Trip to North Shore of Minnesota

North Shore Trip 2016

North Shore, MN

After living in Minnesota for so long, I wasn't surprised to see a few snow flurries leading up to the fishing opener on Friday.  Since the weather was so cold, my mantra for opener is that it is for amateurs, much like New Year's Eve.  

I prefer to spend my time on the water in less crowded conditions, so I wet a line on this beautiful Monday, and will continue to fish all days except opener.  I have been catching a lot of fishing lately, especially on Lake...sorry, I can't remember the name.

The prey I am after include crappies and sunfish, but I will eat most types of fish.   I am pretty sure after being doused in breading, and fried, covered with butter and lemon, all of them taste about the same.

So, back to the cold weather, which is a Minnesotan thing to talk about....
Well, the cold front seemed to get worse heading to Duluth on Friday, so I stopped at the Cromwell Liquor store, and was pleasantly surprised to have stumbled upon a meat raffle.  I bought two tickets, won during the second round, and left before being beat up by a Finlander, who teased me for setting my meat up on the bar.

 Upon my arrival on the North Shore of Minnesota, I was greeted by seasonal allergies and blond Finnish women in the sauna. 

You see, the leaves hadn't even popped out on the trees up on the shore, and the pollen was killing me. The best way to deal with allergies is to wash down some Zyrtec and Flonase with micro brews, surround oneself with hipsters, and guzzle down some nine dollar beers made of cage free organic hops and served by tattoo-sleeved outdoorsy types.
 I don't know if the beer helped my allergies, but after a few I really started chatting up the Portland fashion influenced Duluthians and Two Harborites.  Turns out, they are friendly, fashion conscious, bearded (males), and love to drink micro brews, too!
 If you ever head up the north shore, be sure to check out the HUGE maple tree slab, and tasty brews at http://castledangerbrewery.com/.

Weekend in Bismarck, North Dakota

Well, the Memorial Day weekend was pretty uneventful, but despite the long drive from Brainerd, MN to Bismarck, ND, the overall trip out West was great.   Saturday morning was cold, cloudy and rainy when I left Brainerd, and all went well until the traffic was squeezed down to two lanes in the small town of Wadena, MN.  A pickup truck, license number LP8689, was following so close on the pothole ridden two lane road, that I was afraid he was going to hit me.  I  turned around to suggest he back off, and he sped around me right in the middle of the town's streets by passing into oncoming traffic.  He proceeded to speed away at high speeds and endanger his young daughter sitting in the front seat with no seat belt on.   I thought about calling the highway patrol, but the stupid I phone was no help in finding any contact information, and I wasn't going to call 911.  Along with this episode, one thing that is very prevalent on today's highways is people forgetting they are driving while talking on their cell phones.

Hang up and drive is my only message to dealing with all the frustrations associated with distracted and impatient driving.

The speed limit driving across North Dakota is 75 on the interstate, and this helps to make a quick trip, along with little to no traffic to contend with after driving through the Fargo metro area.


Bismarck, North Dakota is the capital of the state, and has calmed down in terms of business after the recent decline in the oil industry.   All of the restaurants and shopping still remain, and the small city is seemingly devoid of business and crowds.  This wasn't the case during the oil boom.  At one time, my relatives waited in a line of 27 cars just to get a Starbucks, but now the city is returning to a slower paced and relaxed vibe.  It is a good place and surprisingly scenic in the spring with the low bluffs, prairie lakes, abundance of pheasants, and the clean and inviting Missouri  River.
It turned out to be a long drive, but it was well worth it in terms of getting to spend some quality time with friends enjoying good food and excellent, sunny weather.

The drive back was uneventful, and we spent the rest of the weekend in the sun and water.

Hopper and Bulk Materials Transport Opportunities

I went up north last weekend to spend time with my family for Mother's Day.  Shortly after leaving the Brainerd Lake's Area, I started to notice all of the semi-trucks pulling hopper trailers and open deck trailers hauling agricultural machinery.  Agriculture is big business in western Minnesota, especially as you get closer to the North and South Dakota borders.   I have included some companies below that specialize in transporting agricultural commodities and equipment.

