Somewhere in Iowa....

I always imagined Iowa as a boring state.  Kind of like South Dakota, except that no one's ever actually MET someone from South Dakota, so technically it wins the most boring state contest.  I have met some Iowans and they were actually friendly.  Even though i don't care for their football program.   I think it may be that i'm jealous that a "Hawkeye" sounds more ferocious than a duck.  On the other hand, who wants their team mascot to be a body PART? Why not pick the whole animal?   Shouldn't it be the Iowa Hawks?  Oh well.  At least it wasn't the Iowa Hawk Guts.

Anyway, i don't really have a theme for tonight's blog, even after a full 11-hour shift of driving through Illinois and Iowa.  So i thought i'd just go with random thoughts from the road -- something i will probably do from time to time:

Iowa's countryside, on I-80 at least, looks a lot like the Willamette Valley.  Except that it doesn't have the hills in the distance.  Same with Illinois.  Same with Ohio.  Actually, it may be fair and reasonable to say that all of the rural US of A looks a lot like the Willamette Valley.  Which means that Oregon, of all states, is the best representation of the entire country.  With the second best football team in the country.  And the most beautiful women.  And the best looking men, if you're into that.  Which i'm not -- and which is a blessing when you're running with a bunch of truck drivers.  Except some truck drivers, i'm sure.....  Which is ok.  Anyway....

You'd be surprised how many days you can actually wear a pair of socks when everyone is doing it.

Country music actually sounds BETTER when you are a trucker.  Jazz sounds worse.

The showers are really nice at Flying J and Pilot truck  stops.  The towels are even warm and the hot water never ends.

My trainer driver never eats or goes to the bathroom.  All he does is talk  on the phone in a different language i don't recognize.   No wonder he is actually coming up on the "2 million miles driven" mark.

Truck stops have EXCELLENT coffee.   But the food isn't really good, so you're better off sticking with hostess productl

If you've been reading my previous posts, truckers can be rude over the CB radio.

Driving in the rain or the fog totally sucks.

The sleeping berths in an 18 wheeler are actually very comfortable.  And you get so used to the motion of the truck that it's hard to sleep when you are parked.

I have met one truck stop waitress, and she couldn't have been nicer.

I have yet to see a truck stop hooker.  Or at least one that was obvious to me.

When you're on the road you likely remember your kids as being better behaved than they actually are.... (sorry Grace...:-)

It's REALLY hard to get good photos on the road when all you see is interstate and truck stops.

It's kind of sad when you have to ask your waitress what state you are in, and mean it seriously.

That's about it for tonight.  Hope everyone is well.

Stay safe....

KWA