BoBo’s Blog-O-Rama

Well we are nearing the end of orientation now. Only tomorrow to go and then on the road. We must be packed and ready tomorrow as we may leave as soon as orientation is over depending on when our lead driver is ready and who it happens to be. I have no idea at this point who that is, or where they are. So if I leave tomorrow I’ll see y’all later. But, if my lead driver is not here or ready to leave yet, I’ll have to wait until they are. So I could still be here tomorrow night and possibly longer. But supposedly they try to get you out asap so if I have to wait it won’t be for long.

As they say, welcome to the real world of truck driving. lol Waiting, uncertainty of where you will be going and when. Fun stuff. Hopefully though the money and the whole seeing the country thing make up for all the bs you have to deal with on the road. But we shall see about that in a few months. Cause I am stuck doing this for 8 months if I like it or not. So here we go.

I’ll have my laptop with me and my cell. Initially I won’t be able to call home cause I need a national plan set up which I don’t have yet. But I’ll try to get one as soon as I can. And most truckstops and rest areas have wireless access so I should be able to hop online every once and awhile so I’ll update you all as soon as I am able. But being on the road I won’t have much time. Possibly once a week at the most for these sort of things. Since we are team driving and the truck stops as little as possible. So hopefully I’ll be able to see you all soon. Either in the time before I leave if I have any, or when I return from the 28 days over the road.

So I’ll catch you all later.

BoBo

Well we made it. As I sit here today, Paul and I have our CDL’s in our wallets and we are ready to go trucking. Just have to wait until orientation on Monday. So now we can relax and enjoy the activities of the weekend which include Kari’s Halloween party, the Dark Mirror show on Saturday in Cedar Falls, and also the candle party at Kari’s on Sunday. But anyway, yeah, I’m happy.

So lets backtrack some. Wednesday we passed the DOT driving test with flying colors and did some map reading exercises. Two of our class did not pass and have to try again next wedesday so that sucks but it was just little mistakes that can be fixed I think. Thursday was more map reading practice and a quiz on it. Then today we watched a few videos on railroad crossings, defensive driving, what to do when deer run out in front of you, ect. Then we popped over to the DMV and got our licenses and then off to CRST to take a driving test for them. Which was very short and we both passed. Now it’s 7:00am Monday for four days of orientation. Then who the hell knows after that. Depends on who they team us up with and when they are available to leave.

So other than that I feel real good right now. The Kirkwood truck driving program was a blast. The instructors were awesome and our class was a funny bunch of people from all over the states. One of our instructors for instance, is a dead ringer for Hulk Hogan, and all the first week we were all laughing about it behind his back but no one would break the ice and say something. But then this week in class on of our classmates did a Hulk impression and then asked him if anyone ever told him he looked like Hulk Hogan which he replied about twice a week. And then he told us a story about a past student of his who was really shy and wouldn’t really say anything to anyone. Until a few days into the course where he went up to D.T. (Hulk look-alike) and pointed at him and said “you know, you look like that wrastler.” To which D.T. replied, “you know, I get that all the time, but I don’t think I look anything like Booker T (who is a tall black wrestler if you don’t know)” And he said that kid never shut up from that point on. D.T. is cool as shit, during the demonstration on backing up the truck and trailer in a straight line, he began backing and then jumped out the door of the truck and walked along the side to demonstrate just how little you have to steer if the trailer and truck are in line. That really surprised the class and at the same time, loosened them up a little since everyone was so nervous. A guy with a sense of humor like that couldn’t possibly be a hard ass.

So it was a fun two weeks. And now I just can’t wait to get out on the road and see the country, and more importantly make some freaking money. lol

But in the meantime, it’s time to relax for the weekend. Hope to see everyone at some point soon. At least before I hit the road cause then it will be late November/early December till I see anyone again.

Later

BoBo

….and I have my licence to drive a commercial vehicle.

Passed my pre trip inspection test both walk around and in cab. And also passed the backing skills test on the range. So that leaves just the road test tomorrow and I get my cdl. Can’t wait to get that shit over with. Oh, and how did I do? Missed none on the in cab test, missed three on the walk around test, and missed zero on the skills test. So hooray for me. Paul did just as well. Except he missed one less point than I did.

So yeah, one more test tomorrow and then I can get my licence and then two days of map reading and then next weeks orientation and the week after that, we hit the road. At least I think that will be what happens. Don’t really know for sure.

Other than that, going to Kari’s halloween party on Friday, that should be fun. Can’t wait to see everyone again. And on Saturday Dark Mirror plays the Reverb for their halloween show as Guns N Roses. Only $6 cover and they have a costume contest at midnight. And then on Sunday I go to Kari’s again for the candle party. Hopefully my schedule will not conflict with these things cause I want to try to see everyone before I head out on the road for a month. I don’t know how often I will be able to get on the internet or call anyone since I don’t have a national plan yet. But hopefully I can fix that soon.

Anyway I’m done for now. I’ll post more updates as soon as I can.

BoBo

Well, here I go. As you probably know by now if you read this or any of my other pages I do not work for walmart anymore. And if you know me, you probably know that my valet job failed to pan out into any feasible options. And neither did working for the big Nordstrom town. And you may also, maybe, know that Paul misplaced his job as well. And if you know all of that, congratulations, you know me in real life.

