Get Out Of The Truck And Explore

Magnificent!

Best part of the job. Last week I got to spend a day in Rapid City ,SD. Got to just hang around town trying craft beer and eating good food haha. That's my idea of adventure anyways. I want to do a fishing trip in Alabama in the future.

Got to Visalia, CA Saturday morning for a Monday delivery. Hmm, what to do on this reset?

A quick look at the map, 1 hour and a $43 rental car later, we're in the Sequoia National Park. Getting in the park was free since I already have the park pass that grants me entry into any national park in the country. An unplanned, inexpensive, impromptu little adventure that would have probably never happened were it not for being a truck driver.

Take advantage of opportunities while you're out on the road. You never know where it'll take you.

Swimming in Lake Kaweah

Exploring the Giant Forest with Mrs. Turtle

Me at the base of some smaller Sequoias

"General Sherman", the largest tree in the world.

And a hike to a spectacular vista

Sure the money is great, but this is really why I do this.

Sweet!

Brett taught you well!

Sure the money is great, but this is really why I do this.

This is one of the things our moderators all have in common.....they get out there and enjoy their lives on the road. When I got started in trucking it was purely for the adventure of it all. I wanted to drive one of those cool American Big Rigs and see this beautiful land. I wanted to live like a gypsy in that truck and call the highways of America my home. My entire life on the road was a Bob Seger song. It was absolutely fantastic!

I had so much fun out there it's almost impossible to believe. I went to NASCAR and NHRA races and tons of local track racing from coast to coast. I went to football games at every level - little league, high school, NCAA, and the NFL. I went to concerts, festivals, and celebrations. I spent countless weekends running around Vegas, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, and everywhere in between. I also did a lot of jogging to stay in shape and ran in every environment imaginable from the beaches to the deserts to the high mountains.

It has always puzzled me that there is so much incessant negativity directed toward trucking by the people who simply don't seem to get it. Not only does trucking pay a fantastic wage, but these people totally fail to see the adventure of it all. For me, the adventure was the whole point! I was super happy to be making great money, no question about it, but the experience of living on the road all those years was just priceless.

Turtle, I like your style. You know how to do it right. Happy anniversary!

Totally awesome idea there Turtle. I've been fortunate in my miniscule amount of time here to partake in some of these great travel rates as well.

In the last four weeks I've enjoyed Colorado Springs for craft brew, Las Vegas with the wife for a reset where we saw shows and got to within two feet of a giant piece of the Titanic (no pictures allowed just believe me), and stayed cheap at the Tropicana while the truck slept in Primm at whiskey Pete's.

Next month I'm planning to park the truck in our Pittston terminal , fly the wife into the adjacent airport and go explore Boston and the north east together. Really maximizing the time we have together doing this so far and partaking in vacations for half the air fare rate essentially.

Very much agreed, go out and explore

Great pics turtle. Your also 3 hours from the central coast with tons of amazing wineries. Just take 198 to 41 south and head straight. It’s my old stomping grounds. I lived in Lemoore for 32 years. The yellowstone trip sounds amazing also.

Most awesome pix, Mr. and Mrs. Turtle! We went to Yelly about 10 years ago and I kept telling the hubby about that SECRET SPOT (actually many acres) that is owned by NO STATE... hahahaha...he kept watching his back, butt, etc.. I'd never off him, was just a bone of contention (still is, haha!)

Brett, YO... you are right there in the 'daks. POST PICS, would ya? My brother hiked there.. i was a little kiddo back then... but the photos were amazing. HUGE part of my scrapbook....even if in raw form.

Okay, now I'm getting jelly, haha!

Awesome, Turtle.

Brett.....PIX?!? :) If i ever figure it out, I can post pix of our creek, and an old, non functional bridge over it, and our 'raft' we use to navigate, LoL...!

Hubby heading out. hope to see replies tmrw, haha!

the truck slept in Primm at whiskey Pete's.

Did ya happen to walk in the casino to see the actual Bonnie & Clyde car? It's a little known fact that the car is there on display.

Im about to do some adventuring tommorow im leaving flowery branch ga in a few heading to allentown pa been doing some online hunting what i see are alot of caverns off 81 in va i dont deliver till friday at 7 which leaves me a ton of extra time does anyone know which cavern was truck friendly i know ive seen a sign for a caverns saying truck friendly but cant remember which one any other advice adventures for a country boy on this route im not interested in city boy type adventures. Thanks