Comments By Dave S (formerly known as KnowItAll)

That's an area I'll avoid at all cost. Especially US60 west out of Paducah Kentucky.

Sounds about right. I have some video of my cave adventure. One of these days I'll up it to YouTube so I share it with y'all.

That looks like Americold in Carthage MO that Buttball uses.

This was somewhere in MO.

Above is the entrance. You make a right to get to the loading doors.

Watch out for those rock columns!

This particular place wasn't too tight. Not simple, but at least it you can sight side back.

Can confirm! 10/10 and 2 thumbs up. Their Chicken Alfredo is so big and so awesome!

Haven't actually bought anything from the store there but have ordered stuff online. That count? Always some sweet trucks in the lot every time I stop at the Iowa80.

I'll stop there if I have a trainee who's never been and we have time.. otherwise if I'm out of hours and need a 10, you'll find me across the Street at the pilot. The museum is absolutely worth a look, but I've never had a truly good meal at the Iowa 80 kitchen. For excellent food stop at the TA on I-80 in Morris, IL exit 112 and eat at "R" Place.

T/A @ North Bend WA 10/07/19.

There was sleet and snow in those clouds.

Hey! That's my stomp'n grounds!

There is also another memorial site by the post office.

And a fitting picture taken just up the road on my last trip through here, in Hutchinson, KS. at another memorial.

I'd say there is a turning point where doing something you did six months ago is now easy. You look back and say, "why was that back so hard the first time."

My current (and first student) come on my truck broke. Needless to say, I've kept him fed. If a few dollars here and there keeps their stress down it makes for a safer environment. If you want, call it cost of doing business.

Without a refrigerator? Ouch! A broke student needs a fridge for lunch meat and whatnot.

Before bobtailing anywhere (like to Walmart for things), lay down the ground rules. Like what you and they should and shouldn't expect. Next, ask questions to find out their level of knowledge. If the student doesn't know the difference between a tire and rim you'll know quickly that you have some work todo.

Like you, I have a family history of teachers. It's a stressful challenge with rewards.

Good luck and drive safe!

During the week (5 days) I was on the Walmart dedicated run. There was only one 10 hour break that wasn't taken out on the road some where. All runs were less then 550 miles round trip with no back hauls. If I would have lived around Loveland and decided to stay on the Walmart account I could have been home most weekends for a 34 reset.

Technically speaking, I'm regional. Ohio west. But that doesn't mean I haven't been or won't go east of there. Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina are all states I've had stops in since going solo October 28, 2018. Probably spent the most time in Pacific northwest and California with trips to the midwest then back out west.

Since picking up my new truck in Springfield on 9/12 my stops have been; Springfield, Cheyenne, Loveland, Great Falls, Missoula (stopped to pickup student), Twin Falls, Denver, Manison NE, Seattle, Quincy WA and heading back to Seattle today.

Point being, I'm OTR but not a super big region. One could almost say, regional. Meat west, potatoes and onions (sometimes fruit) east as I like to say.