Trucks, trucks and more trucks!! A variety of driving experiences!!

Tomo is now in Utah.  He dropped a load at Ogden, Utah this morning and went to pick a load in Tooele, Utah but ... the broker mixed it up, the load he was to pick up on the 30th was the 30th of May!!  Just a tag bit early!!  So Tomo is spending the night in Tooele, Utah and tomorrow morning is to pick up a load of insulation panels that are bound for Canada.  He is currently driving Truck number 6. A Kenworth!  

Below is a photo history of the various trucks he has used since beginning this adventure last December!!  Quite the variety! His Big Red Freightliner is still on the road with Jimmy the Chimney.  Tomo and Jimmy were to swap trucks but Jimmy's truck has some issues so it is in the shop and Jimmy is still using Tomo's truck.  Meanwhile, Tomo is using whatever truck is left behind in the shop.  He is a rather flexible young man, though would like to have his own truck back as it is hard when all his gear in with Jimmy.  

Truck # 1 FREIGHTLINER Driving school!!

Truck # 2 FREIGHTLINER  First run with the Christmas trees!

Truck # 3 FREIGHTLINER Big Red

Truck #4 FREIGHTLINER Jimmy the Chimney's Red Truck

(this is not really Jimmy's truck, but like it  No photo available)

Truck #5 FREIGHTLINER Hawaii Blue -- Loaner 

# 6 Kenworth Blue -- Another Loaner!!

Gorgeous skies and mountains in the distance. 

Beautiful blue skies in Utah and here is a photo of the kind of loads that Tomo dreams of hauling someday. Oversized loads are the next challenge it looks like.  

A earth shaker for the oil fields. They use this to find oil somehow. 

One long crazy week and still going......

On March 19th, Tomo drove from Edson, Alberta to Albert Lea, Minnesota carrying lumber.  He had a stop in  Estevan, Saskatchewan for the night. So on March 20th, Sunday morning he headed off to Albert Lea, Minnesota.  Tomo was out of hours and so had a full day off in Albert Lea, Minnesota.  So he bought a new phone with Verizon phones and so anyone with Verizon can call him and his phone number is the same as before.  

On March 22nd, in Albert Lea, Minnesota Tomo traded loads with another driver and picked up a load of office furniture that was bound for Edmonton, Alberta.  

View Larger Map

On the way back up to Alberta, Tomo hit a snow storm between Carrington, North Dakota and Minot, North Dakota.  In this snow storm, the visibility was almost nill.  He was driving between 5 mph to 20 mph and the trip that usually takes 3 1/2 hours took 6 1/2 hours.   

At points Tomo could only see the back of the truck but not the cab of the truck.  There was no place to stop between these two cities.  The US Hwy 52 was shut down due to this snow storm, but there were many trucks already traveling on this highway when it was shut down. So at this point the trucks made a convoy  leading each other along the highway to Minot, North Dakota.  At one point  the lead trucker was only going 5 mph because he couldn't see.  At this point, Tomo  passed the lead trucker as he was moaning and groaning that he couldn’t see and so Tomo took the lead.  Tomo finally made it to Minot, North Dakota and shut down for the night.  

On March 23rd, Tomo left Minot, North Dakota at 1 pm for Edmonton, Alberta.  The storm lifted and the roads from Minot to Saskatoon were beautiful  and good driving.   Tomo stopped for dinner with a friend in Saskatoon and a short sleep.  This drive was a little slow as Tomo was too tired and was seeing imaginary trucks cutting in front of them.  He had to stop a few time and climb out of his truck and wake up.  Then back on the road to Edmonton, Alberta arriving at 5 am. He dropped his load at 8 am.  The 24^th of March he spent the day catching up with sleep and hours.  Another reason was mainly because the boss didn’t have a load ready for him.

 

On Friday, the 25^th, Tomo went out to Seba Beach, Albert to pick up a load of  peat moss. It was finally loaded by 11 am and he headed back to Spruce Grove, Alberta for a few hours, until the boss contacted him.  Finally another driver cam and they switched loads, Tomo now was carrying wood shavings.  They both headed for Sherwood, Alberta.  At this point Tomo ran out of hours and had to spend the night at this truck stop.  Then it turned out that both Tomo and the other driver were to head back to the home yard.  (No reason to swap loads since they were both going to the same place, but go figure!!)  