And that brings us to right now. Paul and myself have decided that since we were both conveniently broke, and jobless, that it would be a good idea to follow an old dream. We toyed a long time ago of the possibility of touring the nation in one form or another. Of course the first idea was with a motorhome and maybe a car and that changed quickly to motorcycles which we still want to do. But we also toyed with the idea of being over the road tractor trailer drivers. At the time I found it not feasible. Paul was pursuing his mechanic career and I was doing whatever I was doing at the time. Honestly I can’t remember what that was. But now the time is right. The iron is hot and we are going to strike.

So all this week we have been busy attending truck driving school. Yup that’s right, I am going to be a trucker. Last week we both passed the tests and received cdl permits and signed up for classes at Kirkwood. We are going through CRST who is going to pay for the school so long as we drive for them for 8 months. So monday we had a small paper signing/orientation at CRST and then a DOT physical and then over to Kirkwood for note taking on pre trip inspections and log book maintenance. It went from 7am to 8pm. What a day.

And then from Tues until Thurs we got there at noon and left at 8pm. The first few hours practicing pre trip inspections and then after a brief lunch break on the road driving. Yeah. Second day of class and I’m driving on public roads, hell, interstates even, and in the dark and rain, in a truck. Pretty intense as far as stress goes. But I think I did ok. I’ve made steady progress every day so far. I need to train myself to shift differently from a car since trucks don’t have syncronized gears and all. But other than that I am doing swimmingly. I think.

And then today was different still as we had to be there at ten to practice the skills exercises on the lot. Which means backing up, front stops, alley docks, and right hand turns. And then around 2pm we hit the road again for more driving until around 8. And then today I also got to practice dropping off a trailer as the truck I was driving needed to go to the shop to get the clutch adjusted (just imagine the abuse a school semi gets in a year). And tomorrow we are there at 7am but I think we are out at two. That goes for Sunday as well.

And then that will bring us to next week where Monday brings more practice and Tuesday brings DOT test for pre trip inspection and Wednesday will more than likely be the driving and skills tests with the DOT. And then Thursday and Friday will be map reading classes. After we pass all of that it will be on to four days of orientation with CRST and we have a driving test with them as well. Provided we make it that far, we will then both be lined up with a driver from CRST who will take us on the road and teach us the ropes for 28 days. And if we pass THAT, well, then we will be teamed together for team driving over the road trucking. And we will go anywhere and everywhere in the lower 48 and be gone for a month at a time or more. And be making the big bucks provided we keep the wheels turning.

So yeah. Go me. I’ll be back with more specific stories later when I have more time to write as I’ve been busy learning the last few days. It will be interesting to see how this drastic change in my life turns out. But either way it will be an adventure and something to talk about for years to come. I can’t wait to get out on the road and start seeing the country. Of course I will miss greatly being here to see everyone, and sleep in my own bed, ride my bike, all that stuff. But it will all be for the greater good. Besides, I will have a week off at a time so that will be awesome. Plus, I’ll actually have money too! As long as I don’t go too crazy with it.

So with that, I slip away once more for bed. Gotta be at the range early tomorrow since the weekend staff does not work late. Oh, and by the way, if you happen to see any of those white semi trucks with big blue letters that say “Kirkwood” on the side and “student driver” on the back, stay away from it. Get as far away as possible. lol

BoBo

“I’m not a biker I just love bikes, si señor. Didn’t ever bother to get my car drives license. Cars are for wankers. Besides, in a car you’re locked up, smelling your own farts.”

The above is a quote from a cool guy named Paul that is riding his old Moto Guzzi V7 from Alaska to Argentina. It’s not a race or anything, quite the contrary, he’s taking his sweet assed time just enjoying the trip and meeting people along the way. He takes beautiful pictures and his stories are filled with humor. The main page is in dutch or something but the links at the top of the page are in English and there are clickable text everywhere that take you to the photos. All in all cool page that I urge people that like Guzzi’s, bikes, traveling, or just photography to check out. Anyway, the site is: http://www.guzzigalore.nl/log/

Found it using the wild goose chase guzzi forum. Google it you lazy bastards! lol

I think a trip like that would be great adventure but I don’t have the nerve to try it. Maybe with a guide and maybe a translator but not that long of a trip. Aerostich has week or two long tours that would be awesome but I don’t have the time or money. Maybe someday. But hell, I still have alot of riding in the lower 48 to do. So I guess I’ll put it off until I run out of road here.

Speaking of that, I want to find the dvd “the long way around”. Anyone find it, get it for me. lol

And on a completely different note….what the hell is wrong with kids that chuck stuff off of interstate bridges onto cars below? If I get hit on my bike by a chunk of rock by a fucking punk teenage kid, kill him for me. And kids with guns shooting other kids again? Man where are the freaking parents at? People listen to me…Could you please, please, stop breeding? If you can’t raise your kids, don’t make more of them. Okay? Thank you.

Dark Mirror plays in Cedar Falls Friday night the 12th. Anyone coming? Besides Paul and I?

Shit. Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize. Now he’ll never STFU. I’m going to go drown a computer animated polar bear now.

BoBo