Sioux Falls FJ tonight... What a joke they are now. Half of them will not accept the J cards anymore, so they charge for refills despite you putting in 200 gallons of fuel. I think Pilot are going to be the best friends for all the small, independant truckstops now, as well as the Petros, as Petro have revamped their cards to be like the J cards used to be.
I had to stop here to email my Dad's lawyer. All this stuff, huh? I had to pay $5 to send an email so I figured I would sit awhile..
I am heading home again now. I delivered Edmonton on Friday (bet they loved me there with all those portaloos) and even managed to get reloaded in Spruceland. Good guys there. I was supposed to be delivering that in Sturgis, MI, but I have to be home for tomorrow night so I can take Puff up to the city for her operation on Weds morning. She is already cussing about hospital food. She will be in for 7 to 10 days so she best get used to it. Instead, they gave me a load to Dakota City, NE, and a reload out of Norfolk for Calgary. Perfect! It means I can get Alison to the hospital, be there while she is in surgery and immediately afterwards, then I can keep the bills paid by dropping Calgary on Friday, reload and home again.
Sadly, I will not be able to get to my Dad`s service. I wrote my Eulogy and his brother will read it for me. I am trusting the other family members not to stop him or cause him trouble.. They need to remember that I shall be coming over to pay my respects in the not too distant future, and I know where they all live.
So, latest trip...
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Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Hello harry
I see you found me, you thieving scumbag!!! Proof is in the pudding. Send me my stuff back and I will remove all traces. Other than that, I shall continue. Ebay are already aware of the site, as are paypal. I am able to keep an eye on them. And guess what I have now... your IP address!!!!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
August 19th
I had some bad news today. My Dad, Mervyn, died suddenly this morning.
I believe he died as he always lived, on his own terms and by his own choice. You can't ask for fairer than that.
Dad. I had no choice in having you as my Father, but I always had a choice in calling you my friend. I was privilaged to know you and to call you both.
Safe trip!!
I believe he died as he always lived, on his own terms and by his own choice. You can't ask for fairer than that.
Dad. I had no choice in having you as my Father, but I always had a choice in calling you my friend. I was privilaged to know you and to call you both.
Safe trip!!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
August 18th... Home
Sunday
I decided that, just to err on the side of caution, I would scale the load before leaving Montreal. Pulled up to the scale, picked up the phone and was told to pull on the scale and wait for the green light... so I did just that... and waited... and waited...
I decided that, after 2 minutes, I must have either missed the light or the bulb must have blown, so I pulled off and went around to get my ticket. They hadn't done it. They hadn't pressed the button to print the ticket because the store was busy. Now I am a great believer in providing as good a service as I can, and I would, were it me in the store, serve one customer at a time.. This is, however, the Flying J, and it is in Montreal.. Nuff said.
Finally pulled out of there and headed south. Eventually, after playing the usual game of dodgems in Toronto, arrived in the J in London. Thought I best fill up with Fuel as the route I was using was a dry route. Pulled in, filled up and pulled forwards then went in for my coffees to go. I walked back to the truck and this man suddenly started shouting and charging at me. "Go!!" he was shouting. "you must go!! I need to get out!!"
Now, had I been in and used the washrooms, showered, eaten supper or taken a while, maybe I would have been apologetic... MAYBE... But none of the above were the case. What was very much the case was that this driver still had the nozzle in his tank!! While I am much more placid here than I ever was in the UK, I am not going to take this from some foolish little turd, so we got into a little game of pushy/shovey, and I offered him a flask of coffee and he stalked off. It was, to say the least, surreal.
So down to the border, through without queuing or trouble (in Detroit!!!) and onwards toward the drop.
Monday
Finally got empty at lunchtime. No real issue, just busy people and lots of stuff to check off. My reload details were for a 2 pick on Tuesday, so I trundled to the Pilot for a scrub up and supper. I called the shipper and was given the appointment times. 11am and 3pm. No rush at all.
Tuesday
Got to the first collection in Goshen, IN. Walked in and told them what I was there for. You ever get that feeling things are going wrong? They were just starting to load the load.... on another truck!! The brokers had given the load away!!! Now I am pissed. This is not how it is supposed to be at all.
Fair play to Dispatch. They knew I had a situation at home that required attention. I hadn't even found a place to park and I had a new offer. Single collection out of Chicago! Coowel!
