I got the truck in the shop today.  Maintenance is calling and staying on top of it.  They at least have it in the shop looking at it to figure what is wrong with it.  My terminal manager is now being very wishy washy about paying my room.  That just pisses me off, the only reason I brought it into the shop instead of getting reloaded and heading closer to home is because he assured me he would give me money for a room.  I will be totally out the box crazy if I get stuck up here with no room and my truck not repaired. Apparently they don't give a crap if I abandon that piece of crap. Should have dead headed the 600 miles back to the terminal at least then I would have lunch paid for and not worry about if I'm going to have a bed to sleep in the next day.

Wow this year has been rough.  I have been in the shop every two or three weeks since I have had this truck.  After my cruise I ended up 4000 dollars in the hole.  I was lucky enough to have the support of the terminal manager and dispatcher that helped me with hotels, deferred payments on my truck, helped with bills and got me the best of the best loads.  Without their support I think I would have caved.  My truck has had one issue after another and most was manufacture warranty issues.  As of this date it has a complete overhead, new fuel system and filters, exhaust manifold, about 6 new sensors, computer updates, recalls handled, 10 oil leaks I think it is that were sealed, engine surges complete, clutch and flywheel replaced, sending unit for the fuel gauge replaced numerous times.  I have been in and out of the hole all year.  Next week I finally get a break my payments are cut in half until March.  I am now in a hotel while my truck is in the shop again.  I have told my company that I am completely through with this truck.  My dispatcher wrote nastygrams to everyone from the top down in the company, my Terminal manager agreed and supported me.  The company was informed that I was a loyal driver and top earner for my terminal and that I deserved a truck that will make me and the company money.  I was also told by EVERYONE in my terminal they wouldn't blame me a bit if I left it on the side of the road.  The Internal Director of maintenance has been working with me for several months trying to help me get this resolved.  I do have to commend the company they have NEVER refused any work on my truck.  They have always done what they could.  I am wondering if there are any competent mechanics in the lower 48 though!!  I believe I may be in the home stretch with this truck. The shop foreman in our California terminal finally got a guy to test drive my truck and it acted stupid with him.  (it's been a case of it deciding to act right every time anyone but me drives it lol)  So they knew what to attack to try and fix the loss of acceleration in 1st 2nd and 3rd gear.  After they replaced everything that is known to cause that it is still happening.  My DPF filter was replaced and the housing ended up warping and causing major exhaust in my cab.  That was attempted to be fixed and is now leaking again so the plans are to replace the whole system there.  So we have come to the conclusion that there is something electrical or wrong with the computer causing the sending unit for the fuel and the other sensors to not function properly.  The company is finally footing the bill for my room and giving me a little extra cash for whatever.  I hope I can stay loyal to them because I have established amazing relationships with my agents and load brokers and my chain of command.  Cross your fingers for me.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

After the Virgin Islands it was on to San Juan, PR.  Mom and I had decided when we booked the cruise at Christmas that we would do zip lining.  We were hoping that she would get to do it on her 77th birthday but that didn't work out.  She had to settle for the day before her birthday!  We took a short bus ride to the rain forest and got geared up.

We probably should have thought this out better.  Mom has bad knees, I am a smoker and the first hill about did us in.  We weren't sure we were even going to get to do this.  Straight up hill for maybe 200 yards?? We were quit pathetic.  Once we conquered the first hill the rest wasn't as bad.  I was so glad to see the first platform.  I must say that I really sucked at zip lining!!  I was really good at coming down, except when I started going head first instead of feet first, and when I couldn't stop, and when there were trees at the end of the line.  Mom was awesome she did so much better than me but didn't take as good a picture!

Me just not getting the hang of brakes!

hill that kicked our butts!

easy part of the hike.

Mom doing awesome

After we did the zip lining we headed back to the ship and did some shopping.  Found some cool clothes, saw some great sites and as I did in ever port I found jewelry!

Black and White beach

there were a couple stands like this that dressed you up
 like a pirate and  load you up with birds.

The actual boat used as the Black Pearl

The Virgin Islands

After hitting the Bahamas we took off to the Virgin Islands.  We landed in St. Thomas and then we stood around on the dock waiting for our excursion of the day.

Mom and I decided to do a dolphin swim.  This required us to actually go to the British Virgin Islands rather than the US side.  While we were waiting to hop on our tour boat we met a gal Gina who just was a hoot.  We made her join in on the family pictures!!! This first green boat had us thinking we were going to have a great ride to the BVI... boy did we guess wrong.

This was our actual boat... it had so much oil dumping into the water it was unreal!!!  We decided to hop up on the upper level seeing all the billows of black smoke just gushing from it.

We had a blast with a little boy on the top, we got him throwing his hands up in the air like it was a roller coaster!  We arrived in Tortola BVI at the customs building after a 45 minute trip and I immediately was chewed out for not having a shirt on.  Sheesh, the excursion director told us to wear our bathing suits.  I had my suit and a sarong around the waist.  Major indiscretion apparently.  He let me through after making sure I knew he wouldn't let me in HIS building again if I wasn't dressed properly.  Even though our tour guide can give us a tour and leave his fly down the whole way through. Good thing I had clothes in my hiking pack!  We then hopped on a bus to the dolphin area and boy these island drivers can drive the hell out of a vehicle in some crazy places .

