The Little Truck that Could (but almost didn't)

It's been an interesting (and at times downright frightening) day. I really wish I had pictures so you could see the road I was on, but I was too busy trying to stay alive. See the "A" marked on the map? That was the receiver...a water treatment plant (SMALL treatment plant).

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So if you start the journey on 106 then to 64 and then to Hickory Hills Rd. Then, because there was NO place to turn around...I had to continue down Hickory Hill Rd on back down to 64 again. Now mind you...this map does not accurately reflect the twists and turns of the road. Lots of 90 degree turns...some of them even worse than that. I really wish on this map you could see the turns and steep hills.

Anyway, I slowly made my way up 106 and 64 doing about 14 mph all the way up due to the steep climb to get there. One of the guys who worked at the plant met me at a gas station to guide me up to the plant on Hickory Hill Rd. He told me it was going to be tight, but holy shit I had no idea! We get to the plant and I have to park in the road (pretty much blocking it) so they could unload me. They called the local police department to help escort me. Now they've escorted trucks to back down the mountainous rode before...but they weren't split axles. After much discussion it was decided to try to keep going forward on the road to get out of there. We didn't make it a 1/4 mile up the road before I came to a road block. While making a tight curve, there just so happened to be this lovely rock in the corner that I could not get around. No matter how I tried to swing it...there was no getting the trailer past it. More discussion and head scratching. I finally suggested that if we could find a tow truck that could come up there...they could use their cable to scoot the rear of my trailer over about 3 or 4 feet and then I could get around it. I knew it could be done because the tow truck that got me out of the snow had done that as well. There were no big truck tow trucks in the area, but they had one car tow truck guy who they called to come out and take a look to see if he could do what I suggested. Dude came out, pulled out his tow cable and some chains. Him and his friend, who came to help him, hooked chains around a tree and hooked the cable to those. And then, using the tow cable winch, moved the rear of the trailer over! 

From that point, I had an officer in front and back of my truck helping me out of there. The tow truck guy had his friend drive the truck and then tow guy walked down in front of my truck (I kept it in granny gear for this) and helped guide me to keep me out of any ditches. The officer in front stopped traffic when necessary. But finally we got OUT OF THERE! And all in one piece. Nothing broken on the truck, no flattened mailboxes or gouged electric poles. I'm sure everyone in that little town has heard of it by now. Small town...word spreads fast. So I'm probably famous in the Highlands, NC right now. LOL

The job was supposed to be for a 40' trailer and day cab. Go figure. But you know...while it scared the living crap out of me...I'm extremely proud of myself for keeping my head and getting through it. But I will NEVER go to Highlands, NC again.

I made it to the closest possible truck stop...and of course all the parking spaces were filled. So I'm parked in a "no parking" zone at the side of their lot and I really don't care. I'm way too tired and out of driving hours so I'm stuck here. And I have no intention of getting up super early to get to the shipper. I'm going to get some much deserved rest!

So I bid you good night...and stay out of sticky situations better than I seem to do!