Autumn has arrived in the Rocks.

Well this is it. Fall is here....rainy on the coast, cold in the prairies and the tourists have left the mountains to me, fellow truckers and the animals that now come back down from the mountain tops. No complaints here. After a quiet September on the road October has begun to provide some excitement. Be it snow or animals I seen it so far in October.

Notice: This Blog is for my friends, family and colleagues on the road. That said, some of my explanations my be somewhat lame to all of the professional drivers out there.

The first snow is always the worst as the road has not begun to get cold enough for it not to stick. (OK that is a bad sentence, snow is currently sticking to road....road gets colder snow does not stick as much) Also the snow is so heavy at times and there are not much snow banks to judge where you are on the road.

That is right for non drivers, you may think this is silly but we depend on snow banks to keep you safe. Well I do anyhow. Keep one on the left and one on the right and stay in the middle.

Where it becomes scary is during the first couple of snow falls there are none so you have little to judge on. Also there are not many guard rails on the Coquilhalla Hwy. You go to close to the edge it will be a very bumpy ride down.

So had a couple of radio off, both hands on wheel, focus and cross your fingers kind of nights. Fog is probably the worst condition for me anyhow. At times so thick you just want to stop get out and try and touch something to get your bearings.

So that is the worst part. It is soon forgotten when you see the animals back and the new vistas ahead....that is right I always talk of the vistas....in my mind you cannot see the Rockies enough...each day an new look and challenge.

Going through the Banff East gate the largest Elk I have ever seen stood as if to welcome you to his home...the word majestic comes to mind but I am not that eloquent. Massive rack, steam from his nostrils and a wisp of snow on his back. Cool. Further along a family of Mountain goats that I have been watching all summer. Early just the mom, then June two babies, now mom, two teens it seems...coat not quite white yet. Near to Golden the Mountain sheep are back with their young as well.

With the snow comes the scenery. The mountains are wondrous during the summer but the winter is like mountains in uber HD. The snow really gives more texture to what you are seeing. The snow caps in the sun are almost blinding.

So you got me.....I complain about winter but gush about the benefits....I am hard to peg I suppose. Work is fine.

I have a love hate relationship with H and R but who doesn't. We have good days and bad but mostly good. I can easily put off bad days if I step back and take a look at the big picture. I suppose as I get older I have developed that trait a bit. I blow up, then assess, lay blame, reassess, understand better, feel bad and get on with my day. It is not all cherries but show me a job that is.

So that is it for this week. Schedule has changed a bit so I am off again into the wild tomorrow.

Later

Life goes on!!

My god I am a boring blogger.

There is absolutely nothing new at my end. Life goes on at HR and I have to say I have had very few bumps in my first year with the company.

I do read other blogs and am surprised by the negative comments but it is what it is. I have been treated well during my time at H and R and although I have bounced from fleet to fleet I must say that the transition has gone very well.

It appears that Vancouver has started to become a black hole for freight. It happens from time to time that a district becomes more consumer than producer. Nice to have a balance but you cant always get equal loads out for loads in. I am guessing that as the Winder Olympics approach it will get worse then get back to normal.

In a way it is like New York City. Lots of loads in....good luck getting a load out. So here I sit in White Rock....no complaints as the weather is awesome.

Summer was great. I am currently running the rocks 4 times a week and believe me it is great that the tourists have gone back to their lives. I run mostly at night and other that construction the roads are all ours.

Not many pics to post as my shots have become redundant. So on that note I will post my only pic taken during my day off on my dog walk this AM.

Later.

Brutal week....update will be short.

Into everyone's life a little rain must fall.

My first week back after holidays was pretty brutal. Not sure if it is due to the fact I was in post holiday distress or it just sucked.

So rather than ranting and bitching about things it is best to move on and work towards a better week this week.

This week I am back to my regular run and on the home front take delivery of our new Subaru, can't wait. BTW last week I forgot to mention we came across a mother and two grizzly cubs last week. Very very cool.

Later

Ah the Holidaze!!!

Since I have gone back on the road I do not enjoy the benefits of a government job any longer.....one such benefit is the ample supply of off time I used to get. To over come this I ran and extra trip two weeks ago to allow me to take a trip off last week and will run an extra this week to cover the one I bailed on this week.....all in all I was able to wrangle a full week off.

