A Whole New ADVENTURE!! BRITAIN-INDIA-SRI LANKA......

View Larger Map

On December 12th, Tomo left Seattle International Airport at 6:15 pm flying to Mumbai, India via London.  Tomo arrived in Heathrow-London on time at 11:25 am on the 13th. 

He had about a nine hour layover in London, so he took advantage of the chance and bought a Day Tube pass and headed into the city.   He found his way around central London and from the window of the McDonald's, he was able to get this photo of IS NOT Big Ben (MOM'S MISTAKE) it is St. Pancras Railway Station Clock Tower in the distance and King's Cross Station.  

Tomo popped into the King's Cross Station to see the Platform 9 3/4 that goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter Series.  Then he headed back to the airport to continue his journey to Mumbai.  Tomo said "I gotta come back to London again when I'm rich!! It's awesome!!!"

The only struggle is that he is use to having wifi service almost everywhere he goes in the States and Canada, but it is a bit different in other parts of the world.  His trip has started out good and he is having a great time. 

On December 13th, Tomo left London at 9:25 pm and flew to Mumbai (Bombay), India.  He arrived at the International Airport in Mumbai at 11:45 am on the 14th. There he was to change planes to fly to Bengaluru (Bangalore).  However, he needed to move from the International airport over to the Domestic Airport.  

View Larger Map

Point A is the Mumbai International Terminal.  Point B is the Mumbai Domestic 

Terminal.  

The distance is about 7 miles and should cost about $3.  However, Tomo was caught off guard as we didn't know that he would have to change terminals, and so when he to the autorikshaw, the driver charged him $10.  Pretty nice tip for the guy!!  Tomo knew after he got out and paid the guy, he had been ripped off, but in reality in the States $10 for a taxi would be a deal.  Live and learn!!

He found a public computer in Mumbai Domestic Airport and was able to use his waiting time filling us in.  He said that so far things are good. No jet lag or anything either.  His comment from Mumbai Airport was 

" haha, things are a lot different, smells different, nice and warm, a little humid.  Waaaaaaaay better than the forsaken frozen North Dakota and Montana."

Someone was to pick him up at Bengaluru (Bangalore) Airport.  He said that he sure hoped they would be there!!  

AS it turned out, on December 14th, Tomo was picked up upon his arrival in Bengaluru (Bangalore) Airport at 5:45 pm.  The next day, Tomo rode on a chartered van with the visiting workers and friends to Mysore, India convention.  In this van, Tomo met up with his cousin and visiting sister worker, Mariko Fujii.  They were seated next to each other in the van.  During this trip Mariko received a message telling of her mother's death.  It was a true blessing that Tomo was with her at this time and a true support to her.  Mariko's mother has been bedridden for 19+ years and has been slipping little by little this past few months.  It was not a huge surprise to them, and yet the passing still pulls at our hearts.  She is now in a better place and that is a sweet release and blessing.  

On Sunday after Mysore Convention, the visiting workers and friends traveled back to Bengaluru (Bangalore).  On Monday, Tomo helped with preps and setting up the meeting tent.  

Bangalore conv. meeting tent

Bangalore conv grounds. At a Catholic college. "Vidya Deep College"

On Tuesday the 20th, during the Worker's meetings, Tomo went into town with the two Sri Lankan young men.  These young men have been traveling together since Tomo arrive in Bangalore.  They were joined by two girls that came to Bangalore on Monday, the girls are living in  Germany but one is there for study and she's actually from Romania. 

Two Sri Lankan boys, Luke and Sean, two girls, Julia from Germany, Oana from Romania are here until the end of Bangalore Convention. We did some shopping. The girls were looking for sarees, and the boys were after some random stuff including a shopping list from their Moms.  This was due to the prices being cheaper in India than in Sri Lanka. We all walked around for about  7 hours or so, and rode rikisha twice. 


Tomo is doing well and enjoying his time in India.  He sends his greeting to all. 

Using Your Free time Wisely!!

For the last two weeks, Tomo has been in the Seattle area.  He has been preparing for his trip to India and Sri Lanka. (He leaves on December 12th for Mumbai.)  While getting prepared by shopping and doctoring to receive the precautionary injections, Tomo help a man with a few oversized load deliveries and found himself traveling in pre Thanksgiving traffic.  Not easy in a normal size vehicle, but a challenge and a half with an oversized load!! 

