Hanging Out In Georgia

from JoeUser Forums

Today finds me in Jackson, GA. I delivered a military trailer to a base in Kentucky on Thursday, and then a military vehicle to Ft Benning, GA yesterday.

The entire trip I was juggling my on duty hours to make sure I could get the Ft Benning vehicle delivered by the Friday deadline. It is going to be used for some urban warfare training next week.

Regulations require that we not exceed 11 hours of driving in a day, 14 consecutive hours of work time, or 70 hours of work time in an 8 day period. I have been bumping up against the 70 hour rule for the past several days and have had to cut my work days short, get up early, and run with whatever hours I had remaining in order to make my schedule. It's a real pain, but rules are rules and the penalties for exceeding the service hours are heavy these days.

I thought about just taking the weekend off so I could get in a 34 hour break, which would reset my hours back to a full 70, but decided that I would rather do so back up in Wisconsin where I could have the APU on my truck repaired while I take the down time. The air conditioner isn't working very well at the moment and really needs to be repaired.

After running the APU for a couple of hours last night I started smelling diesel fuel and got out to check on it. The APU was leaking fuel pretty badly so I shut it down, grabbed my tools and flashlight, and tracked down the leak. It only took a few minutes to repair the leak and I had it back up and running again in no time.

There is a little bar and grill next to the truck stop here, and it is the only indoor smoking establishment here, so I spent some time there last night. They also serve breakfast so I wandered in there this morning for some coffee and a smoke. I always enjoy a smoke with my coffee so it was a no brainer.

I am now waiting around to load some electrical switches about 30 miles from here. I spoke with the guy this morning, hoping I could get in there and get loaded early. He said they wouldn't be ready to load until this afternoon and I should call him around lunch time to set up a firm loading time.

I really wanted to get rolling early, mostly due to the pesky hours of service situation, but it is what it is. I'll use some of the waiting time this morning to do some laundry in the truck stop.

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8,109 views 17 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Is it ever going to cool down along your way?   Keep those fluids going.   :beer:   It sounds like you are staying pretty busy now.   Very hot in NM and deadly dry.  Most of the fires are out though.  Now THAT'S a hot summer job fighting those fires.

Well, take care and keep your cool.  Reaching out across the miles.  8 years quit within sight!  Go me.  judy

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

urban Warfare Training?  Shame they did not build that bridge to London!  They could have used it! ;)

Just got back from Myrtle Beach (went down for a weekend).  That was a real nice break.  I hope you manage to get one in as well once you get back to Wisconsin.  Interesting things going on up there as well.

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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Judy: Congratulations on 8 years, that is great. Good on ya. Yeah, am pretty busy these days, I just wish I could take a bit of time off now, but I have to make hay while the sun shines. Glad the fire danger there has died down. Dr Guy, my friend, hope you enjoyed Myrtle Beach. Is a fun place. Did yoou visit Dick'S Last Resort while there? It is one of my favorite eating joints there.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Just to toss in something different, I sold my house a while back and am now seriously considering buying a sail boat to make my home. I just need to save some more cash to pull it off, but at this point that is my plan.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting MasonM, reply 3
Did yoou visit Dick'S Last Resort while there? It is one of my favorite eating joints there.

No, but will make a note of it!  We went mo Renaissance theater place one night.  Food was not great, but the entertainment was pretty good!

Good luck on your sail boat!

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

A sail boat!  Yes!  Sounds cool, especially now in the heat of the summer!  Keep us informed.  Safe travels.

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Dr, reply 5

Quoting MasonM, reply 3Did yoou visit Dick'S Last Resort while there? It is one of my favorite eating joints there.

No, but will make a note of it!  We went mo Renaissance theater place one night.  Food was not great, but the entertainment was pretty good!

Good luck on your sail boat!

 

Dick's is next to the House Of Blues, and is a lot of fun. You must keep a sense of humor in that place.

 

I've been checking out boat prices online and have to say, for what I would need in order to live aboard, it's likely going to take a lot more cash than I thought at first. Probably just a pipe dream at this point.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting notronaj, reply 6
A sail boat!  Yes!  Sounds cool, especially now in the heat of the summer!  Keep us informed.  Safe travels.

Thanks, Judy.  As I mentioned above, it may take me a long time before I can swing it. A retirement plan perhaps?

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting MasonM, reply 7
I've been checking out boat prices online and have to say, for what I would need in order to live aboard, it's likely going to take a lot more cash than I thought at first. Probably just a pipe dream at this point.

No time like the present to start planning!  Hopefully, the economy will pick up in 2 years and you will not know what to do with all your spare cash!

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well I hope that will be the case. Thanks.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Once again you have just disappeared!  Are you on vacation or just tired of checking in with your fans?  Miss your comments Mason.  Hope all is well.  When do you get your new truck?   :grin:  

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
LOL sorry. I have been extremely busy with work lately. Running my ass off. I am currently hauling some high security, top secret military equipment to a proving ground on the coast of Maryland. It has to be there early Monday morning and "Can't be late no matter what" are the orders. Tomorrow I'll be driving right into hurricane Irene. It should be an interesting drive. Tonight I am hanging out in a motel bar in Ohio waiting for the other guys who are hauling the rest of this so-called "top secret" equipment. They will be meeting me here later tonight and we will all head out together tomorrow morning. We figure it will be safer to travel into the storm together just in case one of us runs into trouble. Of the four of us, I am the only one crazy enough to have driven through hurricanes before so it looks like I will be leading the parade.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Drive safe Rubber Duck.

Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
LOL thanks. It turned out to be nothing. The storm had already moved out by the time I got here. Smooth sailing all the way.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting MasonM, reply 15
LOL thanks.

It turned out to be nothing. The storm had already moved out by the time I got here. Smooth sailing all the way.

Very true - for me at least.  Lost power 10 days with Isabel, but Irene just caused burps.  Of course for 80% of the rest of the residents, that was not the case.

Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Dr, reply 16

Very true - for me at least.  Lost power 10 days with Isabel, but Irene just caused burps.  Of course for 80% of the rest of the residents, that was not the case.

 

There were some power outages in the areas I visited, but they were spotty.