Back and Forth

Why do i fall for the oldest trick in the book,message your trailer will be ready at 8pm loaded for Charlottetown PEI,i know gulable or what i get over to the customer and with amazement it wasn't loaded.Note to self stop being a thick ed !!!!.So message to office going to bed will go back at 6 in the morning,So early to rise i go back in and 5 mins later notes in hand off i go and collect my trailer.All i wanted to do was get out of Toronto before rush hour so a quick pretrip and off i set and head up the 401 east.This journey we do it time and time again so i pretty well know where to stop etc and how long it takes to get to each place so everything planned out i head back towards Quebec then New Brunswick.Well the sun decided to come out and play big style the air con struggling to keep the cab cool as the temps rose when i hit Montreal, now the temp gauge is pretty accurate so you can see how hot it got. A quick message sent later the next day do you want me to bring this trailer to the Island and a very polite message recieved, would i be interested in dropping trailer in Moncton and going straight back out,yeah no probs for me, keep me busy, unfortunately the Texas or California i was dreaming about didnt materialize a load of carrots for Cambridge, ON the same bloody road i have just come up ARRRRRH.I go to pick my trailer up now this customer think nothing of keeping you there a good while and even though this is an inter depot delivery the destination wharehouse can also keep you there 8/9 hrs (thats when there in a rush lol).Now the trailer was already on a bay and after a quick look noticed the trailer wheels in an illegal postion for New Brunswick,after i picked it up i now know why, 40 mins it took me to shift the bloody things, again some Lazy arse couldn't be bothered to sort it out leaving it to someone else,if i had run through this province with it like this and pulled on a scale it is an instant $1000 fine, so someone was very lucky to have got it here like this.A quick jaunt back to Woodstock and a very weary head hit the pillow.