Thanksgiving Eve Traffic Jam  

With that delivery out of the way, Tomo found a warm welcome and a wonderful time for Thanksgiving with some lovely friends K & L.  At their lovely home, he  enjoyed some wonderful fellowship together with L & K and some other like-minded friends.   

Friendly Hockey with the friends in Renton.

Just south of Seattle, in the town of Renton, some of our friends gather together to play friendly hockey and those who are not interested either just skate on another rink or watch the fun on the ice from the gallery.  In the year of driving truck, this was the one thing that Tomo really missed!  Tomo has joined a few times, but this time Blake S. tried his luck at hockey using Tomo's gear.  While working in Granite Falls, he had played amateur hockey and really enjoyed it.  So it was nice to be back in the ice rink again. 

Blake S. in Tomo's hockey gear at Friendly Hockey 

In the last week, Tomo has been able to take on the project of finding the 'leak' around his sunroof.  Here are some photos of the project in progress!  Not sure if he has found the leak but he does know how to get things all taken apart!!  Now we only hope he took photos at each step to help him put it back together!

The interior head lining!

The sun roof extracted!

The interior side linings detached

Looking up into the sun roof opening!

K & L and their new puppy, ?? Miss Sparky??  
(Name is still in the trial stage)

GOOD BYE To WESTERN MOTOR FREIGHT!! Hello to ....... new adventures!!

View Larger Map

November 9, 2011

On the 8th, Tomo came up to the Edmonton, Alberta area and headed out to picked up a load of peat moss in Seba beach.  He then hauled the load down to Calgary, Alberta.   At Calgary he swapped his load of peat moss with another driver, Jimmy.  Jimmy's load was a refrigerated load to be deliver first thing in the morning on the 10th in Calgary. 

So our very intelligent young trucker, decided to utilize his time by sampling the local Indian Cuisine.  He found himself in a Indian restaurant in Calgary, Alberta.  (Practicing for his upcoming adventure to India and Sri Lanka).

His dinner was Lamb meat curry with rice and nan. Very tasty but realized that this kind of food would also produce some natural gas the following day.  

(AS the young trucker put it:  * I am going to be farting like crazy tomorrow!!  )

View Larger Map

November 10, 2011

After dropping the refrigerated load off on Thursday early morning, Tomo began his final run back to the Anaconda Yard.  His itinerary was to head back to yard empty from Calgary. This was his last run through the border crossing at Coutts and passed through without a hitch this time. 

The plan was to work through Friday the 11th but that plan changed and probably because of the three day weekend for Veteran's Day.  

View Larger Map

November 11, 2011 early morning

On early Friday morning, Tomo headed east to Melville, Montana.  A few weeks back, Tomo had a nice  opportunity to meet up  with some friends in this little out of the way burg.  He decided to make another visit to see them and have a chat about future employment.

On Saturday, Tomo made his way back to Washington and was able to have the weekend in Cheney, Washington with some lovely friends and Auntie Lucille.  It was good to see them and of course Auntie Lu.  She had been in Japan for over 50 years and loves to have a wee visit with Tomo in Japanese.  

November 13, 2011

On Sunday afternoon, Tomo headed south west, over to Pasco, Benton City to see a few more friends Brad and Cliff and Marie.  Then he headed back to the Coast.  

Once back on the western coast, he has been going about getting things in order for his trip to India and Sri Lanka.  He needs to update a few of his inoculations and then he will be set to go.  

On Noverber 17, 2011, Tomo had a day working for a man that has a small transporting business up in Granite Falls, Washington.  Tomo has wanted to drive for this guy, as he specializes in oversize loads, and that is one of Tomo's interests.  

Here are some shots from his day job with Casey!!

Snow in Saskatoon!!

View Larger Map

Tomo was in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan over the weekend and woke on Sunday morning to Snow!!  Not his favorite thing anymore.  He was to head out to Edmonton, Alberta on Monday early morning but due to a mix up in the fuel payment, he had to hang about the Flying J Truck stop until the office opened up on Monday morning to give a clearance for fuel for his truck.  

Finally at 10 am Saskatoon time, he was fueled up and ready to roll. 

He headed up to Edmonton, Alberta.  He arrived at 3:30 pm and dropped his load of black fabric, shown below at 6 pm. 

