Continued

First we had to take the trailer to Moncton, New Brunswick and then we were on our way again.

We headed back through Ontario to cross the border at Sarnia, it is now the 4th of December.
We had to go via Indianapolis to return the hire truck to Ryder and collect 3558 again
Trucks exchanged and on to Nebraska, an uneventful trip. After we had completed the delivery we were dispatched to Winnipeg (or Winterpeg as it is affectionately? called).

We were loading at Big Freight in Steinbach, the temp. was -35 plus the windchill, bloody cold !! whilst loading you have to complete the serial numbers on a form they give you, great, the ink in the pen keeps freezing. We took it in turns to memorise a number, jump back in the cab and write it on the form, lol.

We had some space on the back of the trailer so we agreed to put another delivery on, well we were going to Toronto anyway 2 deliveries instead of 1 not a big deal, is it?

Eventually we were loaded, collected the paperwork and were good to go. Hmmm " load up for Essex, near Toronto" so why does our paperwork have 10 different delivery addresses?

A quick phonecall to dispatch and they confirmed, yes there were 10 deliveries, to say we were slightly peed off, is being polite. We just want to go home now, remember no tv, dvd and a repaired PS3 with us, but no electric,lol.

The weather forecast was predicting snow storms right across Ontario, so fingers crossed we could get through.

Suddenly the check engine light is on, we pull in to the Husky at Dryden and Rod gets out to have a look. He removed the oil dipstick to check the oil level, oil spits out everywhere. Ok phone dispatch and ask them to send somebody to have a look.

We didn't wait too long and a mechanic was with us with a hammer and a blowtorch? Interesting?
He explains the oil breather pipe has frozen up,which is why when Rod removed the dipstick the pressure forced the oil to blow back, it's a common fault with the freight liner. He heats the pipe with the blowtorch, and gives it a quick clout with the hammer, hey presto an icicle drops out.
Well I guess we know what to do next time it happens!

We stay at the Husky ready to go early the next day, lets get a good head start in the morning and we'll be back in Halifax for Christmas.

We left Dryden and drove for approx an hour, oh no not again, the check engine light is flashing, we pull onto the shoulder quickly, as we are losing power.
What a lovely colour the snow is, no, that's radiator fluid. the radiator has burst and we're not going anywhere. While Rod is on the phone to dispatch again, a pick up truck stops to see if we need any help. Yep we sure do, they arrange a wrecker to come and get us, I wonder how long this is going to take, you can see on the photos within half an hour it was freezing in the truck!! Even Dee looks cold and not impressed.
Within an hour the wrecker/tow truck has arrived and takes us to Ignace, the only way to describe Ignace is "it's a one horse town" or "blink and you'll miss it".

It's Friday, the truck will be ready Sunday afternoon! we head to the motel, which strangely enough is also owned by the guy who's repairing our truck ;) The good news is it's warm and there's a tavern just round the corner so even at -35 we can walk there...the weekend is looking better.

We collect the truck on Sunday afternoon, the predicted snow storm is approaching quickly but so far so good.

We drive for two hours and it starts snowing heavy, we manage another two hours stop to fuel up and the police have closed the highway. Oh well at least we are in a truck stop and can get food and drinks.
The next morning the truck stop is crammed full, there are cars and trucks abandoned everywhere.
Rod asks the policeman when he thinks the road will be opened, " you'll be good to go within a couple of hours the snow ploughs are clearing it now."
Later that day, we're given the green light.We leave the truck stop in convoy with a police escort, lol.
They stay with us for approx 30 kms and then wave us on, we soon realised why they weren't going any further! As we rounded the first bend we are hit with a whiteout, it has stopped snowing but the wind is whipping the snow up making visibility zero in places.

We drive for a further 3 hours and decided to stop for a coffee, and clean the lights.
But we ain't going nowhere soon, there's been an accident about 30 kms up the road so they've had to close it again!!!
Oh my, we were starting to think we'd never get these things delivered, never mind be back in Halifax for Christmas.

And there's more :D