View Larger Map

Tomo left Edmonton, Alberta at 5 am and arrived in Anaconda, Montana on Saturday evening, March 26th.  Tomo’s Big Red truck (mileage: 1,467,000) is still having issues!! Still keeps trying to die. So Jimmy the Chimney is bringing Tomo's truck back to the yard for more repairs and Jimmy wants his truck back.  So..... Tomo is now in another truck 'Hawaiian Blue'(mileage: 920,000).  Tomo is headed to Calgary, Alberta for two drops on Monday morning and then on to Edmonton for the final drop of office furniture on Monday afternoon.   

The plus side is that on Sunday the 26th, Tomo gets to meet up with an old friend from High Prairie, Alberta and have time with him.  Might even get to meet up with a few other friends and truckers along the way too. 

Trucker Tomo and the smokey Truck!!

On Wednesday, March 16th, Trucker Tomo left the truck yard at Anaconda, Montana and headed out with another driver as his was still in the shop.  Tomo joined this driver, Roy and they team drove down to Salt Lake City, Utah to pick up a load of groceries for a warehouse in Edmonton, Alberta.  Once back in the yard at Anaconda, Montana, Thursday, the 17th,  Tomo was assigned another guy's truck to use until his was ready.  Tomo headed north to Edmonton, Alberta to make a drop at an appointed time at midnight.  Unfortunately the truck was not willing to cooperate, being a bit on the sluggish side, he didn't have the power to really travel like usual.  So Tomo missed his appointed time by 2 hours arriving at 1:45am on Friday.  

So, that morning he dropped that trailer at a truck stop and bobtailed down to Calgary to pick up a spare trailer that was waiting there.  Tomo took this trailer to Edson, Alberta and picked up a load of lumber that was bound for Cresco, Iowa.  

picking up a load of lumber in Edson, Alberta

Since Tomo has been assigned another driver's truck while his has been in for repairs, the other driver was on holiday and so things seemed okay!  He thought this would be for only a few days. The other driver is 'JIMMY THE CHIMNEY' is a chain smoker and so Jimmy's truck smells like ... (well, you know!!)  

Tomo has been driving with the air conditioning on to keep the smell down and was so ......... he is really hoping to get his own truck back!  As it turns out, his truck is ready in Anaconda, Montana but Tomo was up in Edmonton, Alberta with a load headed for Cresco, Iowa.  

View Larger Map

So ... (UGH!!!) now it looks like the Jimmy the Chimney is going to be driving Tomo's truck and at some point they are going to meet up and swap trucks!!  All of Tomo's stuff is in his truck of course and so .... Tomo will get to do a bit of truck fumigating and laundry when he gets his truck back!

On the way to Edson, Alberta to pick up the lumber. 

After Tomo drops the load of lumber at Cresco, Iowa it seems he will be headed to Muscatine, Iowa to pick up another load and head back up north!!  That is a guess at this point and everything can change around in a moments notice. 

Cool Museum in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Saskatoon Western Development Museum -- 1910 Boomtown.

While Tomo was waiting for his truck to be repaired, he was given a great tour of the beginnings of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Here are a few photos taken on that tour!

Coming out of Brooks, Alberta heading
toward the border crossing at Coutes, Alberta 

A wonderful week with lovely people in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan!

View Larger Map

Well it has been over a week since we have reported on Trucker Tomo and his adventures.  At last posting you would remember that he had some major truck malfunctions that were more than SERIOUS!!  

Seized wheel!

The truck that is not a snow plow, but thought it might be ...

Trucker Tomo was towed back to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for repairs.  He spend the first night in a motel and had to wait for the prognosis on his truck.  In the meantime, we found out that David, a young man we meet with, that is here in Japan studying for a short time is from Saskatoon.  So we made contact with his folks and they warmly took care of our weary trucker for the time he was there.  It was a great R & R experience.  

To start the morning after the accident with a good breakfast with Phil and then to be shown around the area and Phil's business and meet the other staff.  Then to be given the grand tour of Saskatoon with a special visit to an elderly man in a care center and a visit to the museum of Saskatoon.  To be topped off with a special lunch with some very nice friends.  AND that was only day one!!  

That evening, Tomo got a hug from Barb (David's Mom) and some very lovely fellowship with the family.  The week continued like this with visits and places to see, back to the shop to check on the truck but the parts were not easily accessible so ... Tomo had a week off and good fellowship and time in Saskatoon.  He can now say that he know more people in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan than any other place in Canada!!  

