Far from home: Farther, than you thought
I was lying in bed, eyes closed. I was awake for...10 minutes? I didn't really know. But I love lying under the covers as long as I can...besides; I didn't hear the alarm, which means, I still ha...
BEBEEP...BEBEEP...
I had some minutes until I have to wake up really. I slowly kicked the cover off of me, and started hunting for that little devil made machine, which is always ruining my mornings.
BEBEBEBEP...BEBEBEBEP...
And since it couldn't hear my thoughts, it still continued its big monologue, which - eventually - will cause a big headache for both of us. For the alarm, it's obvious why, but for me...
THUD
"Ow. Crap."
One, because I didn't have my glasses at the moment.
Two, because it was pitch black.
And three, because my alarm was at the other side of the cab.
Oh yeah. I guess I didn't mention it yet...I'm a truck driver. At the moment I was on my way home for Christmas and for the New Year's Eve. My company always bringing home its drivers during this time, except those who don't want it. And I'm one of those, who want to go home. Don't get me wrong, I like my job. Just sometimes it’s good to relax some days at home. But back to the story...
Finally I found my assailant and gave it a nice hit on the top, and with that, I saved the world from the evil alarm clock...again. I got up from the floor, and started my usual morning routine...I got some fresh clothes, pulled the curtain, and was immediately attacked by the sunlight. As soon as my eyes got used to the sudden light, i saw the truck parking around me. At the moment, I was near Dover (UK, not USA). England is a pretty nice place, as soon as you get used to the left hand traffic. But still, there are the tolls, and I always have to climb over the seats to pay...
I got out of my truck, walked to the gas station for the toilet, and for some morning snack. Then, when I paid for everything, I went back to the parking area. It wasn't hard to find her. My truck was a '13 Volvo FH, I just call her AJ. She have a nice yellow color, with a white stripe along both sides. The trailer is deep blue. On that, with yellow - and also on the trucks visor, with white background and blue letters -, there was the company logo, where I - or if you put it that way, we - worked...Waberer's. It's a bit funny...I had one of the newest trucks in the fleet; in the meantime I had the oldest car which I used to go to work from home...a '79 Wartburg 353W.
So, I went back to my truck, started the engine, and until it warmed up, filled the system with air, I checked the lights and the tires.
15 minutes later, I was on my way to the harbor, 'cause I had to catch a ship to Calais. From there, I had to go to Lyon, then from Dijon to Budapest, then home with my car. Hopefully I can do this in 3-4 days.
My route to the docks was uneventful...I bought the tickets, lay back on the bed and watched a movie on my laptop... I still had an hour until the ship would arrive.
While the ship arrived, there were at least twenty trucks at the waiting area - some colleague -, and slowly all of us rolled on the ship. As I drove up, into the upper level of the ship, some of the ship's crew members took a double take, or simply smiled at me. True, I was fairly young compared to the average drivers, and my Volvo was very "fresh meat", but still...So the only possibility was the ~51 cm (I bought her as 20 inch) tall Rainbow Dash plushie on the right side of the dashboard.
Oh yeah, I'm a brony...but I guess, you've realized it already by my last statement. I have all the episodes of the show on an external hard drive with me...since the laptop is almost full with other things. I'm also a big transportation fan, or...I don't know the perfect phrase for it. Usually if you give me a vehicle (car, plane, ship, submarine, etc...), and you give me maximum 30 minutes, I can operate it at least on the minimum level. I don't know how I can do it...maybe that's my special talent? ...Never mind.
I finally reached my place on the other side of the ship (pole position) and got out of the cab. I walked up the stairs from the "garage", to the fifth level - 'because the elevator would be too expensive, huh?' - Then to the reception, for my room key. I took my things into the room - laptop, the EHD, all of my paperwork - and went to eat something in the restaurant. After a good lunch I went out to the deck and watched as the ship slowly left Dover's white cliffs. Then, I went back to my room and took a look at my e-mails and Facebook messages. Then I did, what I usually did on nights, when I wasn't sleepy...I continued my fan fiction.
As soon as we reached Calais I was already in the cab, ready to take my way to the highway.
It took me two days to reach Lyon - just outside the city; I had to stop, because I reached my maximum driving time.
The next day, I reached the depot, and after two hours I was already on my way to Dijon, where - if the message from my boss is correct - I'll pick up heaters. You know, that little one, with the propeller.
That trip was around 2 hours, but at the end I had to be very careful, because the snow started falling very fast.
I reached the depot in Dijon. Fortunately I just had to take the trailers back to a ramp, and they loaded the stuff quickly.
After 45 minutes, one of the workers gave me the papers, which meant they finished the loading. I slowly made my way to the scale, where they gave me the correct weight. I had around 5-6 tons of heaters, which was nothing for the 460 horses under my seat. The snow still fell, and it was getting worse with every passing minute. After half an hour on the highway the weather reached its worst state...It was dark outside, and the only thing I saw through the windshield, was a huge white nothing. I didn't have to worry about crashing into another truck - or worse, car -, because the truck was equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control, and Collision Warning/Emergency Brake system...but of course, I still watched the route as strongly as I could.
