____Day 1: A lethargic start to the 1000 mile run down to Arkansas. Late getting up, then late because of all the gossiping with other drivers. Crossing the border at midday, I reach the Sisseton scale in South Dakota and feel really tired. At Watertown, I've had enough; I'm on the bunk at six o'clock in the evening. There for 13 hours.
____Day 2: A good breakfast at Stone's Truckstop; watching the Weather Channel giving out tornado warnings. Southbound on Interstate 29, I am passed by two storm chasers; the wind does get up to gale force but all I see in the sky are geese heading north. Every mile that Interstate 29 has to offer, Pembina to Kansas City, then US Highway 71 for a night at the Joplin Flying 'J.
____Day 3: An hours drive in the morning to Springdale, Arkansas. A small builders merchants with a handy restaurant next door for an after-unloading coffee. The reload is from Midlothian, Texas, steel going to Alberta with a note that I have to supply my own dunnage. So it's back round to the builders merchant to buy some lumber; exactly the same as I just delivered. Then more Highway 71, south to Texarkana with the wooded hillsides of Arkansas becoming green with a southern spring's new leaves. Interstate 30 to Dallas before parking at my destination's city-centre Pilot Truckstop, just before dark.
____Day 4: I wake up in the heart of Midlothian, a stones throw from the steelworks. Where they reject my softwood dunnage and make me go and buy some hardwood 4x4 lengths from a local haulier. You can't argue, if you want to get loaded. Loaded, tarped and away, I still have enough time for 1000 km in the day. Taking the useful diagonal Highway 287 over to Childress before turning north on Highway 83. Out of Texas, across Oklahoma okay and up to Oakley, Kansas, for a night at my all time favorite truckstop; Mittens. The only truckstop in the industry where the showers have the Wow factor.
____Day 4: I wake up in the heart of Midlothian, a stones throw from the steelworks. Where they reject my softwood dunnage and make me go and buy some hardwood 4x4 lengths from a local haulier. You can't argue, if you want to get loaded. Loaded, tarped and away, I still have enough time for 1000 km in the day. Taking the useful diagonal Highway 287 over to Childress before turning north on Highway 83. Out of Texas, across Oklahoma okay and up to Oakley, Kansas, for a night at my all time favorite truckstop; Mittens. The only truckstop in the industry where the showers have the Wow factor.
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