When Mom wakes up to an email that says ...

When Mom wakes up to an email that says ...            I HAD MY FIRST COLLISION!

It was an interesting Sunday morning in Japan and not my usual routine to call my son as other things to think about on this lovely day of the week.  However, I could not contain myself.  When I called and asked my very sensible and reliable son the standard cell phone question 'Where are you?' , the answer again threw me for another loop!  'In the hospital, in Edmonton.'  To my WHAT! this funny kids laughs and says ... just joking!

This tale starts at a little before 7:00 am in Edmonton, Alberta.  On Friday, the 25th, Tomo spent the day getting himself rested and ready to take off the next morning, Saturday the 26th of February for the Western Motor Freight Yard in Anaconda, Montana.  During the night of the 25th, Edmonton, Alberta had a change in the weather and the clear dry roads of the previous day were not slick with snow as the ground temperature was frigid and so snow on the top makes for nice slippery weather.  

The collision site at 7:00 am in morning

So our trusty young trucker prepared his truck to head south to the border and back to the company yard.  However just minutes after starting out, our young trucker is heading off one highway and planning to head on to another one, when a four door Dodge Stratus Sedan decides to take a spin right in front of a big RED 18 Wheeler.  The only saving grace here was that they were both on the off-ramp and Tomo's Big RED was down to 25 mph / 35 kph.  

First point of contact

Second point of contact and blown out back tire.....

It is its on the way to the junk yard now.

Where is Big Red's damage?
(Remember the bungee cords are from the North Dakota Foolish deer)
Give up???　Well, look close!

Just a little nudge on the bumper.

The outcome of this slippery collision was that the other driver lost control of the car due to road conditions and only an incident report was filed by the police and no one received a violation.  The Stratus Sedan driver was more than a little rattled when Tomo came to see if anyone was hurt.  This person was foolish enough to confide in Tomo that driving in snow as not something that the driver was accustom to, nor did they feel confident in doing so!!  Needless to say, Tomo was muttering 'Bonehead' over and over under his breath, but finally made his way down the road to Calgary, Alberta.  Looking out of his window he said 'Calgary was beautiful tho....

COLD!!!

Sorry for the confusion about PET Bottles.

PET Bottles (not to be confused with cats and dogs and such)

On Tomo's last blog, I wrote about his load being Pet Bottles.  Here is Japan this is a commonly used term for plastic bottles used for beverages and bottled water.  I was unaware that this term was only used in Japan.  Sorry for the confusion. JT 

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most commonly used food grade packaging plastics, initiating the rapid adoption of PET as a material for beverage bottles.

A common collection of PET BOTTLES (not dogs or cats bottles)

Dropped the empty bottles ... on to pick up another load!

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In Billings, Montana Tomo experienced a long, long, long train that made for a bit traffic mess in the city.  It blocked traffic for 5 to 7 minutes and this is something that never happens in Japan.  If the train blocks traffic here for more than a minute or two, it is a big deal!! 

A long 5 to 7 minute wait for a train.

Tomo left Billings, Montana and made his way to Edmonton, Alberta with his light load of empty pet bottles. Tomo reached Edmonton, Alberta with the empty pet bottles early in the morning and dropped his load.  

Dropping his load of empty pet bottles in Edmonton, Alberta.

After that Tomo went over and picked up a load of wood chips from Edmonton and headed south to Calgary, Alberta.  The wood chips are actually bound for Iowa, but another driver was carrying a rushed load and he was out of driving time on his clock, so ... Tomo went and swapped trailers with this driver and drove back to Edmonton, Alberta with a load of miscellaneous groceries, from frozen to canned.  

Tomo is now at his destination waiting for the early morning grocery crew to come in to unload his truck.  After he drops his load of groceries, he will call into the boss to see what the next run will be.  Then Tomo will head to a local truck stop and have a lovely sleep for the next few hours !  (hopefully 10 hours! Sweet dreams! : D  )

On the Road again ... Almost ... Billings, Montana to Edmonton, Alberta

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Tomo is carrying empty pet bottles to be hauled up to Edmonton, Alberta.  A light load and good for good roads but weather seems to be coming in and may have snow tonight.  Hopefully the roads will be fine for the journey.   