After an hour I had to leave the highway, because the highway management closed it. I left it and from there the only one who knew the way was Applejack, my GPS. I found her voice on the internet, and since she was also one of my favorite characters, I thought, why not?
The three of us (Me, AJ, and Dash) were on a main road, which went along the highway, when AJ said I’ll have a left turn, so I started to slow down.
"Right here, pardner."
"Okay, if you say so..."
As soon as I straightened out the vehicle, I immediately got a fff....reaking helicopter’s spotlight into my eyes. Probably checked the highway.
"Gah!" Since I was the only one in the area, I slammed the brakes, and the truck stopped in a few meters.
'ABS, I love you.'
As soon as the spheres left my sight, I got out checking the cargo. I knew, I tied everything down, but better be safe than sorry. I opened the side of the trailer...there was everything OK. As soon as I took back the side of the trailer, I felt, there was something...off. 'I turned onto an asphalt route, right?' I looked down, and saw the problem...there wasn't any asphalt under my feet, just dirt road. Dirt road which was covered by 10-15 cm thick snow. I knew immediately, I'll have a fun time to get going again.
'It's worth a shot.' I got in the cab, switched to drive, and gently pushed the gas pedal. As I expected...traction control or not, the rear wheel spun like a cartoon character's leg before it ran away. There were wheel tracks behind it, so hopefully I could go back a bit, which was enough for my plan to work. I raised the rear suspension as high as I could, and opened the side of the cab, to get the snow chains...
After half an hour of misery, I successfully attached the chains; in the meantime I had time to look around. I was in a forest...a big, dark,...darky dark forest. 'Hm...Where did that come from?' The main road wasn't even behind me anymore. As soon as I got back in the cab, I warmed up myself a bit. In the meantime, I noticed, that there was no GPS signal. I checked my phone, even the laptop...No mobile signal, no Wi-Fi.
"Okay. Think Daniel, think. It's easy. You can't go backward, which means the only way is..." I looked out into the dark nothing, "*gulp*...forward... As soon as I can, I'll turn around, and try to find back to the main road." Just to let you know guys, I'm not the stressing type...but sometimes I also reach my limits, and that moment was definitely one of them.
I took a last glance to the wheels, then shifted to drive, and started swinging the truck. After 2-3 swings, I felt the moment of truth and pushed down the pedal to the floor. The rear wheel spun with full force, but the whole vehicle slowly went forward.
"Come on AJ, don't let me down. I know you're strong enough for this." As soon as I said this, I felt the truck starting to accelerate and the wheels didn’t slip anymore. I was very happy, and also some of the stress simply fell off from my shoulders.
"That's it baby, good job. Yeehaw!!"
Slowly, but surely I drove in the forest. If I’d go too fast, the road would shake up everything in the trailer, if too slow, we could get stuck again.
After maybe ten minutes I was out of the forest and the snowfall had also stopped. As I looked up, the Moon shone bright and full in the night sky. As soon as I left the forest, I swore I saw a small house on my right, but I wasn't sure...it was too dark out there. Also, my GPS had somehow found some coverage. The image was static and just the sound worked.
"After one kilometer, turn left."
Then I noticed that the scenery had changed on the left side. Where, a minute ago, a forest was passing by, there was a long white fence now. Behind that lots and lots of trees... 'Why does it look so familiar?' I wondered. I knew the answer was right there, but I couldn't find it.
Since the end of the forest, the route was also a lot smoother...Maybe this is a more frequently used part. I picked up the pace to 45-50 km/h. I could go faster, but the left turn was here in a few meters.
"Left here, pardner, and then you reached our destination."
'Destination?! I never set this place, as my destination.'
I looked left, and what I saw, was a...farm. A nice farm, with a big red barn, animal shelters, and other things. The road, which I used, lead up to a nice house. The whole place looked like it was pulled out from a children's tale. I pulled over to the right side, before I took a left turn through the entrance. Slowly, I went through it. The sign – which was above the entrance - knocked on the roof of the truck with some gentle 'thuds. It was suspended on two chains, so no harm done.
I just hoped, it's no problem if I turn around here. I saw light in the house, so whoever lived here was probably still awake. I stopped around 50 meters from the house; then I turned off everything. 'It’d be great if I could spend the night here, because it's impossible to navigate in the darkness. If not, then I sleep somewhere else'. As I turned off the lights, I saw one of the curtains moving, which meant, the residents are now aware of my presence. I picked up my coat, got out of the cab, locked it and walked to the house's door.
I took a deep breath, and knocked on the door. 'I hope, they're friendly.' While I was waiting, I turned back to the truck, and the scenery. 'Where the hell did I see this scenery...' My train of thought was interrupted by the opening door.
"Good evening! I'm sorry to bother, but..."
KLANNNG
As I turned back towards the house, I felt something impact into my face. The last thing I saw, before the blackness flooded my vision, was a frying pan, and behind that a Stetson hat.
'So much for friendly behaviour'
