunderstorm on the trail.  Beautiful, but scary at the same time.  On the seventh - a bad hailstorm hit.  It was hard to watch as the vehicles got plummeted.  Two of the three sustained major damage.  Only the Bronco - solid steel - had a few minor dents.

7-12-23 Skyla, Josie & Jentry Visit!

The highlight of the year was a long overdue visit from our daughter Jentry & granddaughters Skyla & Josie!  Butch made it home & we enjoyed every minute they were here.  We visited our favorite attractions, Fontenelle Forest & the Henry Doorley Zoo.  As always, it's so hard to see them leave. 

8-8-23 New Gravel~

With Butch parking the semi on the drive by the cabin - it was ready for another layer of gravel.  Pat, one of the volunteers who keeps the Wabash trail passable, was available to do the job. Since we were hauling gravel, I decided to add rock along the drip line of the Cabin's roof.  On his home time, Butch installed new shutters on the front of the house.

6-18-23 Picking up a Jacko Trailer~

September, Butch passed the 200,000-mile mark driving OTR.  After just over a year with Blake Scott, the owner turned over Authority to Jacko LLC.  Butch had been pulling Jacko trailers since the middle of June, but now Butch would be driving for them.

 Later in the month, the front hose spicket broke. While the plumber was here, I had a new hose bib installed at the back of the house. Next, the AC quit cooling.  Mari Jo's husband repaired it & replaced parts in the compressor, along with an overhaul of the furnace.   

10-11-23 Butch, Lake Okoboji 

For our 41st Anniversary, we drove up to revisit the Lake Okoboji area.  Our first time here had been for our anniversary in 2017.  A favorite restaurant with lake views had been torn down, to make way for expensive high-rise condos.  The main street through town was completely torn up & the two detours took us through some beautiful residential areas.  

Returning home, the garden style tub in the master bath developed a crack.  We hired a contractor to tear it out & replace it with a walk-in shower.  The same week, my Speed Queen washer quit, we replaced it & the water heater too.

11-27-23 Butch & Maverick~

Butch gave notice to Jacko in October & started driving for Nationwide out of Omaha November first.  He was ready to be done with the winter driving in the west.  He enjoys his new truck, Maverick.  A 2022 Volvo with a large interior & more amenities. Dispatches have taken him to IL, IN, OH, KY, MI, WI, NE, KS, MO, TX, etc.

12-20-23 - Finnigan~

As the winter months approached, I found myself browsing dog adoption sites.  When someone would ask what kind of dog I was looking for - I couldn't answer.  I just knew if the right one came along - I would know.  Well...  That happened & December fourth, Finnigan came home!  I feel very lucky to have found him & it's wonderful to have a companion again.

__________________________________

12-31-23 - Butch takes us for a ride!

The 31st., Butch came into Omaha.  He dropped a trailer at Nationwide, Maverick was serviced & he arrived home before noon!  He left again on the second.  Soon his second year of OTR driving will be in the rearview mirror & he'll be starting his third.

I continue to pedal the trails & rode just shy of 700-miles, mostly on the Wabash.  Working outside is still my favorite pastime.  

Happy New Year!  Welcome 2024! 

Past Year - 2022~