What a Big Girl i am

I hope normal service will be resumed pretty soon,i thought i would have a read of what tripe i have put on here for the last few months,i sound like a big mard girl whinging on about hard this is, yes it is but get a grip you big soft lad.So after my woman moment had passed off i went to do some work, sometimes you know straight away that this isn't going to be one off the better days, pretrip done off i went to pick my trailer up,yep this wasn't going to be a good start to the day,i always check my load and then secure it then reseal the trailer,the whole bloody load had been shot, 1 nice kind driver had left it like this,there goes my nice steady day.I backed the trailer on to the bay now there are 3 things i can do here,1,Help restack the load and guess how much i get paid for doing this (along side another driver who works just on the island who gets paid by the hour),2, Sit in my cab and wait till its been restacked or 3,go home.Well i lose out in every way i will still take the load but the longer it takes the later i will have to work, so i opt for helping them restack it,3 hours for absolutely nothing, i wonder if the driver who did this was having such a nice day hopefully his ears were burning.So i set off now a lot later than i intended i wanted to get down to Kittery Maine but now thats looks like to much and to be honest i didnt really want to work that late so i planned to stop at Bangor ME,a nice uneventfull trip down to the border where for a very nice change the lady guard was ever so pleasent (For a change).My destination was Scaramento Pennsylvannia so sunday was all running,there are certain States that allow bikers not to wear helmets i couldn't list them except as you got to the Connecticut/New York state line there were loads of bikers pulling up to put there Helmets on,it sort of made me chuckle (yes small things and all that).So i parked up in the customers yard ive been there loads of times they just give you a knock in the morning when they want you, so you dont have to get up and sit there waiting.I think i have mentioned it before Sacramento is part of the tri valley region settled into the Valleys (DERRR)about 15 miles off the i 81,there is a harmish community here and it reminds me of a wild west area, all you need do is rip the tarmac up and it would be of resmblelance to those sort of towns.Well im tipped pretty handy so off i head back to the highway, now it is school time all the kids are sat in there own verandas waiting for the bus to pick them up not running around or causing havoc, just sitting there i was gonna take some piccys but thought better about taking piccys of Kids,the bus then stops at each house non of this where mums drive them to school causing bedlam with all the cars on the road.My reload was out of Vineland New jersey i had been to the industrial place before but not to this customer,we are down this way all the time now the last time i went here i went down the US 322 route but i decided i would take route 40 towards Atlantic City, i really like to get away from the Highways,Interstates etc and onto proper roads driving through quaint villages and towns and seeing the America i want to see, this road takes you through Woodstown and Elmer and these towns didn't dissappoint, when i have more time im going to park and have a shufty around.I get to the customer and after booking in i was told to wait a while (now theres a surprise)not bad only 1 film later (Father of the bride with Steve Martin)given a bay the guy starts loading me 16 pallets of pears going to Toronto so off he goes duly loading me unfortunately he absolutely demolishes 1pallet base,i think that needs to be sorted buddy i said,no probs he said, i was about to put the broken part under the base before he put it back down, no you dont need to do that mate he said put it in the garbage,ok you know better, Guess what happened next,CRASH the whole bloody pallet fell over, the dispatch was full of pears( Quite tasty actually lol) an army of little men came to restack it, now for the 10 points guess where they wanted to put the restacked pallet,do you give up On my truck thick eds i know he couldn't understand why i wasn't having any of that.This was badly stacked if it gets refused at the destination i then have the problen of going to try and getting it off loaded somewhere and yes without pay so You have more chance platting sawdust mate,eventually problem solved 1 new pallet arrived i signed the notes and off i set, well not very far just down to Carneys Point, a quick weigh off told me i was slightly overloaded on my drive axle so a quick shufty with the Tandems to sort that, fax my paperwork to my broker im good to roll.I really love the drive through Pennsylvannia i could live in this part of the world the rolling hills,mountains etc.I head north up the 476, then when i get to Hazelton i take the i 80 west before taking the i 180 towards Williamsport,not having anything to eat i decided against my better judgement to take in a maccys UKKK UKKK UKKKK i normally keep well clear of such junk.I had already ready informed despatch that i wasn't going to make my delivery time,i told them what time i was going to arrive (4 hours later)but there didnt seem to be a problem,so i arrived here just outside Toronto, no one about they were all sat there in despatch watching a safety video, so off i went to take in a bit off the 31 degree heat Lovely,not bad 1 hr later off i roll to the truck stop down the road for a lovely shower and some better food.

The Deepest Darkest Hour

It seems to be all doom and gloom at the moment,i thought i would take a couple of days off to recharge the batteries but unfortunately this has been the worst thing to do.At this moment i have an overwhelming desire to flit back to the Uk,not because of the job or Canada but the absolute desperation to be with Lady Pen,even though im on a count down of when im going back it doesn't matter i just want to be there and not here on my own.You can plan,research and do all things possible to make it over here, but you cant prepare yourself for this, its like an addiction a craving and even a bereavement,i knew it would be hard but never this hard.

