Get Off The Truck

Looking through these is awesome.

One of the things I'm super into is scenery photography, and I do plan on picking up a fairly professional camera(looking at the Canon Rebel series right now), and would love to be able to snap some good scenery photos while out on the road when I get there. I already have a lifetime license for a photo enhancing program(not photoshop, it's called Aurora HDR. Will definitely be sharing some when I get them.

Good! We love photos and we also love The Jersey Girl's videos.

Boise Fall (winter weather) 2020 Edition

My 34-hour reset will be end up being closer to 48 hours. I got my “weekend” load Friday morning. While total miles were 844 I had already traveled 260 miles to the shipper on Thursday and, therefore, only had about 580 miles to get to the receiver, which I covered mostly on Friday and then finished up early Saturday morning. So, I’ve been at the Boise, ID TA (where Packrat got hit last) since Saturday morning.

It was nice to have essentially an entire weekend to explore. Plus, my tourist explorations were unique this time because my wife if from Caldwell, which is about 25 miles from here.

After picking up my rental car at 0800, I headed to the house where my wife grew up. It had changed since she was last here in 2004. To say she was disappointed is an understatement. After leaving her childhood home, I went to explore, “historic Caldwell,” which is an old downtown area, vintage 1950’s. There are pictures of the buildings and the Union Pacific train station in the link below.

In the afternoon, I headed to Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. I was a nice drive through the Idaho desert. The view of the Snake River far below the canyon walls is rather spectacular.

Sunday, I got up early to visit downtown Boise. I would drop off the rental car at noon, so, I saved the local Boise tourist attractions for Sunday morning. The Old Idaho Penitentiary is historic in itself, but there are trails up the hillside overlooking the penitentiary that were snow covered from the night before, which snow continued as I hiked up to the top. The penitentiary is vintage Shawshank and made me think back on TNT.

The State Capitol lies just to the west in the heart of City Center Boise. The Boise River runs through that area and there is a Riverwalk Trail along the river. I hiked about 2 miles up the north side and then back down the southside. The trees still had their some nice fall colors but were covered with snow. A real nice effect. Between the hike up the trails as the Penitentiary, the Riverwalk, and then walking from the Airport after dropping the rental car off, I walked at least 4 miles today.

Overall, a decent place to visit.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qbUy4a1aqejYkydm6

Very cool. Unplanned adventures are the best.

Very cool. Unplanned adventures are the best.

Like building cabins...!

Nashville January 2020

Got my current load on New Year’s Eve, but the receiver in Franklin, Tennessee is closed New Year’s day Rand all weekend. So, I’m at the TA Nashville, which is within walking distance from Downtown Nashville.

I’m not much of a Honky Tonk bar fan which dominates most of Music Row in Nashville. For those who might be interested, there are plenty of bars will live Country music pretty much any hour of the day. Downtown also has three shrines of Country music: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; Johnny Cash/Patsy Cline Museum; and the Ryman Auditorium, which was the home for the Grand Old Opry until 1974. Outside of the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum there is a Country Music Walk of Fame, which was very interesting. They have Hank Williams, Sr., which of course makes sense. But they also have Jimi Hendrix, which makes no sense. And they don’t have Willie Nelson or Merle Haggard. Go figure. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum costs $27. The Johnny Cash/Patsy Cline Museum costs $20. And the Ryman Auditorium costs $20. I chose not to spend the money on those because while I enjoy country music I’m not enough of fan to spend that kind of money.

For those have read the other editions of this thread know that I like historical sites. Just south of the TA, lies Nissan Stadium, home to the Tennessee Titans. On the south side of the stadium is the John Siegenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, which is a historic truss bridge over the Cumberland River. It has nice views of Nissan Stadium, the Cumberland River, and Nashville Downtown.

They have 2nd Street blocked off, the location of the Christmas Day bomb. They have cleaned up the street pretty well but you can see the plywood over the windows of several businesses.

At the far end of downtown is the Tennessee State Capitol. The capitol grounds have some nice views and statues. The capitol building itself has some nice architecture. President James Polk is buried on the State Capitol grounds.

I had intended to go into the Tennessee State Museum nearby, but there is a long marble wall on the edge of the Bicentennial State Capitol Park nearby that has the history of Tennessee from its geological formations billions of years ago to its bicentennial in 1996. The park also has a WWII memorial among other things. It was a little cool today, but I’m sure would be very nice in the spring/summer.

After I had my fill Tennessee history and the Bicentennial State Capitol Park, I headed back toward the pedestrian bridge because I had picked a place to have lunch: Pancho and Lefty’s. You young kids won’t know the meaning of this restaurant, but I’m sure Old School knows.

Thanks for bumping this thread, Rob.

One of the biggest reasons--if not the biggest reason--for me entering this career and starting this lifestyle, is for the opportunity to explore as much of the outdoors as possible. I'm obsessed with hiking and canyoneering, and really want to get into mountain biking and rock climbing. I plan to spend every opportunity I can on a 34-hour reset logging some serious trail miles. And, since I don't have a mortgage or a family to take care of, I plan to be a "homeless" trucker, visiting friends and family across the country, and taking my home time anywhere I want. I plan to bobtail to national and state parks all over the country and "truck camp" for my 3 days.

Can't wait to share the photos with everyone once I upgrade and go solo!

Thanks for bumping this thread, Rob.

One of the biggest reasons--if not the biggest reason--for me entering this career and starting this lifestyle, is for the opportunity to explore as much of the outdoors as possible. I'm obsessed with hiking and canyoneering, and really want to get into mountain biking and rock climbing. I plan to spend every opportunity I can on a 34-hour reset logging some serious trail miles. And, since I don't have a mortgage or a family to take care of, I plan to be a "homeless" trucker, visiting friends and family across the country, and taking my home time anywhere I want. I plan to bobtail to national and state parks all over the country and "truck camp" for my 3 days.

Can't wait to share the photos with everyone once I upgrade and go solo!

Two things:

a.) HECK YEAH, on the bump! Rob D. has some SKILLZ... driving, AND photography! I'm thinking he could partner with some publications related to OTR pics and calendars. Yes, I've got details, if you need in the know! Mack, for one .. is looking for 2022 ...! As is MAC tools. ;)

b.) Eugene, it's GREAT to see the man behind the 'truck!' I'm happily following your ventures and journeys, as well!

c.) Does anybody geocache anymore? We still have ONE location, actually at the edge of our property, which is NOT a bother, just a pique of interest, that hasn't been touched (as we can see) in over four MONTHS! Did that run its course, also?!?? Can't see how Covid could take THAT away!!

Thanks, y'all.

My night driver & I are grateful, always, to T.T. ~!!

~ Anne ~

d.) ps: Marc Lee and Daniel B. had some amazing threads about stowaway bikes to take OTR. I just shared 'hammocks' myself! LoL!

Photos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HjacT1eLRekWtEUU8

Camp Hearne WWII POW Camp Edition; February 2021

I have to give credit to Turtle for recommending a geocache, that led me to this adventure.

About 1 1/2 miles west of the Love's in Hearne, Texas lies Camp Hearne, which is a 720 acre WWII POW camp, built in 1942 and held up to 5,000 POWs, mostly Germans.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gwCBmxq9ZURbhzqY8

Good stuff, Rob. THAT is exactly why I like to geocache. Quite often, it's not about the cache, but the adventure or the surprise location itself that draws me in. Glad you got to enjoy the experience. Thanks for sharing.