Got there at 1:30pm. A load of Portaloos for Edmonton. Took them 5 hours to load it. Finally, I am headed north. I have never seen a sunset such as this one though. Check the pics!! Up to Black River for fuel and caffeine and it is onwards and upwards.
Wednesday
I figured I would just call the Customs Broker. It was the best of the Brokers so I was sure there would be no issue, but it is always smart just to be sure. Yep, a problem.. Now this is the difference between a good broker and a bad one. The charming lady told me exactly what she needed and I called the shipper. OK, they are going to sort it out. Half an hour later, the broker calls me to say she hasn't got the info yet. She asked for the shippers number then called them, sorted that out and had the entire thing in and cleared within 3 hours, then called me to tell me it was done. That is really good service..
Up to the border, through no sweat, over the scale at Emerson and home.
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I decided that, just to err on the side of caution, I would scale the load before leaving Montreal. Pulled up to the scale, picked up the phone and was told to pull on the scale and wait for the green light... so I did just that... and waited... and waited...
I decided that, after 2 minutes, I must have either missed the light or the bulb must have blown, so I pulled off and went around to get my ticket. They hadn't done it. They hadn't pressed the button to print the ticket because the store was busy. Now I am a great believer in providing as good a service as I can, and I would, were it me in the store, serve one customer at a time.. This is, however, the Flying J, and it is in Montreal.. Nuff said.
Finally pulled out of there and headed south. Eventually, after playing the usual game of dodgems in Toronto, arrived in the J in London. Thought I best fill up with Fuel as the route I was using was a dry route. Pulled in, filled up and pulled forwards then went in for my coffees to go. I walked back to the truck and this man suddenly started shouting and charging at me. "Go!!" he was shouting. "you must go!! I need to get out!!"
Now, had I been in and used the washrooms, showered, eaten supper or taken a while, maybe I would have been apologetic... MAYBE... But none of the above were the case. What was very much the case was that this driver still had the nozzle in his tank!! While I am much more placid here than I ever was in the UK, I am not going to take this from some foolish little turd, so we got into a little game of pushy/shovey, and I offered him a flask of coffee and he stalked off. It was, to say the least, surreal.
So down to the border, through without queuing or trouble (in Detroit!!!) and onwards toward the drop.
Monday
Finally got empty at lunchtime. No real issue, just busy people and lots of stuff to check off. My reload details were for a 2 pick on Tuesday, so I trundled to the Pilot for a scrub up and supper. I called the shipper and was given the appointment times. 11am and 3pm. No rush at all.
Tuesday
Got to the first collection in Goshen, IN. Walked in and told them what I was there for. You ever get that feeling things are going wrong? They were just starting to load the load.... on another truck!! The brokers had given the load away!!! Now I am pissed. This is not how it is supposed to be at all.
Fair play to Dispatch. They knew I had a situation at home that required attention. I hadn't even found a place to park and I had a new offer. Single collection out of Chicago! Coowel!
Got there at 1:30pm. A load of Portaloos for Edmonton. Took them 5 hours to load it. Finally, I am headed north. I have never seen a sunset such as this one though. Check the pics!! Up to Black River for fuel and caffeine and it is onwards and upwards.
Wednesday
I figured I would just call the Customs Broker. It was the best of the Brokers so I was sure there would be no issue, but it is always smart just to be sure. Yep, a problem.. Now this is the difference between a good broker and a bad one. The charming lady told me exactly what she needed and I called the shipper. OK, they are going to sort it out. Half an hour later, the broker calls me to say she hasn't got the info yet. She asked for the shippers number then called them, sorted that out and had the entire thing in and cleared within 3 hours, then called me to tell me it was done. That is really good service..
Up to the border, through no sweat, over the scale at Emerson and home.
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
August 14th
Thursday was cushy really. I didn't get to the first drop because it was way off in the boonies and I didn't know if I would be able to park there, so I waited and headed in on Thursday morning. They had a loading bay so I was able to just use a single set of ramps to take their machine off. Really nice people, too. Helped me set up and put it all back.
Second drop was also way out in the deepest, darkest Ontario, Carleton Place, although they also had someone help me set up the ramps (had to use both sets there as their machine was up top).
Once out of there I decided, with the blessing of Dispatch, to rearrange the delivery order and do drop four ahead of drop three. The routing originally planned took me 270 kms out of my way and had me doubling back. While being in Montreal for a reload made more sense than Quebec City, trying to battle Friday traffic back into Montreal to deliver then to reload makes less sense than trying just to get to the reload. As it turned out, going to drop four was a good shout. They had five machines, all on the lower deck, so just one set of ramps again and I was done and everything stowed in half an hour.