Thank you for all the Canadian Hospitality and for taking care of our young trucker.  

Tomo finally got his truck out of the shop on Monday, the 14th.  He 'bob-tailed' (this means that he is driving only the tractor without a trailer) it down to Brooks, Alberta to pick up a loose trailer and then headed back to Anaconda, Montana.  His Big RED is now in the shop in Anaconda, where they are checking it out to see what needs to be taken care of.  In the meantime, Tomo is team driving with a company driver to Salt Lake City and then back up to Montana.  

How does the following equation add for Trucker Tomo?????

smile+clear+75 mph+small road curve+locked front left wheel=?

Add a Smile billboard along the highway near Minot, North Dakota to blue skies and clear roads.  Add in a easy border crossing and again good road doing 75/mph.  Add in some traffic plus a small curve in the road and now throw in a  seized up front left wheel bearing and a locked up wheel.   

View Larger Map

Well the story goes something like this.....  Tomo headed out of Arkansas with the feeling that going north was not a good idea.  However the job was to take a load all the way north and so off he went.  After getting to Minot, North Dakota with beautiful blue skies, and clear roads, although the temperature was in the minus factors, Trucker Tomo spotted a billboard sign that said....

With this as your thought for the day, everything was going to go fine!!  So Tomo headed for the border and the crossing went smooth and all was in order.  

coming up to the border crossing!

Things seem to be going well.   Tomo is making good time and just passed Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  He is heading toward Lloydminter, AB/SK.
Point of interest:  

There are two cities of the same name that are side by side in 

two different provinces and they are on two different time zones!!

Trucker Tomo is traveling on a Canada 16 which is a four lane divided highway.  He is coming up to Radisson, Saskatchewan.  There is light traffic on the road and Trucker Tomo is in the passing lane doing 75 mph where the road is coming into a gentle curve to the right.  

At this point, BIG RED has a shoe problem.  The truck's front left wheel bearing seizes up and the wheel locks up.  Big Red's left front tire is being dragged and blows out.  Our Trusty Trucker Tomo manages to keep the truck heading straight and keeps clear of any other vehicles.  As this road curves Trucker Tomo plows his truck off the road and into the snow bank in the center median between the north and south bound lanes.  Finally the truck comes to a stop and steam is pouring out of the engine.  

Now for the photo display:  

The plow job!

Snow collection!

The unhappy shoe!

The median between the north and south bound lanes. 

The Trucker's best friend:  Mr. Tow Truck!

The final excitement for the day was the chance to sit in the back of a Canadian Highway Patrol car.  With the temperatures in the minus factors, writing and explaining to the officer what happened, is better done in a warm place.  Since his vehicle was not warm anymore, and the officer's was ...... new experience... without hand cuffs.    

Trucker Tomo in the back of the Police car.

It was hard to leave the South and the warmth to go .... NORTH!!

View Larger Map

Oh how Trucker Tomo loves TUNNELS!!
Somewhere in Arkansas on the  I-540

Entering Kansas City, Missouri.

The north end of Kansas City.
Beautiful Day to be driving!!

Tomo was sad to leave Arkansas and Missouri with it lovely warm weather and the beautiful blue skies in Kansas City, Missouri.  

The Kit Bond Bridge, Kansas City, Missouri!

Just before heading out, Tomo was stopped at a Walmart and found a new toy for his truck. (For those who don't know, Bentonville, Arkansas is the home base for Walmart!)  It looks like a chair with out legs and that is exactly right, meant for the floor and has all these plug in connections to listen to the built in sound system.  Great for his down time..... if he remembers to stop and have some down time.  

Great time in Arkansas and loved the weather ... do I have to go north???

Beautiful Arkansas

View Larger Map

Jim & Ellen took time in their busy schedule for lunch with Tomo

Tomo really was happy to meet our Arkansas friends!!

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Freight trains from the right.....

Freight trains from the left ...

More freight train from the right.....

The last of the freight train to the left.... 

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Arkansas River

Another freight train but it was short!!!  Whew!

Tomo made it to Bentonville, Arkansas and was able to meet up with some of our friends there, Jim and Ellen.  They were headed out that night for Texas but took time in their busy schedule to meet up with Tomo for lunch.  Ellen had been here in Japan two summers ago and we enjoyed her visit.  Now Tomo was in their neighborhood.  

