Petie...oh how I will miss thee!

Myka · #1 08-02-2011, 06:24 AM

As some of you may know I spent the last year and half driving a Super B logging truck in Alberia (northern Alberta hehe) working towards meeting a financial goal. The days were long, the hours were random, and the money was good! I will miss the latter, but I will also miss the beautiful scenery! Spending so much time in the bush is so peaceful, and some of the views are just beautiful. Working so hard was also very satisfying. I actually ended up being 5th Top Driver (most hours put in, no incidents, and no infractions) in a fleet of about 80 which was extremely honoring. For anyone familiar with trucking, they let us haul up to 72,250kg GVW in the winter. New tri-drive trucks hauling 73,000kg in summer and 80,000kg in winter.

I like to describe driving truck as complete and utter boredom with fleeting moments of sheer terror!

Don't let the pics fool you, the highways are mostly fairly flat, but the bush roads have plenty of hills and curves. The snow always adds some excitement - risk of spin-out on snowy uphills and risk of inability to turn at those neato corners they like to put at the bottom of the downhills.

I would like to share a few photos. I have lots of pics, but here are my favs...

"Petie" the Peterbilt truck I drove:

Petie getting loaded in January (damn cold):

Sunset in the bush just before Christmas:

On the road again...

A field of canola (and bugs on the windshield):

RuGlu6 · #2 08-02-2011, 06:30 AM

You could have had a small tank it that truck !

fishoholic · #3 08-02-2011, 01:19 PM

#5 that's awesome!

Great pic.'s

Myka · #4 08-02-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

You could have had a small tank it that truck !

This is an off road truck! There wouldn't be any water left in the tank! Besides, the fish would probably die of shock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishoholic

#5 that's awesome!

Great pic.'s

Thanks!

doch · #5 08-02-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

This is an off road truck! There wouldn't be any water left in the tank! Besides, the fish would probably die of shock.

Maybe, but you wouldn't need any power heads or wavemakers!! lol

Madreefer · #6 08-02-2011, 02:28 PM

What is done with poplar trees? Here in B.C. those trees are just left in the bush. Good to see them on a truck rather than laying on the ground rotting. 6 wrappers? You must have built up some strong pipes.

Myka · #7 08-02-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madreefer

What is done with poplar trees? Here in B.C. those trees are just left in the bush. Good to see them on a truck rather than laying on the ground rotting. 6 wrappers? You must have built up some strong pipes.

We hauled into the Alberta Pacific Pulp Mill (ALPAC) near Grassland, AB. We would also haul some pine and spruce that went into the pulp as well. Sad to see some of that big spruce go into pulp! Alpac (Asian owned) provides the highest quality of pulp in the world, and most is shipped overseas.

Hehe...8 wrappers.

Throwing wrappers was my favourite part of the day! I made a game of it...see how fast I could do it! I was down to throwing and tightening them all down as well as flagging in 9 1/2 - 10 minutes consistently. My fastest time was just under 8 minutes. Good times! And yes, I do have pipes. I preferred the 1/2" cables to the 3/8" cables as well. All the guys in camp were complaining because we ran out of 3/8" cables so they had to use the odd 1/2" cable when they broke/lost one. So I switched out any 3/8" cables I had for the 1/2" and all the complaining stopped because "The girl can do it....go look at her truck!"