Foltz Trucking-Hopper and Bulk Carrier out of Detroit Lakes, MN:
http://foltztrucking.com/customers-2/

Jobs:http://foltztrucking.com/driving-for-foltz/

507-663-9006 | Fax: 507-663-9007
PO Box 177 - Randolph, MN 55065
garlan@gdubbelstrucking.com

Jobs: http://gdubbelstrucking.com/employment_coverage_area.php

 A free service with tons of info. for carriers and shippers specializing in bulk loads:

http://www.bulkloads.com/

 Minnesota based Freight Broker Online Training:

https://logisticsacademy.org/contact-logistics-academy/



Other areas of the United States:



Florida Truckers Coop (hoppers in the Southeast)
http://fltruckers.com/our-services/ 



Cleveland, Mississippi: http://ptbrokers.com/carriers/

Netflix New Releases May 2016

Netflix New Releases for May 2016: 

May 1

A Study in Sherlock (2016)

Admiral (2015)

Ava's Possessions (2015)

Bring It On (2000)

Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)

Easy Living: Seasons 1-3

El Crítico (2013)

FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue (1998)

Finger of God (2007)

Gary Gulman: It's About Time (2016)

Great Expectations (1998)

I Am Road Comic (2014)

Jesus Town, USA (2014)

Just Friends (2005)

Kevin Hart Presents Keith Robinson: Back of The Bus Funny (2015)

Kevin Hart Presents Lil Rel: RELevent (2015)

Kevin Hart Presents: Plastic Cup Boyz (2015)

LoliRock: Season 1 (2014)

My Last Day Without You (2011)

The Nutty Professor (1996)

Off the Map (2013)

Palm Trees in the Snow (2015)

Pleasantville (1998)

Shark Lake (2015)

She's Beautiful When She's Angry (2014)

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Sugar Coated (2015)

Terra (2015)

Things We Lost in the Fire (2007)

To Catch a Thief (1955)

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream (2007)

Who’s Driving Doug (2016)
May 2 
The Replacements (2000)
May 3
Submerged (2015)
May 4

The Keeping Room (2015)

Shanghai Knights (2003)

May 5

Fourth Man Out (2015)
Marseille
May 6
Ali Wong: Baby Cobra
Baby Daddy: Season 5
Grace and Frankie: Season 2
Young & Hungry: Season 3
May 8
The Chosen Ones (2015)
May 9
A Stand Up Guy (2015)
May 10
Eisenstein in Guanajuato (2015)
May 11
Chelsea
Goosebumps (2015)
They Look Like People (2015)
May 12
Bleeding Heart (2015)
May 15
We Are Still Here (2015)
Yo Soy la Salsa (2014)
May 17
American Dad!: Season 10
Kindergarten Cop 2 (2016)
Slasher: Season 1 (2016)
May 18
A Girl Like Her (2015)
May 19
Benders: Season 1 (2015)
May 20
Lady Dynamite: Season 1
May 22
David and Goliath (2015)
The Letters (2014)
The Ouija Experiment 2: Theatre of Death (2015)
May 23 
Electricity (2014)
May 26
Graceland: Season 3
The Last Man on the Moon (2016)
May 27
Bloodline: Season 2
Chef's Table: Season 2, Part 1
The Do-Over (2016)
Mako Mermaids: Season 4 
May 28 
Hell on Wheels: Season 5