Well, the truck made it out of the shop and now is in good form but ......  the trailer has a glitch. The left turn signal blinker works great as long as the other lights are not on!!  If the other lights are on.... it doesn't agree to shine!!  A bit of a 'show off' it seems. Something to do with the electrically system.   

Out of the shop and ready to hit the road .... but .....

They located the trouble but no time today to fix it, Tomo is spending another night at the Flying J truck stop in Billings.  Tomo like the Flying J stops as they have internet access and good facilities for showering and laundry as well as the shops for daily necessities.  

Notice: Tomo still has his bungee cords up front holding his bumper!

Chugwater to Douglas Wyoming ..... beautiful but phone connection is ?????

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North side of Chugwater, Wyoming 

Driving through Wyoming was beautiful blue skies and good clear roads, but the phone service connection is spotty at best!!  I guess you can't get everything.  

Approaching Douglas, Wyoming

Now settled into his truck in Billings, Montana and awaiting the next plans for repairs or another trip.  

The Next Run is .... to Montana for repairs!!

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Tomo had a two day of rest and relaxation in Windsor, Colorado with some lovely friends and their kids.  He headed back on the road up to Cheyenne, Wyoming to pick up a load of empty pet bottles.  This is a very light load.  These bottles are bound for Edmonton, Alberta but Tomo will pass it off to another driver as his truck is due in for some repair work in Billings.  He looks to be in the Billings area for at least a half day or more.  After clipping the unwise deer, some of the electrical components are not working so well.  The repair mechanic needs to put things back in place and check out some other points that have come up, like the 'jack brake'.  This important component has a mind of it's own and chooses the wrong time to work (going up hill) and the wrong time to take holiday (when going down hill)!!  Not a really helpful situation.  

More photos to follow as internet service comes available.  Maybe..... ; )

On the road to a secret venue!!! Going to visit my buddies!!

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At the last posting ....  February 15th .... Tomo was waiting for the word as to what he was suppose to do.  He had a load ready to go up to Calgary but was not able to move due to regulations. Probably another trailer swap for Tomo and he will be heading for ...... 

Well orders came in.  Tomo was told to head south to Shelby, Montana and spend the night there.  The next day (FEb 16th) he was to head to Lewistown, Montana to pick up a load of peat moss.  

Here is Tomo's trailer being cross loaded without scales in Lewistown, Montana

Outside of Billings, Montana

On Feb. 17th, Tomo left Billings, Montana and headed south.  He had a full DOT (Department of Transportation) inspection at the first scale in Wyoming on I-90.  This was taken care of real quick and the Tomo kept heading south. 

Middle of Wyoming

Driving Through Cheyenne, Wyoming

However, just before the first scale in Colorado, one of the airline blew out of the fittings and Tomo was forced to park at the scale for the night.  The following morning in Fort Collins, Colorado (Feb 18th) a guy came out and fix it. 

Dropping a load of peat moss in Platteville, Colorado

On Feb 18th, Tomo dropped this load of peat moss at the site in Platteville, Colorado. (This load was a real pain!  The weight was over and out of balance, and this was a nightmare to try to adjust the weights on the trailer's wheel base.) 

Nik's Basketball game at school (#82)

Then Tomo was released for the weekend to spend with his buddies in Windsor.Here is Tomo's buddy Nik playing in his basketball game in Windsor!!   

Tomo being silly with his buddies, Nik and Ellie

Not sure why Tomo is looking so....... 

The Windsor friends enjoyed having Tomo spend the weekend with them. Tomo made amazing soba noodles tonight and we also made a spinach recipe with peanut butter which we also devoured.  They were sure they were wearing him out -- and thought Tomo will appreciate the quiet of the truck!  We think it was a well needed break back into socializing!!  Glad he had a grand place to find some fellowship.  Thanks to all, Bjorn, Leanne, Ellie and Nik!!