Thursday August 25, 2011

A Busy Day

A Busy Truck Stop

Tuesday, August 23

I am backing up a bit – to Tuesday – because I had been too busy to post some of the photos I had been taking around the 49er Truck Plaza in Sacramento.

A broad view of the travel plaza from the truck entrance.

A truck coming off the interstate – something you see all day long if you stand at this spot.

The scales is available for those who need to check the weight of their load.

While standing here, I noticed a homeless couple who were trying to hitchhike to Ohio. Cerwin and I prayed with them.

The fuel island is always busy – at least during the day.

As I walked away from the fuel island (back right), I came to the pretty entrance area to the restaurant and store.

Cerwin and Chaplain Jerry were pleased to have the new entrance door installed by the end of the day despite the steel framework that made it a bit challenging. Also, we had several visitors.

A man came in asking for prayer concerning paperwork that was not coming through – I think it was something to do with insurance.

Another man (Al) came to the chapel when he saw me outside sanding the “mobile chapel” letters. He wanted prayer for a friend.

As I listened, I thought, “He is trying to control her and bringing more stress on himself than necessary.” As I shared that concern with him, he was quite receptive and challenged by the thought. Cerwin and Jerry came back just as I was about ready to pray with him, so I shared a short version of the situation so Jerry could pray for him.

Later in the day, Al came into the restaurant where I was sitting, and asked if he could talk to me. I invited him to sit across the table from me, which he did.

It was rewarding to hear him say that he thought I was right-on in what I noticed by our conversation in the chapel. As he talked, I was encouraged to hear him solve his own problem with his friend.

It was a beautiful evening, so Cerwin and I decided to walk around the entire truck lot.

We had to keep our eyes open, because trucks were always coming or going. There is a continual rumble of trucks, so the sense of hearing isn’t as helpful as always looking around before moving to a new location.

Drivers have to pay to park here unless they purchase seventy-five gallons of fuel. (Cerwin heard that the first four hours are free, even if they don’t purchase fuel.) The exit toll booth is usually busy.

Someone told us that there is an average of 500 trucks going through here in a day.

Signs on the parking lot side of the truck stop.

We climbed a set of steps to get these pictures. The top of the steps was actually the exterior entrance to the hallway of the motel room. However that is always locked. It is probably an emergency exit from the inside.

A view from the top of the steps.

The exit ramp from I-80.

Trucks park anywhere there is room.

Most are in the regular parking places.

Cerwin noticed this unusual way (side window) to air condition the cab of a truck.

That is quite a sleeper.

This driver noticed us, and assumed that we are Christians. Maybe he noticed us a the chapel. He was fun to talk too, and it seemed like he had a solid walk with the Lord.

They do have beautiful rigs in this truck stop.

The sun was setting as we were headed west in one of the truck lanes.

I love taking truck pictures at sunset.

It was getting dark as we headed toward the chapel. As this man began walking toward us, I recognized him as the first driver who came to the chapel today – asking for prayer for some paperwork to come through. He came to thank us for praying, and said, “The paperwork came through this afternoon.”

That was good to hear.

He was carrying a serious water cup. It looked like it held two quarts or more. He said he fills it up with ice so he has cold water all day.

Darkness is peaceful in the truck stop. However, it is not quiet, because there is the constant rumble of hundreds of truck engines and refers. Someone told Cerwin that the lot holds 350 trucks.