Meet Crable Ivy: the toothless trucker

Crable Ivy

While I was in a rest stop in Virginia, after breakfast I began to replace some strip on the camper, the weather outside was beautiful, there was a beautiful chill in the air that I took care of with a long sleeves T- shirt. I was wearing a black base ball cap with the words: I love Jesus; inscribed in bold white letters on the front of the cap.

I noticed an older man looking at me, with a smile on his face. With the smile still on his face he walked over to where I was and he said to me: do you love Jesus? I stopped what I was doing, stood up and looked at him and I said: "of-course he is my all in all." Then we started a conversation. The friendly trucker name was Crable Ivy and he hailed from the windy city of Chicago. Mr. Ivy has been driving for some 24 years and his main gold is to replace his missing teeth. He claimed that sweet keep him awake, as a result he eat a lot of sweet when he was on the road especially when he was doing long distance as he was doing when I met him or when he had to drive at night. He blames his sweet tooth on his toothless condition. He jokingly told me: “I have eight teeth six in my mouth and two in my pocket.” Then he had a good laugh at his comment while I smile not wanting to appear as if I was laughing at his predicament.

Mr. Ivy with his rig

Crable Ivy was a good spirited man who was happy to share his experience with me. One of the things He shared with me was how to deal with swarms of flies. “This is something I learn recently, after so many years of driving,” he said; “when the fly season is on in the summer, the flies comes out in swarms, if you get ammonia, mix it half ammonia to half water and spray it onto your windshield, the flies will not land and remain on your windshield; they will avoid you he said beaming with excitement as he share his newly acquired knowledge. 

When it was time for Mr. Ivy, who was traveling with an empty rig, to go; he politely said “I must be going if I am to get to Texas on time." Before he got into his rig, He took the time to pose for a picture; then he said to me: “Say your prayers at night and drive between the lanes.” He then boarded his rig, closed the doors, he started and revved his engine then off he went.

In my list of experiences this is another pleasant person with an awesome sense-of-humor who is not afraid to laugh at himself. 

Meeting Dawn Alexander Linton: a cool Dame

Dawn Alexandra Linton

I came into contact with many wonderful people and Dawn Linton is one such persons. It was my last day in Martinsburg, West Virginia, The day before that Day, I had to pick up a package from the Martinsburg's post office. I had ordered a 12 volts solar battery charger and I was expecting it. So after I was finished using the internet at Martins Supermarket in Martinsburg, West Virginia, I decide and then I drove to the post office and park on the compound of the plaza wherein the Unites States Postal Service was housed.

The post office was about ten minutes away, it was 12:30 A.M. when I arrived at my destination. So I pulled my curtain and I prepare for bed. The night was cold so I ran my heater at a sixty four degrees, unfortunately when I woke up, I discovered that my batteries were dead. From my interacting with the people of the area I was told the evening was going to be cold.

The dead batteries grounded me for the day, there was an Advance Auto Parts across the street, from the shopping plaza that housed the post office; so I load my two heavy batteries on my mini hand truck and I cross the busy highway to Advance Auto, unfortunately; this Advance Auto Parts store had only one battery charger, this extend my waiting time, so I took the opportunity to checkout the stores within the vicinity. I had to return to Advance Auto at 8:00 or 8:30 P.M. Which was the estimated time to charge the batteries.

Even after browsing the stores I still had a two hour wait before the batteries would be ready. Unfortunately for me the weather became extremely cold. It was then I decided to use the facility of the laundry mart on the compound. The Laundry Mart was worm, there was a television and it is always a good place to meet people.

The next day the cold spell continued, everyone I met were complaining about the cold. I went to the nearby gas station to replenish my petrol tank, I was allowed upon request to replenished my fresh water thank also. I was grateful to Kimberley Sullicvan, the friendly gas station attendant, who  granted me permission and directed me to the area of the station where a faucet was. I connected the RV to the water outlet, then I went to enjoy the warmth of the gas station, where I chat with Kimberley while I waited for the tank to be fill.

While there, a beautiful, energetic, happy and very friendly young lady whose name I later found our to be Dawn Linton walked in and a bungle of happiness came in with her. I cannot remember how I got into the conversation but Dawn and I really had a good powwow. 

Dawn and her hubby and teenage love: Tim

Apparently Dawn was at home on her day off from work, when her cousin call her to run an errand for him. Which was to pick him up some smokes and bring them by his job.

