03/04/2023
Welcome to my first post from "The Real Owls Nest". After just over 6 months, 45 states, 5 Canadian Provinces and over 75,000 miles behind the wheel of a semi truck, I have decided the dream has been fulfilled and it's time to return to my permanent roost with my most beautiful, wonderful and supportive wife, Mina!!! Of all the sunrises I've posted, my favorite is the one below from my home in the woods. For many years I've wanted to try living the life of an OTR trucker and see America from the drivers seat of a truck. I have gained a new appreciation for the life these vital members of our society live staying in truck stops, rest areas, or even on the side of an exit ramp so we can have the goods we want delivered to where we live. I truly enjoyed seeing the sites and driving the highways of North America. The small towns all over the country have so much in common and all have wonderful people just like my small town. I tended to avoid truck stops near cities because I prefer small towns and I was not dissapointed. I crossed the rocky mountains from Transcanada 1 to US Interstates 90, 80, 70, 40, and 10... I enjoyed the Pacific Northwest with it's deep green and large trees. I enjoyed the Pacific coast of CA all the way down to San Diego at the Mexican boarder. I loved crossing the prairies from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba down through the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. I was in awe of the agriculture through the midwest (made MI agriculture seem so small). The Appalachian Mountains are beautiful from Maine down to the Carolinas and Georgia. Fall in upstate NY was breathtaking! I have seen the East Coast from a car and was not really interested in taking a semi into that chaos but actually enjoyed my time around Boston, Jersey City (viewed New York City but chose not to travel there), Philly, Baltimore and around the beltway of DC. Turns out the "chaos" of the East doesn't hold a candle to the traffic I experienced in and around LA, Sacramento, and San Diego! While visiting with a trucking couple in southern CA I mentioned that I had traveled in all 50 states and through 10 countries. The wife asked me where has been my favorite so far. Without hesitation my answer was "HOME". I went on to explain that I love the rocky mountains and Banff, AB is one of my favorite drives. I love Hawaii and Alaska. Australia was awesome and I still want to visit New Zealand. Mina and I traveled with a school group to Scotland and Ireland which was a great trip and I really need to go back to see more! We are leaving for a tour of Italy on St. Patrick's Day and I'm excited to see Vatican City and all the art and history that Rome is known for. Each time I visit a new place I often think "This is beautiful! I could live here!!!" As I have now been away from home for over 6 months, it has reinforced that Byron, MI is the best place in the world for me. Not because it has the best scenery or even the best people, but because they are MY scenery and MY people. I know you can make a home wherever you are, but I've made mine in Byron and that's where I belong. My wandering spirit will keep me traveling, but I need a job that allows me to go home at night. I have begun a job search to that end and have a final interview coming soon. If it works out as I hope, I'll post where I'll be working next once it is final. If this interview doesn't work out I'll let you all know that there is a driver with a lot of agriculture experience looking for work that allows me to go home and have dinner with my wonderful wife each evening. Thanks to those that have passed along positive comments about my posts. I'm glad that a few have enjoyed following my journey and my posts as much as I've enjoyed making these life long memories. I would be remiss if I didn't send a shout out to Wheeler Trucking of New Lothrop, MI that gave me this awesome opportunity to see so much in such a short time (they pay VERY well also...to the tune of nearly what I've experienced as a full year's wages in 6 months). Good folks and a good company. You all can support the owner, Rex Wheeler by visiting his new business venture as he recently purchased Owosso Speedway. Go enjoy the races and support Rex as he is a top notch businessman.
So THANK YOU to those that have followed. I'll be back on my personal page after this (aside from the job update I promised). This page will become a great memory for me to look back on to remind myself of the life changing experience I have just finished!!! I would just like to encourage all of you to pursue your dreams because you cannot go back and have a "do over" on life!!!!