It was as I tried to get out of their place that I realised arriving at night was a good idea. They are on a set of lights and the road is one way, with a large kerb. When I got there, I was able to go in their top entrance and back into their parking lot. No traffic so it was easy. By the time I had dropped there, they had put all the display bikes and stuff where I wanted to go to get out, so I had a hell of a job. I had those lights backed up a ways...
Out of there and straight up to Quebec City. I knew roughly where it was and found it nice and easy. In their yard, I took the first third of the top deck down, put one set of ramps up inside the trailer and the other set to the ground. No A frame, nice and easy descent..
My reload was in Iberville, just south of Montreal, but I had till 10pm to get there. Just as well. That 300kms took 5 hours with the traffic... Montreal on Friday afternoon is not a quick drive. I got there at 7:30, left at 10 and parked up. I was in no hurry as Indiana is only a day and a bits drive.
So this morning I have, thanks to Adam, finally got the Ace sorted. The Customs is set up although I have no idea what they have done to get it set up as it is not the same as usual, and I am in the J in Montreal for a shower and such...
View Larger Map
Second drop was also way out in the deepest, darkest Ontario, Carleton Place, although they also had someone help me set up the ramps (had to use both sets there as their machine was up top).
Once out of there I decided, with the blessing of Dispatch, to rearrange the delivery order and do drop four ahead of drop three. The routing originally planned took me 270 kms out of my way and had me doubling back. While being in Montreal for a reload made more sense than Quebec City, trying to battle Friday traffic back into Montreal to deliver then to reload makes less sense than trying just to get to the reload. As it turned out, going to drop four was a good shout. They had five machines, all on the lower deck, so just one set of ramps again and I was done and everything stowed in half an hour.
It was as I tried to get out of their place that I realised arriving at night was a good idea. They are on a set of lights and the road is one way, with a large kerb. When I got there, I was able to go in their top entrance and back into their parking lot. No traffic so it was easy. By the time I had dropped there, they had put all the display bikes and stuff where I wanted to go to get out, so I had a hell of a job. I had those lights backed up a ways...
Out of there and straight up to Quebec City. I knew roughly where it was and found it nice and easy. In their yard, I took the first third of the top deck down, put one set of ramps up inside the trailer and the other set to the ground. No A frame, nice and easy descent..
My reload was in Iberville, just south of Montreal, but I had till 10pm to get there. Just as well. That 300kms took 5 hours with the traffic... Montreal on Friday afternoon is not a quick drive. I got there at 7:30, left at 10 and parked up. I was in no hurry as Indiana is only a day and a bits drive.
So this morning I have, thanks to Adam, finally got the Ace sorted. The Customs is set up although I have no idea what they have done to get it set up as it is not the same as usual, and I am in the J in Montreal for a shower and such...
View Larger Map
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
August 11th
First, the latest on the Ebay thing. They are looking at this blog now. I suspect they are emailing one another with the link. I haven't heard anything from them about it yet. happyharry.03 is still at it. I have another user that has just been caughtout by him, and someone from Paypal tried calling the house yesterday I think but Puff hung up and had the number blocked because she preusmed it was the debt collectors again. I have given them my cell number but asked that they not bother calling just to waste my time with platitudes. the scumbag seems to be ignoring me altogether, and ebay said that they had taken the appropriate action for the fourth time today, which means they have done nothing.
I haven't checked yet, but another victim emailed me today saying there appeared to be a change in policy on the paypal website to do with seller protection. Maybe there are lots of people getting on their case. I will not even think of stopping until I get a nice apology, harry is nicked, my, and all the other victims, accounts are set to where they should be and maybe we have received some compensation from them for all the worry it has caused. Also, I will require that any debt collector issues are resolved in full with the referenca agencies. I do not see why any of us should be made to suffer because of the thieving ways of people like "mr papamichael" (I am sure this is a false name now as no public record exists that I have found) or of Paypal..
Anyway, the work blog!!
So I arrived in Newnan on Tuesday evening. There was a little confusion because of the trailer I was picking up, but it all worked out easily enough. The tree frogs were making a hell of a din!
I dropped my trailer in the appointed zone then set the floor up so Greg didn't have to. In itself, it isn't hard. It twangs my shoulder a bit sometimes, but not badly and the exercise is what has given me the strength back anyway, so I am not complaining. The end of my collarbone gets people all squeamish- it does look hideous. But in the heat and humidity of Atlanta, it certainly gets a sweat on when you have to set the deck up..