Oh how im glad thats over with

Well my Reload came through Sat morning, A load of produce from Vineland NJ going to Toronto for 6am the next morning,this is where the next few days went all wrong.I get to Vineland only to be told the order isn't ready it may be some time, this is at 11.30am,they weren't wrong 9.30 pm i was duly loaded then told to come back in half an hour for my bills ARGGGGG.1 full day without earning a cent,eventually i get my notes to be told, YES told you will be there on time won't you by the customer, well i will let you use your imagination of what the answer was.All i wanted to do was to get out of Philadelphia then park up.Last thing to do before sleep,send a message explaining my situation, then sleep.Having my time off i decided on getting a shower then hopefully hitting Toronto just before tea time, no need to rush was the message i was sent they shut at 11.00am we've rebooked it for 5 am in the morning.The route i was taking was to take me through Niagra Falls in which there is a massive outlet shopping centre, so i decide to have a couple of hours walking around the shops, no i didn't buy anything maybe next time.Normally before i get to the border i give my broker a call to make sure everything is ok with my paperwork and that im clear to cross the border,but this time with my mind occupied with retail thoughts well i forgot,bloody typical i get to the border and im not clear to cross (thats what happens when somone else says they will fax all the paperwork through)so a delay of nearly 2 hours before everything is sorted.My delivery time was at 5 which wasn't a problem, me then thinking well i will be able to get a little shut eye while they tip me, OH i wasn't wrong 8 1/2 hrs later i was still on a bay,the icing on the cake or so i thought was when the guy came out with my bills and asked for $89.00 for the pleasure of them tipping me and keeping me there nearly 9 hrs in which i have earn't absolutely nothing,My Pleasure you robbing T***s.I had already recieved my reload so off to Brampton where we have stand trls and result mine was loaded,now this was the icing on the cake some total asshole had dropped the trailer in there with 3 Bald tyres and 1 flat one you can imagine what sort of mood i was in now,i then wait 2 hrs for a guy to come out and change them, now upto this point since saturday morning (this is now 4pm monday)i worked out my total earnings was $159.00, so i was in no mood for the tyre fitter to tell me that he wasn't going to torque my wheels up (basically because the idiot had forgot to bring it with him)well this is where he recievd the full rath of me and was told to go and F*****g get it and Torque Them up D***eD. 1 hour later he duly returned and finished the job he started.My trailer was loaded with 2 drops Shediac NB and Summerside PEI,which i thought no probs ha ha ha again WRONG,when i get to Shediac on Wed morning i saw the recieving bay you couldn't get a box on it never mind about 15 pallets,i really need one of those stress dolls i think, no probs i say give me a shout when your ready i say through very gritted teeth,i finally left 7 1/2 hrs later.I had decided on my way back that im going to take a couple of days off so all i wanted to do was to get rid off the rest of this load and get out of here, well the first bit of luck came in a message my final delivery point won,t accept there delivery just drop the trailer there and pick an empty one up and head back to the yard, well you don't have to tell me twice.

Gloucester, Massachusetts

My reload out of Sydney was a load of Snow Crab for Gloucester, Ma,glad i was checking the pallets before they started to load me as i seem to be 1 case short and i believe this stuff is pretty expensive, ever the professional i hear you say (well actually i had just nipped in to use to bathroom and noticed it stroke of luck really) i was even asked what time i wanted it booking in for, so after a bit of planning i asked for a dinner time booking which was easily doable,it is about 28 miles North East of Boston so it wasn't that far.Again another place i haven't been to, i was rather impressed with the place but then again i love places by the sea,even more so by the people i met at my delivery point, i was asked if I didn't mind waiting while the guy who was to unload me finished his break,IF I DIDN'T MIND im not used to such pleasentrys.I don't know how long he was having but by the time id put the kettle on and made my All Bran he had unloaded me.The problem with this job as i keep saying is you don't seem to get time (or rather you don't make time) to have a look around places,yes i have travelled extensively but i can't really say, well i enjoyed going here or that was a nice place your sort of on the move all off the time, not really experiencing what i set out to do.I bought a motorhome back in England to go and visit the places i always said i would go back to and seeing them as a tourist not as a driver was pretty good.When David came over we did start to have a look around it is definately nicer when there is someone to do it with, but i have decided that im going to start being a bit of a tourist as well from now on .So delivery complete of i head in the direction of the town and then the harbour,what i love about the houses over here is that they are all different some very obscure ones some very spectacular, taking it all in sort of made me think how much i don't see as im rushing from one place to another.After about 2 hours of walking around i headed back to the truck,Message head for New Jersey for reload in the morning,humm bit of a difference to the 30 ft i went for my last reload this is the best part of 370 mile.Everything was going fine up to a place called New Haven just on the i 91 where i heard on the CB that there was an accident further up the road so a quick scan off the map i jumped off the next exit and headed for my detour,well it was only as i started to turn on the highway i saw a big sign NO Commercial Vehicles oh poop i couldn't go back as everyone had piled up behind me so making the descision to continue i jumped on the carriageway,well about 3 mile down the road a car came down the side of me shouting and bawling your not supposed to be on here this carried on for mile after mile after mile, i was planning to jump off the next exit so as i approached it,the signal went on and this pratt also decided to come off as well, up to the lights out he jumped and a torrent of how im not supposed to be on there rained all over me, Well mr car driver im very sorry for not being so bloody perfect as im sure you are, and not knowing every road on the planet, next time please inform your co comrades leave me enough space so i can alter my direction, yours humbly MR Dumass Truck Driver.Anyway my little jaunt paid off pretty nice as i jumped back on the highway, i had missed the accident and all the traffic so Result.The temp really started to rise and became very humid then we got the mother of all storms, i saw one like this a couple of years back in Florida but i wasn't driving through it at the time, it was like someone aiming a preasure hose at your windshield constantly, this went on for mile upon mile all the cars were pulling up on the Hard shoulder then the thunder and lightning started it was like a fire work display,so making my last leg slow going i eventually made it to Carneys Point NJ where i'll stay until tomorrow.

