navigation:
 news:

website news :

March 7, 2009 - The live dash cam will be returning, but not in the previous capacity. More information to follow.
.
March 7 , 2009 - Blogger will be shutting down their ability to update our site using their blog software and sending it via their FTP tools. This basically means we can use blogger but we have to use their hosting... which defeats the purpose of having our own domain.. So, over the next few weeks I will be working on migrating the site back to Greymatter, which will be used as our primary blogging software again. I have considered wordpress but after looking at the files I don't have time to learn PHP, so this is the easiest. Blogger will continue to be used until May 1, 2010, when blogger intends to shut down FTP access. Further info to follow.


Monday, February 16, 2009
subject: All talk and no action

We are approximately 1073.5 miles from our North Eastern US load location, give or take .25 miles or so. We have finally had the opportunity to put our truck together and get more organized. I have to say that we are looking pretty cool on the inside. We will take pictures and place them in the gallery in a few days so everyone can see how we are living the high life.

I have to say that I think I am getting better at functioning in a moving truck. I have learned or am working on figuring out how to accomplish everyday tasks that most people probably dont even think of. For example making coffee in a moving truck just after waking up on bumpy stretch of road can be quite taxing. Some might also consider brushing your teeth (I am a dork who requires I brush my teeth a few times a day) while driving something you wouldnt see or do every day, particularly the people that passed me today, just judging by the way they gawked at me; I am only guessing though. Also, typing on a laptop while it vibrates to the point of unreadability can tend to be frustrating. Please try to ignore all the typos as I AM OvIisbloy havsring aghard tyme controllinasdag my compoooteer. Just kidding.

We have also become pros at maneuvering a big truck through small parking lots while four-wheelers try and get in the way. We have taken several trips to Wal-marts scattered along the way the last few days to get outfitted since we didnt have the time to get everything before we left.

The last couple of days have been pretty interesting though. Having driven a Volvo previously for a brief while, I was aware of its.. shall we say.. bitchiness with heavy loads, but what we went through the last few days between the hills of Utah and the mountains in Colorado..well, you can probably guess. We were going up the inclines in 3rd..and only stalled two or three times I think. We were going down the declines in 3rd..and riding the brakes the whole time because the jake brake is about as useful as a fur coat in the Sahara desert.

Needless to say, the trip took WAY longer than we thought it would and are now playing catch up for the slow going the last few days. We are making up the time and anticipate being there with several hours to spare still and cant wait to see where we will be going next! Maybe Canada this time, or somewhere south, where its nice and warm, would be good too!

Of course we'll let everyone know just as soon as we are assigned.


Friday, February 13, 2009
subject: One down... many more to go

Hello everyone. A quick update on Daryl and I's progress. As everyone knows, we were finally able to get back together and start work on OUR truck.

In the midst of 'moving' into our truck and getting everything prepared, we received a phone call from our fleet manager asking if we minded leaving out on a load early, as they had no one else in the area that could take the load.....sure!

Without really thinking we accepted the load and prepared to take off early. A few hours later, our belongings still sprawled all over mom and dad's house, both of us exhausted and running around like chickens with our heads cut off, it occurred to us that we maybe jumped the gun a bit and should have waited for a later load....oh well! We did manage to pull a rabbit out of a hat so-to-speak, and get everything on the truck and arrive in time for a short nap before picking up our loaded trailer.

We put our empty where they tell us, locate our loaded trailer, hook-up, and prepare to scale, slide tandems, and fuel. Daryl brings to my attention that the load appears to be a bit passed the capacity of the trailer. We pull forward to check that the doors will close, and sure enough....no go. We back back in, and wait for over an hour while discussion insues as to what must be done to fix the problem.

Eventually we got going. When we stopped to fuel, both our gas caps were frozen shut...good thing we were still at half capacity I guess! As we go to pull forward from the pump, we notice that our air psi is low. After further investigation, we have reason to believe we have a small air leak somwhere. Whenever we leave the truck and turn it off, we lose drastic amounts of pressure.

