Among the Cheeseheads

DATELINE: COLOMA, WI, 5:45 p.m. CDT

Miles Today: 557

Whew! Long day (OK, I have had longer), but I'm whipped. Just plain tired. Ready for bed. But I gotta tell y'all about it first. So here goes.

I got to sleep in all the way 'til 5:30 this morning before hitting the road at 6:00 for my 7:00 pickup. Boy, I hate going to places for the first time in the dark, and it was still plenty dark when I approached the company to which I was headed in Bellevue, OH. First, I almost missed the turn onto the street they're on because the intersection was not well lighted, and the street sign was on the far side and totally in the dark. But I was anticipating it and was going slow enough that I could make the turn before I passed by.

Next, the sign in front of the company itself was not lighted. (Never mind that my directions said the company was on the right side of the street, while it actually was on the left.) But I saw the sign and kept an eye on it as I crept up to it 'til there was enough ambient light on it for me to read it. So I could swing into the driveway before passing the point of no return. (Or the "point of needing to back up some".)

The pickup itself was a quick drop-and-hook, so I was in and out of there in under 30 minutes. Then the rest of the day was all about drive, drive, drive. (Oh, and a combination fuel/shower stop in South Bend, IN as well as various rest stops and grub grabs.) My total driving time was 10-1/2 hours today, and that brought me to a small truck stop here along I-39. I have about another 100 or so miles to get to my delivery by 9:00 tomorrow morning, so I plan to get rolling at about 6:00. But first, lots of quality time with my pillow. (Sleep, that is, for those of you with dirty minds!)

Thanks for checking in today. Check back tomorrow to find out where I'll be headed next. Send me your comments and questions (more than just pointing out my typos, please!), and keep on truckin'.