Canada's Ocean Playground

Sydney, Nova Scotia was my heading which is on the eastern tip of the Province,i have been to Nova Scotia before but only just (Halifax and Amhurst) , so it was a bit of a pleasent surprise of what then followed.Well i must of admit the scenery is absolutely stunning when you get down to Cape Breton, unfortunately here is where i made a huge mistake,after you go over the Canso Causeway there are 2 ways to go,as there is an inland sea dividing this part, one the Trans Canadian or highway4 the route that Mr Tom wanted me to take, against my better judgement i took the latter i realised straight away that this wasn't the most apporiate way and the lack of trucks should of made me realised.You get use to highways which are large wide carriageways this route was bearly a country road and probably the most bumpiest road i have travelled i felt like id been thrown from pillar to post for over 40 kms,but on the upside the views were beautifull.I managed to get to my drop only 8 hrs late as i already had let them know, off to receiving to be greeted by telling me that everyone had gone home and they wont be back until 6 am (this was at 2.30 in the afternoon)shame no one informed me that there wouldn't be anyone there.So it was an early finish for the day,i have been trying to get my fitness back to what it was before i came out here, the previous evening i did an 8 mile run around Grand Falls NB, so i felt a big walk was in order, so off i trotted towards town.You really do forget why your here it seems to be work and sleep so getting out and away from the truck and having a good look around really does make a change,in this job you see so many places at 65 mile mph you don't actually appreciate it.I also forgot how heavy groceries could be, it took me back to my first few weeks over here without a car, i thought i might as well as pick up some supplies, it was only after i had came out of the shop i realised that i had to carry them back about 2 miles.I was unloaded first thing and i had recieved a message that my reload was also in Sydney a quick look at the address made me realised it was actually about 30 ft across the road from where i was so that was pretty handy.This time i headed for the Trans Canadian and again the veiws were awesome,the sad thing about these roads are the lack of laybys for you to pull into to get out and really experience what is around, it has really made a change coming over to this part of Canada even though its just on our doorstep we don't get over here to often.

Off to Sydney

My Reload back to Moncton consisted of 2 collections,quite straight forward humm! they were until i got to the first pick up place,the response was: Why do they keep sending you here its the wrong place no probs i said please put me in the right direction of i went on my happy little way.I get to the right place presented my self to the guy in shipping gave him my number, with that the blank expressions started to appear,what i have noticed over her is the total lack of help anyone is willing to give you if things don't match up (pick up numbers etc)normally you get told, Go and get in touch with your despatch those numbers are wrong,but not here the guy couldn't do enough for me he was on the phone in and out of the office and eventually everything was sorted,so off i went to my second pick up which was loaded without much trouble.I headed out of Toronto back east,running into some awful weather,torential rain then pretty bad fog the one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the stupity off some drivers,these trucks over here don't have mudguards or any sort of spray surpressers as we do in the UK so they kick up a hell of alot of spray so the visibillity behind is pretty much zero, and low and behold here comes joe bloody blogs going hell for leather with Gladys and the Gran kids with not so much as a candle light coming out of his car then wonders why all and sundry keep cutting him up(even though i singled this prat out i lost count of the cars without any lights on),There are certain States in the U S that have made a law saying that if your windscreen wipers are on you must have your lights on i think there is definately a need for some sort of education to these half wits.I did my delivery and headed back to the Island for a