Hooked up, checked the trailer and the seal and off I went. I still had 3 1/2 hours I could drive so I hightailed it for Knoxville. Amazingly, all the scales were closed so I breezed on through. Got to the scale in Knoxville before I could find somewhere to park, mind.
This morning, I set out a little later than I initially planned and cracked on through Lexington and up through Cincinatti, and am currently sat in the shade of another truck in the Piling J in Beaverdam, Ohio, waiting on customs clearance before I go up to the Detroit/Windsor bridge. All being well, I will cross this evening and be at the first drop for first thing in the morning.
Continued from Monday.
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I haven't checked yet, but another victim emailed me today saying there appeared to be a change in policy on the paypal website to do with seller protection. Maybe there are lots of people getting on their case. I will not even think of stopping until I get a nice apology, harry is nicked, my, and all the other victims, accounts are set to where they should be and maybe we have received some compensation from them for all the worry it has caused. Also, I will require that any debt collector issues are resolved in full with the referenca agencies. I do not see why any of us should be made to suffer because of the thieving ways of people like "mr papamichael" (I am sure this is a false name now as no public record exists that I have found) or of Paypal..
Anyway, the work blog!!
So I arrived in Newnan on Tuesday evening. There was a little confusion because of the trailer I was picking up, but it all worked out easily enough. The tree frogs were making a hell of a din!
I dropped my trailer in the appointed zone then set the floor up so Greg didn't have to. In itself, it isn't hard. It twangs my shoulder a bit sometimes, but not badly and the exercise is what has given me the strength back anyway, so I am not complaining. The end of my collarbone gets people all squeamish- it does look hideous. But in the heat and humidity of Atlanta, it certainly gets a sweat on when you have to set the deck up..
Hooked up, checked the trailer and the seal and off I went. I still had 3 1/2 hours I could drive so I hightailed it for Knoxville. Amazingly, all the scales were closed so I breezed on through. Got to the scale in Knoxville before I could find somewhere to park, mind.
This morning, I set out a little later than I initially planned and cracked on through Lexington and up through Cincinatti, and am currently sat in the shade of another truck in the Piling J in Beaverdam, Ohio, waiting on customs clearance before I go up to the Detroit/Windsor bridge. All being well, I will cross this evening and be at the first drop for first thing in the morning.
Continued from Monday.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
August 9th
So I finished up arriving at Merriam, KS, at about 10 this morning. Took a while to offload,but the trailer smells really great inside because it was cedar shingles on there.. You ever smelled seasoned cedarwood? Wonderful..
My reload is in Atlanta waiting for me to arrive, so I have blasted off to Warrenton, MO, where I put 237 gallons of diesel in. No fear of filling it this time!! But that was really plenty close enough to empty for my liking. The rated capacity is 250 gallons.. so not much spare. Luckily, the Flying J here is still Flying J, so I still get the free showers and free coffees.
It is hot as hell here, and the fan in the sleeper has decided to give up the ghost so I have to run the aircon vents from the cab back there. Not a big deal really, and I will look at it when I get somewhere cooler. I think there will be one in the yard...
According to Puff, it is 32 degrees at home (for my US friends- 32x2=64-10%=59+32=91deg F) According to her Mum, my pumpkin is now the size of a grapefruit. Since I have been trying to grow pumpkins for 5 years with no success, this is a good sign!!
Anyway, I shall be leaving here later tonight for Newnan. Lots to do.
Trip so far
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My reload is in Atlanta waiting for me to arrive, so I have blasted off to Warrenton, MO, where I put 237 gallons of diesel in. No fear of filling it this time!! But that was really plenty close enough to empty for my liking. The rated capacity is 250 gallons.. so not much spare. Luckily, the Flying J here is still Flying J, so I still get the free showers and free coffees.
It is hot as hell here, and the fan in the sleeper has decided to give up the ghost so I have to run the aircon vents from the cab back there. Not a big deal really, and I will look at it when I get somewhere cooler. I think there will be one in the yard...
According to Puff, it is 32 degrees at home (for my US friends- 32x2=64-10%=59+32=91deg F) According to her Mum, my pumpkin is now the size of a grapefruit. Since I have been trying to grow pumpkins for 5 years with no success, this is a good sign!!
Anyway, I shall be leaving here later tonight for Newnan. Lots to do.
Trip so far
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