Goodaye all, an interesting week in some ways, did not go to plan in others and then left me with a long visit to Pheasants Nest where I sit. Off to a good start with a plan to get my four legs in and then three services all together. Didn’t work last week, only getting home Saturday and leaving Sunday and won’t get there at all this week. Had plans to fit new drive mudflaps if I did, but that and other jobs back at least another week and will leave me scrambling to get all the little jobs planned to attend TRUCKFEST in Sydney in two weeks.
Out Sunday after lunch and into Toowoomba that night, got a text from a mate was given a new Volvo and readying for first trip. Spoke later in the week and he is enjoying the ride and the tech. Unload Monday morning and into Brissie, load out, “Oh, can you take one pallet for Gundi?” yes, but it will mean staying there for the night as won’t get unloaded till Tuesday morning. So out there and sleep before radio and was parked near directly opposite the bowsers at the BP and thought it might stand out, but no one saw me for the radio spot, doner and back to bed.
Had been given a choice from Moree, only to be told it had changed before I could choose, then had to split to unload b trailer and what a bugger of a driveway and exit. Then had to wait for them to load their own truck and back to head off, only to find I needed timbers, so stopped in Warialda thinking, AH that looks like a toilet at the livestock wash, but of course, locked out as I have no AV data key, bugger. So much for Truckies facilities, but do understand the need to protect them, maybe I should try and get one, can you help Bruce?
Got another call go and they will find some timbers, out to a quarry to load sandstone, wait for another couple of trucks, but then one of those drivers stayed and helped me load etc, thanks mate. He too wanted to know where I had been for “Where’s Rodney” on Tuesday morning. Ended up having tea at Gravesend pub, good feed and then made it back to the yard in Dubbo and bed.
Wednesday morning, paperwork in and fueled and off to a house block outside Bathurst thinking this could be fun, but whilst getting in and out was not that bad, unloading each block did take a while. Had been told possibly loading for Adelaide, but not sure when I could, if stock ready maybe today, but in the end, no, not till the morning. So an early night and a bit of reading, Jack Reacher “Make Me” before bed.
Load Thursday for Adelaide, same two drops as last trip, both went OK but have a better plan for next time, then out to grab paperwork (and two more shiny bits dropped off by my mate at TRUCKBLING) and was told to go straight to the load point as they would be going home if I was too late. Load wide pallets with bulging bags, but got them on and hope the corflute protected them as we jammed then in.
Then off and thinking will not have enough hours to get home and then even worse, with a double, going home would add a thousand k to the trip, so direct towards Sydney and a 40 hour stopover here. So emptied and cleaned the toolboxes out, cleaned up inside, spoke with a few drivers including one of our ex RPT ones doing well in his new job, cut out some more finnicky reflective tape for the bullbar, looked at fitting the shiny bits, but decided not good alone, so much still to do before TRUCKFEST. Pity Ampol are as ignorant of us as others, a “Truckers” Lounge, can’t they get it right?????????
So a shower and tea soon, finish the book and off early in the morning. Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.
TRUCKRIGHT 