Tomo went farther down the road to Fort Smith and picked up a load (actually a half load, in appearance but in weight almost a full load) of empty batteries and is headed up to Fort McMurray, Alberta.  He is not so excited to be heading back up to the cold and dark country.  Although it was overcast in Arkansas, it was not below zero and that is great by Tomo!!  He is more than ready for Spring!!  He is hoping to make it up to Fort McMurray by Monday sometime but..... must remember the weather, the moose and the other wildlife conditions.  We will keep you posted.  

Layers and Layers ... Finally going South ... to Arkansas.

View Larger Map

Trucker Tomo made it back to the yard in Anaconda, Montana.  His last few days up in the Northern Country of Canada were a bit trying.  He  rolled into Edmonton, Alberta late one night with dry cold roads. After dropping off the empty plastic bottles, he picked up a load of wood chips bound for Iowa, but he ended up switching loads with a guy in Calgary.  This driver was short on hours and the groceries needed to be up in Edmonton by the next morning.  This had been a long 48 hours, so Tomo took the full day to get his body and head rested. 

Site of the snowy incident two days later!

The next morning, Saturday, he woke to a snow storm.  It was this suddenly snowy morning that he met with the spinning car incident.  Once cleared of that Tomo headed for Home Base in Anaconda, Montana.  Tomo made it to Anaconda with no troubles and there he picked up a load of furniture bound for Edmonton, Alberta.  Along the way, he was able to stop in Great Falls, Montana and have Sunday morning meeting and Gospel meeting.  He met up with Larry P. by chance in the same meeting. 

On Sunday night he headed north and found that the cold Canadian North Wind was bringing a storm down that was more than cold, it was frigid.  On the way up to Edmonton, Tomo had wished he had shield for his radiator on his truck.  The wind was so cold that the radiator was being cooled so well, that very little heat was coming into his truck.  This time going back up to Edmonton, he saw so many cars and a few tractor trailers in the ditch that he was wondering what was going on.  


On the way back up to Edmonton, the temperature continued to drop and Tomo was feeling the cold.  After dropping his load, again he headed south, all the while wishing for warmer weather.  His truck was not doing well in the heat department.  The floor boards got so cold that his water bottle that was sitting on the floor froze up.  At Red Deer, Alberta between Edmonton and Calgary, he stopped and put on all the clothes he had in his truck.  It was the original plan to make it back to Anaconda, Montana, but ... when his heater fan stopped working and the temperature in the truck kept dropping (outside temps were between -26 to -30), he finally stopped in Calgary.  

At this point, he felt like a popsicle!  He sat in Denny's and had a meal and tried to thaw out.  Finally getting warm again, he went out to his truck and with all his  layer after layer of clothing that he had in his truck, plus his ski mask and hoods, Tomo climbed into his bunk and hunkered down for the night.  In the morning he called his boss and told him what happened, to which the boss said 'Why didn't you wake me, we could have gotten you a room for the night!' (In the past when Tomo has called the Boss in the middle of the night, he has been less than coherent... so Tomo waited till morning.)  Well, the Boss sent him over to the mechanics and they replaced the fan heater and filters and finally he was ready to go.  

With his truck ready and his heater going, Tomo headed back to the Home Base in Anaconda, Montana.  In Anaconda, he picked up his package (a voltage transformer) that was waiting for him and is looking forward to having it install  in his truck.  Then he will be able to use his rice cooker.  

The Drive Manager gave Tomo his next route to the south.  From Wednesday, March 2nd around noon, Tomo heard that he will be hauling a load to Bentonville, Arkansas.  Then he will go a little farther down the road to Fort Smith, Arkansas and head north again.  Whether he will be hauling this second load all the way or not ... we don't know for sure but it is bound for Fort McMurray, Alberta.  

View Larger Map

Just spoke with Tomo a few minutes ago and he is headed to St. Joseph, Missouri tonight if all goes well.  The roads are nice and clear, there is snow along the sides but little by little the traveling is getting better.  He is looking forward to warmer weather but ..... Arkansas has had some strangely cold weather this year too.  

Just outside of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

When you look at a navigator it can tell you many lovely things.  Glad he has one, but wonder if it has a radar detection application??  Not sure what the speed limit is in Iowa or Missouri but ...

The things that a Navigator can tell you...

Council Bluffs, Iowa on the way to Peculiar, Missouri
where Tomo spends the night before heading to Bentonville, Arkansas.