Those black rolls of fabric is what I hauled to Edmonton.

The company told him to shut down for the night in Edmonton and wait for the next assignment.  ( His guess it that he will be picking up a load of peat moss or wood shavings, then heading south to the States somewhere. 

The countdown is on!!!  Only a few more days until he says good bye to Western Motor Freight. D-day is November 11, 2011!

THE SNOW BEGINS ...

View Larger Map

Tomo is in the Midwest, and got loaded out of Grand Forks, ND on Friday night and drove  as far as Fargo for the night. He swapped trailers and got a load bound for Edmonton. 

Tomo drove as far as Saskatoon and is staying with friends for the night. He'll be there until Monday early morning and then taking off for Edmonton. Going back to standard time, come tomorrow Saskatchewan is going to be on central time zone.  Winter is coming!!

Outside my bedroom window at our friends this Sunday morning..... Sucks!!!  (This is the voice of the Trucker with experience speaking!!)  Last year it was all fun and games ... this year is a different story!  Luckily this coming Friday (Nov 11th, happy birthday to DAD)  is his last day of working for this company and he will be off on his East Asian Adventure.  A totally different experience!!  

Heading North, Then West, Then East and The South......

View Larger Map

The last post was Tomo swapping loads in Butte, Montana, a load of concrete that was headed to Calgary and then on to Grande Prairie, Alberta.   After dropping his load in Grande PrairieEmpty from Grande Prairie, Tomo headed to the border via Edmonton.  He swapped trailers at the border in Sweetgrass, Montana.  He picked up a load of soy milk that was headed to Regina, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Tomo dropped his load in Regina and started towards Winnipeg but 15 miles out of Regina, one of the drive tire popped. So he headed back to Regina. He could only drive 35 mph or less, so slow going. He just parked there and spent the night there in Regina. He got the tire fixed the next morning in town and was on his way. 

Fuel pumps in Winnipeg, Manitoba

When Tomo got to Winnipeg, he was going to fuel up, but the fueling station was shut down.  When truck stops run out of fuel this is what it looks like. Apparently there was an explosion at multiple refineries and they were low on fuel in general around here. Pumps were shut down for about 12 hours. After dropping my load, Tomo returned to the truck stop and got in line to wait.  When he got there, he only had to wait about an hour for his turn.  

He finished dropping all his loads and had breakfast and then went to bed.  

At that point he didn't know what the next plan was. 

The first year of trucking is winding down now....

The first year of traveling with Trucker Tomo has been a full year of experiences and they continue to come.  The latest was pulling up to the pump to fuel up and losing the fuel pump all together.  Not really nice to block a pump until the tow truck could come to get the big wheels out of the way.  Then Tomo had to wait for another rig to be brought down and swap the trailer to the 'new' truck.... hahaha.  Well that night he found himself in a motel and slept really well.  Stuck in Mile City, Montana

In the last edition of Traveling with Trucker Tomo, we left you with the fish hatchery in Calgary and then(09/23 Calgary AB - Oyen  AB - Moose Jaw, SK  hay load) in Oyen, Alberta with the Hutterites.  It has been a busy month as we look back at the road log for Tomo's last month.  Unfortunately things here in Japan have been a bit hectic and the blog has been on hold.  Will try now to bring you up to date.  Unfortunately the Traveling Trucker hasn't been in the mood to take any photos so.... this will be a bit wordy.  

09/24-26 

Moose Jaw, SK - Bismarck, ND - Minot ND - Saskatoon, SK - 

Then to Allan, SK - Colonsay, SK 

Tomo took and swapped a hay load for a load of fiber glass insulation and head to Saskatoon.  While up in Saskatoon, Tomo was able to visit our friends Phil and Barb and spend the night.  This load was headed up to two different potash mines, one in Allan, SK and then on to Colonsay, SK and then on to picked up a load of hay in Belle Plaine, SK. 

09/27 - 28th

Belle Plaine, SK - Moose Jaw SK - Fargo ND 

Tomo took the load of hay down to Fargo, North Dakota via Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.  In Fargo he swapped trailers with another driver and he received a load of elevator parts.

09/28 

Fargo North Dakota - Saskatoon SK 

Tomo headed up to Saskatoon with the load of elevator parts.  He went to Wednesday Gospels Mtg in Saskatoon, had dinner with some of the kids from the area including Nathan Lewis. He spent the night with our friends again.

