We travelled several states on this last run (thirteen!), we endured a pretty gnarly snow storm, and had some equipment break down on us. In the end we drove, made our deliveries on time, drove, made our pick up on time, drove, made more deliveries on time, drove some more and got home at a decent time. In one piece. It was a somewhat exhausting week, but we’re alive and well, and we didn’t hit anything. This equals success every time! I must admit we are very ready for a little time off!
I made a point to take a few photos in each state we passed through along our route, with the exception of two, because I was asleep. Here they are:
Wisconsin:
We started our trip in Wisconsin, as we always do, by picking up some paper at 1:00 am and hitting the road. The majority of the drive through Wisconsin was in the dark, but it lit up a bit before getting to Iowa.
Iowa:

Adam and I switched in Iowa, and I stepped out into the bitter cold to exercise, where my jump rope broke. The little plastic pieces lining the rope flew all over the place... it was pretty funny!
The drive through Iowa was pretty uneventful, which can be a good thing!
Nebraska:

Sunset in Nebraska. I went to bed just after taking this photo and slept through the rest of the state as Adam drove.
Wyoming:

Approaching a tunnel along I-80 in Wyoming. See that color? This is why I enjoy the 2am - 2pm shift - the morning golden hour.
Utah:
I love Utah. I think it’s my favorite state to drive through. It’s only 200 miles long when traveling I-80 but it’s got so much diversity in terrain in that short distance. And those mountains!!
Nevada:
I’m usually sleeping through Reno, but with the maintenance downtime we needed for the new brake chamber, we switched there. So I got to see Reno’s lights at night! Pretty! (But too difficult to get a photo).
California:
We made three deliveries in California near Oakland, then made a pick-up and head out, taking a more southern alternate route to avoid winter craziness in Wyoming. We ended up in snow anyway, but it was for a shorter stretch than if we’d driven through Wyoming.
Arizona:

I took a break at a rest stop where I could walk out onto the rocks. I couldn't resist laying down in the sunshine for a few minutes.
We don’t drive through Arizona very often, so it’s a treat when we do. Unfortunately the mountainous section in the western half of the state was bathed in pitch-dark under an almost-new moon.
New Mexico:

New Mexico has some cool bridges along I-40. Some are simply painted bright colors, but it's a nice change.
After getting the flat tire fixed, I went to bed. Adam drove through the rest of New Mexico, then veered off to Hwy 54 across the corner of Texas’s and Oklahoma’s panhandles and into Kansas.
This is where things got ugly.
Before getting the flat tire, we were on target to stay ahead of a snowstorm, but the two hours set us back and tossed us right into the thick of it instead.
When I woke up, Adam was driving 30 mph through snow and wind and yuck. Yay. My turn to drive!
Kansas:
I had a freak-out moment during the storm. It was a 2-lane road, at night, and my wipers were icing up and I couldn’t see. Snow was flying inside the truck through the window seals, and my arm was wet, the steering wheel was wet, and so was the door. The temp was in the low teens with horizontal wind carrying snow, making visibility difficult WITH working wipers! I pulled to the side of the road and had to get out of the truck with an ice scraper to rid the windshield of its ice chunks. I thought we were going to get rear-ended being parked on the side of a two-lane road in the middle of a snowstorm, but I had no choice. I don’t remember this, but Adam told me I was repeating, “we’re going to get hit! We’re going to get hit!”
I just really didn’t want to get hit, I guess!
Adam calmed me down and I got myself together. He decided to try cooling off the windshield. He turned the defroster and the heat off. Within 15 minutes we were chilly, but the snow was blowing right off of a clear windshield instead of sticking to it. Waaaay better!
Winter weather sucks when you have to drive in it! I’d much rather be playing in it…
Aftet the storm, things went pretty smooth.
Missouri:
Missouri went ahead and gave us blue sky. Oh, and that put a smile on my face.
Iowa:
I slept through Iowa on the way back.
Wisconsin:
I woke up in Wisconsin early, delivered some cheese to two warehouses – one in Mayville and the other in Appleton. Then we drove back to Kaukauna and finished up our trip.
Now for a bit of down time!
—
Tonight I love heated side mirrors. Why can’t we have heated windshield wipers, too?
Thanks for reading and being a part of my journey!
With love,
Toots Magoots
(Robin Grapa)