Starting last Thursday the family and I dropped the hound at the kennel and off we went to the interior (Schuswap) to be exact. This was merely a stop over point for one night to give us a bit of a break.

The following morning we set out to Calgary with a bit of a detour. My daughter had never been east of the Schuswap before and I had never been to the Columbia Ice Fields since 1967 (shut up). Our first stop was near Craigellachie which is the location of where the eastern met the western legs of the national railway.....quite the project I would say.

From there the trek through Rogers pass, lots of rock and ice but not many animules. After a brief stop in Golden BC we started east again and then north to the Ice fields. Outstanding, awesome, amazing.....you get it. From the second we crossed the gate onto the parkway the scenery was at a whole new level. I am huge on the ocean, love the mountains but the parkway is an astounding drive.

From the emerald water of Lake Hector to the hiking paths near the Bow, From the view of the Crowfoot Glacier (missing a toe) to the climb to immense Athabasca Glacier our drive was one jaw dropper after another. Sadly the climate is slowly eating away at the Glaciers and one day they will be gone. I am thankful we were able to make the trek.

I was at the Ice Fields in 1967.....again (shut up) and since then the glacier has moved (shrunk) about 1500 meters. It was quite a climb to get there from the terminal moraine (the original starting point) about 2000 meter on a 15 or so degree climb. Mrs, even with the arthritis and cane found it in herself to get all the way up and touch the glacier. We even went beyond the safety line to touch it.....I mean all that work....you have to touch it. On the way down we grabbed a water bottle and enjoyed a drink of the glaciers run off. Unbelievably tasty.

So back down we went....we only had time to see half the parkway as our main focus of the trip was to get to Calgary for my nephews wedding reception. Next year we will work from the top down as I still have fond memories of Jasper and south to Angel Glacier.

Off to the city of cows we went. Visited for an hour or two and were bagged to off to bed we went. Saturday morning went to the Calgary zoo and then to my nephew's for a bbq. Great party, lots of good food, drink and company.

Sunday back to the Schuswap we went for another family gathering. I actually had time to play on the jet ski....crazy thing does 105 k/hour with me on it....it is insane. First time out this year so needless to say my docking skills were not up to par and I let the dock win this one.

Then to home....boring drive through the Coq with only water bombers to keep us company. We noticed a new fire burning just south of Merritt and it looked fairly small at the time....it is now over 2000 hectares. Sad really.

So that is it....some business today and back to work tomorrow. Oh well....time to begin planning the next adventure.

Pictures are here.

Later

Life's a Beach

All week I like all of you work my ass off. I am very fortunate to be able to come home to what I think is probably one of the greatest places to live. White Rock BC. I really feel that you cannot beat the smell and feel of the ocean. I know it is a matter of opinion but what ev.

Even my dog is chillin'

After a decent week this week I came home to Tour de White Rock. For those who don't know what that is, it is a three day bike race and each stage exercises different skills. Friday is the hill climb, we have lots of those, Saturday is the Criterion and Sunday is the road race.

It is a chance to not only enjoy the
race but to visit with the

neighbours. I mean I walk out my door and into hay bales set up to save the racers from themselves.

This week was great, only did two rounders to Calgary and my pace was a bit slower than usual. The worst part of the week was when my Tripak Air Conditioner packed it in. For those that don't know what that it is, it is a small engine that provides AC power, circulates engine fluid in the winter time and runs an air conditioner. With this we ( the company ) save cash by not idling the tractor engine but the greater benefit is the fact we decrease the carbon foot print.

Needless to say with the temp up in the 80-90 range I did not get much sleep without the air running. Think of sleeping in a big metal box under direct sun.....not fun. Anyhow had that fixed and now life is a dream....

Fast forward one week.

Worked my butt off in order to earn a week of holiday. Ran 4000 miles this week from Monday evening to Sunday AM. So all in all a bit bagged but the effort will pay off.

I think what killed me this week is running the rocks and seeing and smelling the smoke from the fires. It makes for great photos but what kills me is that people seem to think it is ok to throw cigarette butts out the window of the vehicle.

So home for a couple of days and off I go for one rounder to Calgary then off for a week....will update on my return.