Leaving Netflix in May 2016

May 1
The Animatrix (2003)
Anna Karenina (1948)
Author! Author! (1982)
Beware of Mr. Baker (2012)
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
Broadway Idiot (2013)
Bus Stop (1956)
Election (1999)
The Good Life (2012)
Holiday Engagement (2011)
Kiss of Death” (1995)
“Mad Hot Ballroom (2005)
Mona Lisa Is Missing (2012)
Ralphie May: Austin-tatious (2008)
Terms And Conditions May Apply (2013)
That’s What I Am (2011)
Thérèse (2012)
Truth or Die (2012)
Young & Handsome: An Evening with Jeff Garlin (2008)
May 2
Slightly Single in L.A. (2012)
May 3
JFK: The Smoking Gun (2013)
May 4
Stealing Harvard (2002)
May 6
Finding Normal (2013)
May 7
JFK: A President Betrayed (2013)
May 9
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding (2012)
Cracks (2009)
Tears of the Sun (2003)
May 10
The Score (2001)
May 12
The Ladykillers (2004)
May 13
Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? (2013)
May 14
The Master of Disguise (2002)
Offender (2012)
May 15
A Pope For Everyone (2013)
Bratz: BFF: Best Friends Forever (2007)
The Greatest Places: IMAX (1999)
In Her Skin (2009)
Inhale (2010)
The Quest (2014)
Search for the Great Sharks: IMAX (1995)
Tiger Eyes (2012)
May 16
Blade Runner (1982)
The Last Tycoon (2012)
May 19
Peep World (2010)
May 21
Struck by Lightning (2012)
May 22
Ida (2013)
Stand Off (2012)
May 23
Black Hawk Down (2001)
May 27
Escape from Tomorrow (2013)
Run & Jump (2013)
Vanishing of the Bees (2009)
May 28
Barfi! (2012)
May 29
These Birds Walk (2013)
May 31
Clerks (1994)

See related

Articles on Bar Culture in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

The rules of bar culture are different depending upon location. Check out these article below on bar culture in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan:


NY Times: Touring 109 Bars of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

By JOE RHODES
Great description and writing on why there are so many bars in the UP:

There aren’t too many perfect days in Sault Ste. Marie.

The second-biggest city in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, it’s almost always too cold or too gray. In winter, which seems to last an average of eight or nine months, there is too much ice on Lake Superior, too much snow on the ground. Even in summer, which seems to last an average of eight or nine days, chilly winds blow in from the water. If the wind miraculously abates, the black flies and mosquitoes will have their way with your flesh. More often than not, it’s better to be indoors.

This is why there are so many bars in “the Soo” as everyone there calls Sault Ste. Marie (population 14,000 and shrinking), 13 of them within three blocks of one another in a downtown cluster known as the BARmuda Triangle: shot-and-a-beer joints, college bars, places where the Jägermeister and cinnamon whiskey flow and snowmobile trails lead right up to the door. It’s hard to get a suntan in the Soo, but it’s easy to get a drink.

Yooper Bars Travel Guide:
Yooper Bars Book Review 

 

Starting a Trucking Company: Info. and Links

Building a Foundation for Your New Trucking Business Suggested building blocks of knowledge for your new trucking endeavor

 '



Small Business Adminstration:

Starting a trucking business link



From the site:
Due to the growing marketplace, its a common necessity for commercial goods and products to be moved to a new city or state. This need creates a great opportunity for new transportation businesses and as a result the trucking industry is an extremely competitive field. Because the competition is steep, save yourself time, money, and energy by thoroughly researching the industry before you jump in. If yo-re considering opening a trucking business, use this guide to help you get started.

Determine how your trucking business will operate.
Trucking businesses operate by bidding on and fulfilling transportation accounts and contracts. Most trucking businesses usually operate in one of two forms- the difference lies in how they acquire drivers to fulfill their accounts and contracts:

• Sub-contracted drivers: Under the first option, you run your business using sub-contractors as drivers. Although you, as the business owner, run the business and receive the contracts, your drivers are not actually employed by your company. This option cuts down on start-up costs, insurance costs, and required equipment. On the other side, this option gives you less control over your drivers and cuts into your profits.
• Privately-owned drivers: Under the second option, you privately run your business and all operations. You use your own equipment, pay higher insurance prices, and hire a fleet of private drivers as employees. This option gives you total control over your business and its employees, and promises the most return on profits. On the downside, this option requires a great deal more start-up capital and operating costs.

Single Axle Truck Pictures: What Can Be Hauled with Them?

Single axle Kenworth pulling livestock pups


---The benefits of a single axle truck will be a tighter turning radius, but they are also rougher riding due to the smaller wheelbase.   I saw an LTL single axle pulling a single axle van trailer on my way home from work yesterday, and I started thinking about the options for finding work for that kind of rig. 



Here is a Mack pulling a van


I know the market is overrun with companies like FedEx, UPS, and other LTL Carriers, but I wonder if any opportunities exist in this segment of the transportation industry for LTL owner operators running intrastate?




Single Axle Car Haulers

Solution to the Trucker Bomb Problem with a portable loo: