My Morning Walks
I have come to enjoy my morning walks. For a while this summer my walks were limited, and I missed them. 
Now, I am back to my hour long morning walks. These walks are more than physically healthy. Don't get me wrong. Just two week into getting my hour long walks in, I have dropped a few pounds and generally feel better. They are a great way to escape the trucking world that we live in and explore what is around us.
This week I had a couple of great walks. I get in the habit of trying to park in places to take my 10 hour breaks that I am familiar with and I can get an enjoyable walk in. Hopefully, it is at the customers. Many customers let us take our 10 hour breaks in their lots. It is appreciated. If we have an 0700 appointment and can arrive before 2100 the night before we don't have to fight heavy morning traffic or prematurely start our 14 hour clocks.
One night this week I planned on parking at our shop on Spirit Way in Green Bay. The plan was to park in 
there and get up in the morning and drive my car the 4 miles or so to the Fox River Trail in De Pere. Then on the way back pick up a Dunkin' Donuts coffee and take a shower at the shop before I delivered my load of scrap paper. Then I hit a construction zone just north of Milwaukee. The delay cost me about 10 minutes and I had to stop at the truck stop about 5 miles from the shop. No big deal, I could fuel there during my post trip inspection and get a shower ticket for in the morning.
Across from the Country Express Truck Stop, just off of HWY 172 and I43 there is a new walkway that runs parallel to County GV. It isn't scenic, buy at least it is safe. About a mile into my walk is the Izaak Walton Conservation Area. I decided to take a turn in and check it out. It turned into a beautiful walk through the woods and fields. Once you enter the conservancy you leave the highway behind. You can't hear it. You can't see it. You're enjoying a great walk. I was startled by six white tails that I must have startled. I love to watch deer run, and wish that I could run like one. The rest of the walk was just a pleasant walk on grass and bark trails before I had to head back to work.
On Friday morning I unloaded at Waukesha, WI. I received the unpleasant news that it would take a couple of hours to unload the truck. I asked if I needed to stick around for any reason, and if they would mind if I left the premises for an hour. They didn't care. So, I expected to take a nice walk through a suburban town. It was a foggy morning. Then I happened upon a non navigable waterway, or a good place for urban planners to put a trail. They did. I took it and had a gorgeous walk along the Fox River.
Get out in the morning before you start that 14 hour clock. Escape your semi truck. Enjoy your surroundings and get in a nice walk. You might even drop a pound or two along the way.