09/29 - 9/30 - 10/01  

Saskatoon, SK - Delta, BC

Tomo dropped part of this load in Saskatoon.  After leaving Saskatoon at noon, Tomo drove hard and fast to Delta, BC.  He arrived at Delta on Saturday morning and dropped his load.  

10/01

Delta BC - Granite Falls WA

Tomo left Delta and drove back to Granite Falls, Washington for the weekend off.  

10/04

Granite Falls WA - Renton WA - Ritzville WA 

After a nice weekend in Granite Falls, Tomo drove down to Renton and picked up a load of thermal underwear with for Costco with another driver, Doug and they drove across the State, and finally shut down in Ritzville for the night.

10/05 

Ritzville WA - Declo ID 

On the 5th they headed down to Salt Lake City, Utah.

10/06 

Declo ID - SLC UT - Yard

They made it to Declo, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah and then headed back to the yard.  In Salt Lake City they picked up  a load of non hazmat chemical bound for the north.  

10/07 

Yard

Arrived at the yard and sat there all day and night.

10/08 

Yard - Coutts AB

Tomo left for Canada and got to Coutts, Alberta - the border crossing.  At this point Tomo's truck had a full inspection and was shut down on with a level 1 (the top shutdown).  This was the Thanksgiving weekend in Canada and so no hope to have a mechanic come out on this weekend. 

10/09 

Coutts AB

Tomo was stuck waiting to get towed out at the border. 

10/10 

Coutts AB - yard - Nisku AB

Tomo got towed back to yard.  He was then put into a different truck and was give a load of concrete to take up to Alberta. 

10/11 - 10/12 

Nisku AB - Sweetgrass MT - Saskatoon SK

Tomo dropped the load of concrete in Nisku,Alberta, then deadheaded down to the border at Sweet Grass, and swapped trailers for a load of soy milk bound for Saskatoon and 2 locations in Winnipeg.

10/12 - 10/13  

Saskatoon SK - Winnipeg MB

Tomo dropped the Saskatoon portion first thing in the morning.  Tomo then stopped by for a visit with Phil at his office,  that was just around the corner.  Tomo had his 10 hour down time and then headed to Winnipeg for a 2 am and 6 am appointment on 13th.

10/13 

Winnipeg MB - Fargo ND

After dropping his load in Winnipeg did his 10 hour down time and then deadheaded down to Fargo, North Dakota.

10/14 

Fargo ND - Mendota MN

Tomo was then told to deadhead to Mendota, Minnesota to pick up a load first thing in the morning on 15th. 

10/15 

Mendota, MN - Moose Jaw SK

Tomo picked up a load of granite counter top material bound for Calgary, Alberta.

10/16 

Moose Jaw SK - Calgary AB

Tomo met up with his buddy driver, Doug at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, then they rolled together up to Calgary.

10/17 Calgary AB - yard

Tomo had breakfast with buddy driver, Doug, then delivered his load and deadheaded down to yard.

10/18 

Yard - Edmonton AB

Tomo picked up a load of anti-foam chemicals from the yard bound for Edmonton, Alberta.

10/19 

Edmonton AB - Seba Beach AB - Calgary AB

Tomo delivered load of chemical, then picked up load of peat moss and headed south to shut down in Calgary.

10/20 

Calgary AB - yard

Tomo headed back to the yard and they had some work to do on it.  He had the weekend off and went to visit his friends, Shaun and Emily for the weekend

10/24 

Yard - Powell WY - Worland WY 

Tomo's truck was repaired and he headed south, took the load of peat moss that he had brought down from Seba Beach on 20th, on to two location in Wyoming.  He had a day to sit in Worland, Wyoming.

10/25 

Worland WY - Colony WY - Miles City MT

Tomo left Worland and went through a nasty snow on the way to Buffalo, Wyoming on HWY 16. He picked up a load of cat litter in Colony that was bound for Algona, Washington but his truck broke down in Miles City, Montana. 