The dolphin swim was amazing! We immediately got in the water with the dolphins.  They did a ton of tricks for us and jumps.  They kiss you, pose for the camera but letting you grab their fins and ride on their tummies was incredible.  I have tons of pictures from it but decided it wouldn't be prudent to post all gazillion of them!

Miami and The Bahamas

Bus Ride to Miami at ungodly hours

The boat taking forever to turn around

Mom and I had to leave at 5 something in the morning. Her neighbor drove us up to the Denny's by her house and we caught the charter to Miami to meet the cruise ship.  The bus was crowded and miserable.  Maybe that is just because I am not the most pleasant person first thing in the morning.  I managed to get out of her house dressed, packed, ready to go.... except for the bluetooth and phone charger I left plugged in the kitchen right on the counter by my coffee I finished.  So typical for me to forget at least one thing .

The Carnival Glory docked in Miami

This was my first cruise and it was just total overload.  We sat at the dock in Miami for quite a while with two other cruise ships.  When it finally came to the send off party it was pretty amusing.  The other two ships took off and were already in full swing with the passengers.  We were docked facing the other direction sooooooo the big send off party when we started moving was QUITE the disappointment.  We started cruising and went all the way to the end of the channel and it took an hour it seemed to turn around and head out on the real cruise.  Bummer!!

Nassau

We made it to our first stop in Nassau, The Bahamas and did a little shopping first thing before we headed to Atlantis and Paradise Island.  The Straw Market was a cool little place to barter and buy some island crafts.  I was darn near mugged by the ladies that braid hair for all the tourists.  They would have made a killing off all my hair at $3 a braid!  The didn't even ask mom to do her hair... go figure.

One of the million dollar pieces at Atlantis resort.

As you enter Atlantis and head to the aquarium you pass through their casino with several of these pieces of art.  They are all made of hand blown glass and they paid a million dollars US for each piece.  This one was my favorite of them.





We walked through the aquarium and the tanks were amazing.  The sea life they have in this resort is just incredible to watch.

The span on this beauty was over 8 feet long.

Eels inside Atlantis.

Outside the resort they have a man made lagoon.  You can snorkel outside or inside the main tank with the the fish they have confined.  There is a beautiful beach and the water was as clear as glass.

Mom and Me outside by the lagoon at Atlantis.

Sharing my new lounger with Mom.

After our walk through the resort and aquarium we walked to Paradise Island where there is a craft square similar to the straw market and did some more shopping.  I spend a little bit and the ladies there with their crafts were just friendly as can be.  We hopped on the bus back to the docks driving on the wrong side of the road and almost got t-boned twice.  I could NEVER get used to the traffic there and they just honk and go without waiting to see if there is room for them in traffic!! Holy cow it I couldn't find my passenger brake pedal.

After returning to the boat we headed up top to the lido and got to watch a real send off this time.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh

My parents house has become such a refuge for me.  I savor the time I spend here.  There are few places that I am so relaxed at that I can fall asleep sitting up in.  I was just here at Christmas but I am glad I am back.  I can sit outside and listen to the frogs by the pond, watch the cranes and different birds during the day or I can just pull out the nook and catch up on reading I don't get done on the road.  It is my little world in a bubble here in Florida.  I have GOT to start making some money so I can buy a house down this way.

Chillaxing

Wow I didn't realize how exhausted I have been.  It is nice knowing I don't have anything but vacation for the next two weeks. I drop the truck off on Thursday then heading to Miami. From Miami I leave for the Carribean. Wow! I grew up crossing into Canada to beat the drinking age but this is the first trip out of country I count since I actually had to get a passport. I have wanted to hit Puerto Rico since meeting some great folks when I attended Indiana Weslyan. One trip off my bucket list.  Now I will have to save up for Africa, Greece and Italy! I guess if I can finally afford to travel I better get on it! Pictures to come.

Lots of things to do...

I delivered in Atlanta yesterday then through the forest and landed at home. Talked to my DM to see what can be done about my financial situation.  After my other truck breaking down I was $1100 in the hole then got it up to $400 in the hole... did two more loads with stops in between for maintenance and now am back to $1100 in the hole.  After the next two weeks off I expect I will be over $2000 in the hole and IF it only takes three weeks to get out of it I will have not seen any money to myself in 3 months.  We are going to talk to my terminal manger since this new truck has given me more problems than my other two combined.  I am dropping this one off to have the oil centrifuge housing replaced and have a rebuild done on the engine.  I'm hoping it will be done by the time my vacation is done so I can crawl out of debt.

Giant puzzles

Do it yourself grain equipment being loaded for Louisiana ... have all this stuff and 3 more crates to go

Back to Square One

It has been 2 years since I started driving for CRST Malone. I am hoping that this is the beginning of finally owning a decent truck.  I have been doing a lot of repairs that could have been prevented if it was properly kept up before me.  I do have the truck with the least amount of mileage on the fleet. 
I am anxious to get going on my up and coming vacation with my Mom. The last time I went on one was when my adult children were toddlers.
I'm heading to Louisiana with this load hope to get there by Thursday weather permitting.