September 21 – buzzed down to Minooka. Took about 65 minutes. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to box up dinner (pizza), so I could offer it as a peace token. It worked. The nice folks had me loaded and on my way in about 45 minutes. Of course, they wanted to go home, too – but they stayed late for me. I am most happy with them.
Trundled off into the night, westbound on I-80. Got as far as Brooklyn, IA before I had to crash. Zonked for my 8 hours then back in the saddle, heading for Lincoln, NE.
Council Bluffs nearly met with a wonderful traffic snarl. It was about 19:30 local time, and I was following a Swift truck in the left (hammer) lane. We'd moved over to accommodate merging traffic, and I, at least, was looking for a hole so I could move back to the granny lane.
I was checking my mirrors as we all approached Exit 3, when flashing brake lights flooded me with adrenalin – goddamn swift driver (still in the hammer lane) decided he needed THIS EXIT RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW, and pulled a 4-wheeler stunt.
Yup, jumped on his brakes and dove for the exit. At least two cars ended up on the shoulder. Fortunately, I was keeping a tolerable space between him and me.
I don't know if it was trainer/trainee or team – but there were two people in the cab. If it was a team... well, what can I say? Come to think of it, what can I say if it was a trainer/trainee? Trainer should have prevented it all from happening.
Makes you wonder why Swift doesn't have a worse reputation.
Made it to Shoemaker's, with no time to spare. Got on the net and spent the evening talking to the younger boy. Older boy was probably too wired from night before- he'd been elected as the Junior Class representative to the homecoming court. Spent most of the weekend shell-shocked, I hear. I know that I'm right tickled.
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