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I knew when I heard the thunder and the lightening was lighting up the sleeper I was going to have an interesting time driving.   The thunder woke me about 2:00 a.m. and then I heard the rain, and was it really raining.   It was close enough to my turn to drive so I got up and started preparing for my day.

 

I like to have a little bit of time when I first get up to eat breakfast, make my coffee, get me a couple water bottles as well as my pumpkin seeds.    I like to get everything gathered so that when I start driving I can drive for several hours or till it gets daylight before I need to stop.   This also gives Bob extra time to sleep without the truck coming to a stop.

 

This morning we had our driver change while we purchased fuel.    We were in San Antonio TX and it was really pouring rain.   As I headed back to the interstate I had to run through a puddle of water, which turned into a lake. I was glad the I was in the Cascadia and high above the road.   I believe a car would have floated away in that water.  

 

I got up on I-10 heading west and then had to take the I-410 loop due to carrying HazMat.   As I got onto I-410/I-35 I realized how much of the interstate and roads were under water.   I had to stay in the center lane due to water on the roadway.   As I got off I-35 to get on I-410 and was totally committed to the road I saw all of the police cars.   On the other side of the road there were two cars that looked like they had floated down the roadway till they hit something and stopped.

 

As I turned under the interstate I saw the line of cars in front of me and several police cars.   The police were turning the cars around and heading them back down I-35, as I-410 was underwater by several feet.   I watched the police turn the cars and asked when I could turn.   The policeman did not think I would be able to make it and I assured him I could get turned with no problem.   After all of the cars were removed from the area he finally let me move the truck, which I did and was able to get back on the interstate.   I headed back to I-10, I noticed on some of the side roads the water was up to the bottom of the stop signs.  

 

I drove through the rain, thunder and lightening for many miles and at times slowing to less than fifty mph.   I finally got through the worst of the rain and I could see the sky lightening some as the sun tried to peek out and then….

 

I thought I might be seeing things, but nope, the drops of rain were getting bigger and they were sticking to my windshield.   It was snowing like a son of a gun and this continued on for many miles.   Bob poked his head out long enough to take a picture and then he went back to bed.   The road condition stayed good and I did not have to contend with slick conditions. I was flipping through the reading on the dash and while in San Antonio the temperature was in the 40’s and by the time it started snowing it was down in the 30’s and by the time I made it to El Paso it was in the 50’s.   The rest of the trip was clear sailing, dry and sunny.  

Bob & Linda Caffee

Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical 


TeamCaffee


Saint Louis MO

Expediters 7 years been out here on the road 12 years

boblindacaffee@gmail.com

 

Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle; 


Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;


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