Off The Road

Well the driving for Styx has ended. The lead singer for Def Leoppard became ill while we were in Quebec City. I had just finished planning out the route and printing off the driving instructions for the rest of the tour when I received a text asking me how much rest I needed before I could drive a 1000 miles. As you can imagine, the text had grabbed my immediate attention since our next drive after the show was scheduled for 236 miles. I called the production manager and was informed the show had been cancelled as well as the next few. He said we would be heading to Chicago once I was ready to drive.

I took a shower and waited downstairs for the driver to take me back over to the venue. It took the driver 90 minutes to arrive. I stowed my backpack and laptop in my drivers compartment, and then went into the arena to find our production manager. After a short tour in the back area of the arena, I found the Styx production office. Keith, the production manager, was waiting for paperwork to be faxed in that would allow the equipment truck to exit Canada. I waited for an hour or so before heading down to catering to score some dinner. After dinner, it was another 3 hours before Keith gave up on receiving the fax. We departed Quebec City at 2100 hours.

The weather called for snow and rain mixed, so I was glad we got the early start. My preference is to drive on clear roads whenever possible. Other than flurries and some heavy downpours of rain, the drive to the border was uneventful. The border crossing went smoothly and we proceeded across the river into Port Huron, Michigan. I took the first exit after the crossing so we could get fuel and hit McDonald's for some breakfast.

I called David the other driver who had departed 4 hours earlier than I too see how he was doing. He mentioned that he heard the tour manager tell Keith that he wanted me to stop and take a break so he wouldn't have to pay the overdrives. (Overdrives... miles in excess of the first 450 miles of a regular days drive). I told Keith I was fine, not sleepy and would continue driving after eating breakfast and fueling the coach.

The remainder of the trip was a good drive with fairly light traffic all the way too Chicago. I was definitely ready for the break out of the drivers seat once we arrived.

East Windsor, CT

Currently I'm driving the production staff for Styx on the Def Leopard, REO & Styx tour. I've been with the crew since 03/31/2008. I arrived in Ft. Myers, FL from Phoenix, AZ to begin this tour. I've driven the guys from Ft. Meyers, Fl to Greeenville, SC; Reading, PA; Atlantic City, NJ; Manchester, NH and now down to Hartford, CT.

Arrived yesterday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Express with the merchandise guy on-board. He didn't travel with the band, (STYX) or the rest of the production crew to Las Vegas for a private show. Drive down from Manchester was a relaxing drive with no stress due to the coach being empty. I always enjoy moving the coach from point A to B while it's empty.

Myself & David, the other driver, he carries the band members got the hotel shuttle driver to drop us off at a Walmart. We both needed to pick up things for the coach and ourselves. Once we finished browsing the store and filling our carts, we called the hotel to be picked up.

It's always a challenge to find areas to store things while on the road. The driver area is very limited, and space is at a premium. I always try to arrange my bay in such a way as to be able to hang up my clothes, place other clothing items in plastic storage bins, as well as maintain tools and other neccessities required while on the road. My bay is "a work in progress".

After a good nights rest, it's time to get out there and clean the coach, inside & out. Noticed an odor coming from the bathroom on the way out yesterday. I'm sure it will be there when I open the coach up since the air, & other power sources were turned off last night.