Check out the latest set of pics from July.

Am I crazy?

So for a living I drive....back and forth in the Rockies....we all know that.

I have rambled of how the Vistas can continually change blah blah blah....

I look at myself as being a semi retired Air Force/Government geek with a hobby that pays well.

So why am I looking to by an RV. You would think I would have had enough of the road but no.....

Here is the issue though...I am certain there are many pro's and con's to the purchase of a unit but I have no idea where to start. We used to do a CBA, Cost Benefit Analysis to determine if a venture or project would be cost effective and give the desired result.

This applies to all things in life but not sure where to start....so if there are any readers that have some thoughts comment away.

Last week was decent but I felt behind the eight ball for much of it. Our yard is located on River Road which is accessible from the North and South. My wife took me to the truck at about 1500 and as luck would have it the road was closed in both directions so back home I went for about 3 hours....finally got to the yard, got the beast and off to the client I went. All in all I started my run a total of 5 hours late which in itself is not terrible but the kicker is that I had not slept during the day....stupid.

Anyway the run that I am on does not leave much time to adjust through the week so that late start haunted me throughout the week.....wha....

Very few animal sightings this week...I suppose as the summer progresses the animals stay on higher ground. Probably cooler. Well that my theory anyway.

I did see a black bear walking on an access road by the Coquihalla near some campers. What makes people want to be so close to bears is beyond me. I will take the RV :)

Encountered a number of slow moving tourists this week....it seems as the weeks move on the tourists get stupider if that is a word. They have a tendency to blow by me as I climb some serious grades pulling 56,000 lbs of Chicken McNuggets and then as I come down the other side they slow to 80 K or so.....They don't realize that I am slow on the up hill but can go like a SOB on the down side. Damn RV ers....can't wait to get one and piss of the truckers hee hee.

So I am home for a couple of days then off again Tuesday....just two runs then home again....gotta love this run. Off I go to research RV's

Later.

Update

Although it may appear that I have stopped blogging, the fact is that I find I am not that interesting of a read.

I am feeling like a bad Catholic that has not been to confession in some time. So here goes.

Bless me readers as it has been 3 months since my last blog entry. During that time I have......

-started a dedicated run between Richmond BC and Calgary AB, and on occasion Red Deer, AB. Although it is not glamorous it serves my family and I well. I run twice weekly and alternate between a Monday Wednesday run and a Tuesday Thursday run.

I think what I like best is that it is predictable and allows me to have a two day weekend one week and a four day weekend the next. I run about 2500 miles per week and work four days a week to get it. Sounds like a cake walk but you max out your hours pretty quick as each load eastbound has 2-3 drops per load.

I have to say that HR has treated my family and I very well in that when I need to alter my running pattern they did their best to accommodate. Of course this may not always the run I am on but for now I will enjoy it and stick to the Rockies.

The Rockies always throws you a new view each trip whether it is wildlife or moon phase or lighting and valley mist you are never bored. In fact I think it really allows you to focus on just how awesome Mother Nature is and how lucky we are to be able to enjoy it.

Just last trip eastbound I was able to see two huge elk with racks 3-4 feet across easily and a rare sighting of two grizzly bears in Banff. It was if they were posing for photos. On the way back west more bear and deer.

As usual there is the usual suspects at Golden and the sheep hang out on the roadside. Another sight to see is the mountain goats, all white and long hair....only at night so far so pics where not possible. I like them and the elk because they are not skittish like the deer. Deer will bolt out without warning whereas the others could care less about you and your truck.

All this gets old to the reader I had assumed but I had a great surprise two weeks ago. A reader had asked if this was the Al Urquhart that truly understood what MCSE stood for. And I of course said Must Consult Someone Else. It was his way of confirming my identity and getting me to think whom I was talking with.

As it turns out after many email exchanges it was a former student from Iceland who had commented he had seen the blog and figured I was doing alright.....that got me thinking I should update as there are people actually reading this dribble.

I saw a comment today that asked....did you stop blogging? So here I sit blogging.....not the most interesting but whatever. I had originally started this so people could see the transition from a project manager stressed beyond belief back to a trucker. I guess the transition never really ends.....

Next week I will try and provide some interesting photos from my adventure....yes it is still and adventure.

Later