couple of days off,just made it over the Confederation Bridge before they closed it due to

high winds which was a stroke of luck.I had a few things to do, first was to get my car MVi this is there equivilent to the MOT except i think its a bit of a farce and not half as strict as the latter, any pleased it passed as the thing had run out the week before i couldn't bear to be without a car now.Second was to get myself a new cooler as the one i had, had decided to pack up, undecided on what to get i get chatting to another one of our drivers telling him my dilemma, the conclusion was buy a proper fridge from walmart take the cupboard out of the truck and its fits in beautifully, just like his as he shown me, except his was broken as well so

off we jumped into his truck and down to Walmart to exchange his a get mine.Job completed fridge running one of our fitters came into the yard and low and behold he's only got a mssive pot of freshly cooked caught that morning lobster in his truck,after offering the pair of us one each in which we refussed first mainly because im so uneducated i haven't got a clue what your supposed to do with them, after a little lesson of what to do we greatly accepted,(basically you just smash them up and tear them apart and rip the meat out of them)what a sight we must of looked but i must say what a fantastic taste and i can't wait to get out and catch my own. Ive been staying in the Cornwall Hilton (aka Sunny King Motel)since i arrived over here the rooms are a cross between a 1970's porn set and Crossroads,its been ok but i have been looking for something else, i get a call to let me know there was a room up for rent on the other side off town so off i set to have a look at it unfortunately due to the cost which was more than what i was paying and the owner then not sure what to charge, left me still not sure what im going to do.So the hectic couple of days come to an end and ive got 2 drops in Toronto,i pack everything into the truck and notice the fridge aint very cold at all, infact the inverter had switched itself off no probs i switch it back on and set on my way i get to the Inspection place at Borden (this is just before the Bridge) and again notice the inverter had switched itself off this came a very very regular occurance.After 2 days of this i bought a new one and hey presto it works a treat, maybe buying a second hand one wasn't the brightest idea but you live and learn.I arrived at the Ontario Food market to be greeted yep we will have it all here normally they just take a couple of pallets of then make you tip the rest around in the cold storage, so i was in and out pretty quickly heading out of Toronto north to a place called Bradford which was about 1 hour away again tipped within 20 mins,heading back south i get my reload a quick glance told where i was going so i made my way there a load of Beef back to Moncton or so i thought,it was only when i was writing my trip sheet out realised that the delivery was for Sydney Nova Scotia this is right at the tip of N S.It was only then i i saw the delivery time even if i had concord there is no way i could of made it so a quick message was sent and was told that it was going to be rebooked.I often wonder why it takes so long to load when the stuff is ready and on the bay waiting for you, after a 4 hour wait im loaded and sent on my way, not far though just to the truck stop up the road for a quick bite to eat and a lot of shut eye.

Mr Blue Sky

The problem with me is this,if i don't like something it starts to escalate into mamouth portions but then what happens is i feel that the world is against me i'm backed into a corner, i come out fists ready and all guns blazing, it does take time for me to simmer down back to the placid side that i like to be at.Well i reckon thats where im at again nice and chilled and ready for what the world is going to throw at me, and most of all enjoy what im actually doing, i sort of got stuck in a rut and forgot why im doing this, so as Buzz reminds me every morning "To infinity and Beyond"Off the fish run i came to do a couple of trips down to New Jersey then up to Toronto (we do a thing called the Triangle the run takes about 5 days and takes you in a triangle Shape run, Derr if you hadn't guessed)so the change has been good, i have been dropping hints like California is nice and i wouldn't mind going to Arizona but they seem to be falling on deaf ears maybe one day Please!!!!!!The work has picked up again which is good, i think there will also be different sort of runs as the fishing season has started again on the island so If anyone in California wants to buy some Lobster from PEI please request me to deliver it to you Lol.