No Fuse Blow Day: Day 3
The news today is there is no news. No blown fuses as the 92 Dodge lumbered from Nebraska to Missouri with mules in tow. No meeting Tom Petty (deceased) at the gas station. No bird balls. Nope. Just the rhythmic hum of the old 12 valve Cummins and the “thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk” as the old steel wheels rolled across Nebraska.
I like these days when nothing happens. Nothing except the land rolls by and you see America at 60 miles per hour instead of 3 mph. Going from mule speed to motorist speed isn’t all bad. I have gone from being a creature of the outdoors to a creature behind the wheel of a truck.
A Few Photos of the Day
It feels funny traveling this way with Brick and Cracker. Until 2 weeks ago, we were a herd of 3. I rode them all day, Cracker underneath me, Brick beside me. Now I hardly see them at all.
They spend their days in the trailer. Occasionally I catch a glimpse of Cracker’s ear in my rear view mirror. Mornings, when I load them up, it’s been dark. Evenings, when I take them off the trailer, the sun has usually set.
By the time I got them watered, hayed and grained in the pasture they’re staying in tonight, most of the sunset had already bled out of the sky. I snapped a photo of them.
They look well. Looking at this photo, I want to walk in to the night and pet them (I’m writing you from behind the wheel of my truck tonight).
And with that, I turn in for the night. Tonight, I’m sleeping in my bivy bag next to the trailer. I could rent a room nearby but I’ve spent so many nights next to my mules, sleeping on the ground by my animals has become the new norm.
At first they kept me up. Lying there on the ground, I’d hear Brick chewing. Or Cracker scratching his flank with his teeth. But as the weeks turned to months, these became the new night sounds I became accustomed too.
Now, when I’m out of ear shot of them, I wonder how they’re doing. So it’s a real comfort sleeping next to them tonight. I won’t be able to do that many more nights. I am soaking up these night sounds while I can.
If the truck don’t die and the Fates allow, this will be my second to last night on the road.
Tomorrow we head 350 miles toward Hermitage, Tennessee, outside Nashville.
And with that, I wish you a good night.
Hi Todd.
Oh man, what a beauty you have! The best of all worlds: the 12 valve and the new body style!
You mention getting blown by in bigger rigs. Happens to me all the time. They blow by me at 70 miles per hour. Then, 4 hours later, zoooom! Here the come by again. And 4 hours later. Zooom! They pass me the third time.
They have a bigger engine but I have a bigger bladder.
This won’t last forever but i think that old Cummins will. My mechanic says the same thing as yours….
Enjoy that Beast!
Bernie
Hope the rest of your trip is full of miles with no “happenings”. I enjoyed you post about your old truck. We have a ‘97 Dodge with the 12 valve Cummins. My mechanic told me that is just a tractor motor, and he is one of many people who have admonished me to never sell this truck. And then there are those who boast how their dodges can pull a three horse up a mountain pass at 70, My mechanic loves those people. His business is hoppin’! Anyway, have a great rest of your trip..