10/26 - 10/27 - 10/28 

Miles City MT - Spokane WA - Algona WA

Tomo waited at Miles City for the tow truck to tow in a replacement truck. Tomo was able to go to Wednesday night Gospel Meeting in Miles City, Montana because the meeting was 500 yd away from truck stop. After meeting, Tomo  started towards Washington. He got into Spokane at 7:30 am and stopped by at   Bob and Shirley's place for breakfast. That evening, Tomo was able together with Devin and Diana and her roommate Rachelle from Chelan.  We had dinner together and spent the evening together, then I took off at midnight for Algona, Washington.

10/28 

Algona WA - Everett WA - Granite Falls WA

Tomo delivered the load of cat litter and went up to Everett.  Tomo picked up a  load of mirrors, then moved over to Granite Falls and spent the night with Jeff and Bonnita.  

10/29 

Granite Falls WA - yard

Tomo headed out of Granite Falls, Washington for the yard in Montana.  He stopped in Cheney for a short visit/dinner at Shaun and Sandy. 

10/30 

Yard - Calgary AB 

Tomo picked up another load of concrete and headed up to Calgary and then on to Grande Prairie, Alberta. Tomo stopped in Great Falls for Gospel meeting. He wasn't able to get the morning meeting because of waiting for a swapping situation.

Fish Feed to Alfalfa!! Interesting adventures! : D

On September 23, Tomo picked up a load of fish feed that was bound for the Bow Habitat Fish Hatchery in Calgary.  He arrived very early in the morning before light, and the road leading in was so narrow, he was afraid he was in the wrong place.  He parked for while in a nearby parking lot and waited for the hatchery to open, so he could check if this was the correct site. 

Load of fish feed

fish feed

Bow Habitat Fish Hatchery

As they were unloading the feed, he asked the man in charge, what they were doing at this site.  The man offered to give Tomo a tour of the facilities.  A new experience for this Japanese young man who loves raw fish (as in sushi!!)

Hatching stage

A couple days since these hatched out. 

Couple of weeks old

The kinds of fish they raise there. 

Unloading the fish feed.

loading dock area.

On September 23, after getting the load off in Calgary Tomo was sent out to Oyen AB to pick up a load of alfalfa hay bound for Coolidge, Kansas.

loading up the alfalfa

Alfalfa Stacks

loading up.

Full load!

This is a nice little pond, that resulted from all
the flooding they had this past month.  This is really a farming field!

These pictures are on Hwy 39 between Weyburn and Regina SK. This stretch of road was closed for a while because of the water but Tomo hasn't been over here for the longest time so not sure when it opened up. That's all suppose to be farm fields where you see all the water there.

If this water doesn't go away soon, it will be come a great ice pond.

On September 24th, Tomo took this alfalfa load down to Bismarck, North Dakota and swapped loads with another driver. His new load was bound for Allan, Saskatchewan and Colonsay, Saskatchewan and a potash mine.  He delivered this load of fiberglass insulation panels. Unfortunately he has no pictures of that load.

On September 25th, Tomo spent the morning working on paper work at the border and finally got through around 12 noon. 

On the way up to Allan and Colonsay, Tomo stopped by in Saskatoon.  It is only about 45 min away and he decided to visit friends there for the night. Tomo was able to attend the Sunday night Gospel meeting in Saskatoon and got to see some familiar faces again. He got to see his home stay brother, Nathan there too. After the meeting,  Nathan and his girlfriend, Jenna plus another young couple and Mark and another fellow and Tomo went out to have a meal/visit and that was fun.

September 26th, Tomo dropped the load at the mines.  After that he was sent to Belle Plaine SK to pick up another load of Alfalfa hay and this is going to Lyons KS. He arrived at the location of to pick up the alfalfa but it was getting dark and it was out in the middle of no where!!  The address Tomo was given seemed to be wrong and he ended up at the end of a rough dirt road that came to a dead end.  Just as he was going to try to figure out what to do next, a truck pulled along side and asked him if he was lost.  Tomo explained that he had a load of alfalfa and the address appeared to be wrong.  He was looking for a certain man, and gave the name, and by golly!!!  It was the name of the man driving the truck.  Tomo said that he would come back in the morning for the load, but the man said, they could load it in the dark if he wanted.  Tomo was surprised but very happy.  

It turns out that Tomo was picking up a load of alfalfa from a Hutterite Colony in Saskatchewan.  

He is currently in Fargo for the night and waiting for the plans for tomorrow. Probably another swap and back up to Canada!!