There are no bathrooms in a big rig

which means you don't find many women truck drivers. Yes, there are some, but Dave says not many, and he's been driving the big ones for over seven years. Well, I just got through spending ten days in his truck, and boy, let me tell you it was quite an experience.

I keep telling people about bathrooms. Mostly they aren't, or they are an uncovered hole in the ground with a ring to sit on.

Dave told me at one stop about the trucker that stopped to relieve himself and upon sitting down, heard something and, upon rising, a raccoon bolted from the hole. Holding up his pants the man ran from the clapboard privy and has refused to stop there since.

Different bladders have different timetables, mine likes to be emptied frequently and when this does not happen, well, it has a tendency to complain. Let's just say I didn' t pack enough pairs of pants. Showers are also scarce. Unless you rent a motel room, stop at a truckstop that has showers for a fee or we found one who offers free hot showers, with fluffy towels and a bath mat for free if you fill up the truck. But, one shower in 8 days is uncomfortable at least for some.

Beds on the other hand are very comfortable. Heavy vinyl padded curtains block out all light and noise. After driving 12-16 hours, a bed in the back, air conditioned, darkness is welcome, even if it is in the middle of the day.

We ate in the truck mostly, cereal for morning, sandwiches at lunch, wholesome snacks. Everyone knows that where all the trucks stop is good eats. And that held true on this trip. Toward the end of the run, one day from Anchorage, we stopped at Sallie's. No it is not run by Sallie, but by Eldon and Rosemarie. And they cater to truckers.

Their shop sits next to a closed weigh station(where trucks have to stop to make sure their weight it destributed correctly. Eldon has an apron of a voluptuous nearly unclad woman. He wears it occasionally. In fact, if any trucker will put it on and have a picture taken, he receives a free meal. At any rate, Sallie is Eldon's name when he wears the apron. One day a group wanted to have access to all the tables in the place. Somewhat indignantly, Rosemarie said, "No don't you understand we reserve one table for truck drivers all the time. They bring all the produce people can't get here from Washington. We serve them too."

Edon and Rosemarie have a wall half covered in pictures of all the truck drivers who have eaten there. They have a shelf of miniture trucks the guys have brought them. One is upside down, but that is another story. They are friendly mom and pop people who stop and chat, customers willing, when a batch of truckers stop by. Home away from home for a few minutes after many hours of driving.


vocabulary
getting out of the truck
In General