August 8th

So I was a little behind this morning. I took the trailer I had back to the yard, hooked up my load and set out. I was a little concerned about the weight so I went in to the Tourond scale just to check. Thing with unattended scales here seems to be that some people do all they can to break them. I was unable to weigh because someone probably slid their axles on the plate or nailed the brakes on it, which completely screws it up.
So I went to Emerson and, after ensuring that the scale was closed, I checked it there. All good, all legal. Down to the border where I had to renew my I94.. Normally, they take your passport and meet you inside with it. Today, the man couldn't get someone to cover his booth for him so he gave it back and let me take it inside myself. That is a first for me.

Anyway, $6 lighter I left and, because I had been inside, I avoided the queue for the scanner and was allowed to proceed.

I got all of about 9 miles. Joliette scale in North Dakota was, for the first time I have ever seen, open. In I go, and they buzzed my steer axle, buzzed my drives, then told me over the speaker to bring in my paperwork. Everything was fine except.... my drivers side headlight was out.. Ah shit. I only changed it on Friday!!!!

Pulled over to the side, got the spare out and removed the screws. Well whaddayou know? the light comes on.. Seems there is a problem with the plug. So I bent the wires up on top of the light and trapped them with the frame and the light is still working. I will get it sorted when I next get back.

So out of there, and on to Fargo, where I put in 115 gallons of fuel. Working on the assumption that I had used 30 gallons from Emerson, and taking into account that I had a tolerance of about 600lbs on the steers and drives, along with the fact that I would use 10 gallons before Sisseton scale in South Dakota, this was all I felt safe to put in.. See how complicated this trucking lark is!!!!!!

Sisseton was closed.. I really needn't have bothered taxing my brain.

Anyway, I am just about to set off from Sioux Falls, SD, where Vinny Jones was recently cleared of an assault charge when some idiot in a bar took the mickey out of his accent.. Obviously, they never saw Mr Jones play Football (soccer to my US friends.)