About the time we hit the second set of mountains going 30 miles per hour on icy roads in foggy and snowy conditions, we decided we would use this as a learning experience. Especially considering our engine retarder/jake brake doesn't seem to be working properly....as in, its not really helping slow us down.

Due to all the delays we incurred along the way today, we have been notified that we are on the late board...several times. Not entirely sure what that means, can't be good, but we did send all our detained messages and such.

It has definitely been a Selby kind of day, as anyone who knows us will know that NOTHING in our lives goes smooth or easy. We can't tell everyone how excited we are to be here, finally, after so much effort. Even after the type of day we had today for our first load together, we are smiling and having a great time. We are already pre-planned for a load that we pick up in the morning that will be taking us all the way accross the U.S.

I'm posting a map of the load we just finished up. We were able to drive through Las Vegas, which was a real treat for me since I have never been there before. I'm sure it won't be the last time either! Can't wait to see what comes tomorrow.

Until then...


Tuesday, February 10, 2009
subject: Homeward bound

First off....I'd like to point out that I obviously abuse my husband, or in some way make him feel as though he MUST get back at me in small and petty ways. As you can see from the home page of our site, top right, under the picture;there is a caption that reads, "The Trials and Tribulations of a Husband and wife Trucking Team". Notice anything weird about that? No? Look at 'wife', please note that it is the ONLY word in the sentance NOT capitalized....obviously I have done something to lower my status from Wife to wife. Whatever I did honey, please elevate my status back to Wife, thank you!

Now, for the real reason I'm posting this. In about 5 hours, I will be getting on a plane in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where I just finished delivering my last trainee load. My plane will be taking me to....bum da da dum! Denver! Yay! Daryl and I will be meeting up in Denver, taking a couple days of home time, and then...look out! We will begin our new life and adventures together as of Friday morning when the 'Selby Team Operated Truck' goes on the board for the first time.

Everyone rest assured that we will be updating the site much more often with maps, pictures, and stories now that we will be together and have more time.
I have included a map of most of the places I have been in the last couple of weeks...seems like a lot for two weeks, but it was fun. Lots of neat things to see and different experiences in the truck.

=map here=

I also wanted to say a big 'Thanks' to everyone that was supportive and offered kind words of encouragement or just a sounding board through this transitional period for both of us.

We love and appreciate all of you!

Until after Friday...


Friday, February 6, 2009
subject: Routing us back together

Just wanted to give everyone the good news that they have started routing Daryl and I back together. That being said, it will most likely be at least a week before we can get to the same place.

We were down in the Tulsa area of Oklahoma when we received word that it was all right for us to start trying route towards Denver, where Daryl will be taking his home time in the next few days. Needless to say I was pretty freakin' excited! This morning I recieved word that I will not actually be routing to Colorado anytime soon if ever. Turns out my next load is taking me WAY down south east, about as far away from Colorado as you can get....literally. The new plan is to try routing both of us back towards Joplin in the next week or week and a half....just kinda have to roll with the punches I guess.

Aside from missing my husband terribly and all the comforts of 'home', like having a microwave and refrigerator, things are going quite well. I am getting quite a lot of miles for a 'solo', and love almost every minute of it. Mostly I'm ready to be out on my own....going where I want....doing my own thing....eating where I want....having the privacy to put on clean underwear...you know all those little extravagant things we tend to take for granted in our general every day lives.

Daryl has been running pretty hard as well. They are keeping him pretty busy while trying to get him back towards the Colorado area. He will most likely be there the majority of next week, then be leaving there and off somewhere else in the direction of the Joplin terminal to get me.

My hopes of me getting my 7500 miles and meeting back up with him, nstead of 9,000-10,000, in time for valentines day are pretty squashed, but we'll see what happens.

Hope everyone is doing well. Be safe and keep in touch!


 

 

© 2001-2009 theselbychronicles.com
Site maintained by Daryl Selby
control panel