After a half an hour or so chatting, Dawn quickly nip off to take her cousin his smokes then she returned. On her return we chat like forever. It was so easy speaking to Dawn that I was sure we were almost best friends. We spoke of may thing from family to travel to favorite things to do, from vacation spots, to sharing our faith etc. In sharing our faith, discovered that Dawn was in love with her Lord and savior Jesus Christ. When I share the story where I was eaten a live by bed bug at one of the local motels, it was - A buggy situation and Dawn she sure got a kick out of it. Then it was time for me to leave.

I think Dawn Linton is a pretty cool dame and one of my new friends. She is another wonderful person who took the time to care.

Pastor Scott Young a good guy

Pastor Scott Young

I had to be back in New York City (NYC), as a result I need a safe place and someone to take care of the RV, for it will be too costly and too much of a burden to drive the RV back to NYC and back to the south where I am at currently.

The task I am faced with, is to fine someone who is trustworthy and honest to leave the RV and its contents with. I do not know the people on this side of the country, It was hard to decided who was the most appropriate person to leave the RV with. Another question I must also consider was: would they want the responsibility of taking care of my property?

It was totally impossible to come up with someone at such short noticed. Then I had "a Holy Spirit moment" (idea), why not try the church you attend, after all the leadership are always boasting that we are a world wide organization.  As a result of my "Holy Spirit moment" I did an internet search for the closest Seventh Day Adventist church to my location.

I discovered the Five Oaks Seventh Day Adventist church was the closest to where I was.  So I sent the pastor an email, for I did not expected anyone to be at the church and the Pastor's number was not listed on the website. The mail failure alert I received alerted me the pastor's Five Oaks email address was not working.

Due to the fact, I did not received an expected email reply or a call from the pastor, I used his alternate email address and resent the email informing him that I was on my way to his location.  My back up plan was to go to another church (not necessarily and Adventist church) within the area and make the same request. I know this world is fill with Good Samaritans and a lot of them still wear the robe of ministry.

So I drove to the Five Oaks church location, I parked the RV on the church property and I began to look around to see if there were anyone on the compound. I notice a vehicle drove onto the compound, however; when I try to flag down the vehicle, the driver  did not stop but just kept on driving. Five minutes later I received a call from an elder, who informed me that he will be at the church within an hour. About an hour or so later, the person who called earlier showered up, accompanied by his wife as he said he would be.

I parked the RV in the place suggested and I was also given a safe place to store my valuables. When I experienced some unexpected difficulties, which I brought to Pastor Young's attention, he expressed his sorrow and satisfied the humble request I made.

I am grateful to Pastor Young and the other members: of the Five Oaks Seventh Day Adventist Church, who was involved in extending  their kindness to me. Thanks to this Servant of the Almighty God: Yahweh and his son Jesus Christ.

Theadore and Tammy an act of kindness.

Theodore and Tammy

It was my intention to take my van with me, when I leave NYC, for it is not convenient for me to drive the large camper to and from certain places. However in order for me to take my van along I needed a tow-bar, which is the easiest mean of traveling with two vehicle. I checked the prices and discovered that a tow-bars which is used to tow cars and average vehicles, has a five thousand pound towing capacity and they are affordable; unfortunately, my van is over ten thousand pounds and therefore I needed a tow-bar of that or higher capacity. Tow-bars with a ten thousand pounds or higher capacity, ranged in price: from five hundred to several thousand dollars.

So I decided to check the internet for used tow-bars. Since there were no tow-bars in my area, I decided to look for tow-bars in those states I must pass through on my way to pick up RV. Fortunately, I discovered a used heavy duty tow bar in Maryland.

On the evening of the Monday 2nd, December, 2013, I showed up to the address I was given, there I met, a man, who introduced himself as Ted, He showed me the tow-bar we speak about on the phone; he  also took the time to explained its features to me; Ted, provided most of the information I needed to know about the tow-bar and its safe usage.

I paid for the tow-bar and I put the apparatus in the van. While I was getting into the van to leave,  Theodore (Ted) asked me if I will like something to drink. I had a long way to go and I did not want to be held back, but I could not reject the worm hospitable gesture that came from this helpful and kind gentle man. After Ted named a range of drinks, I settled for a glass of milk.

On invitation, I entered Ted's beautiful home and Ted and I sat down to a glass of milk. While I was having my milk, Ted insisted that I have a turkey sandwich, but before I could refused he got up moved over the fridge took out the container in which they kept the turkey and placed it  on the table in front of me. He offered me rolls and vegetables for the sandwich.

While Ted and I were about an hour into our conversation, a woman appear from one of the rooms in the back of the two story house, she had a white cotton stylish poncho draped over her outfit. Ted introduced the lady as Tammy: his wife.

Although she did not say it, I guessed Tammy became concerned after she heard Ted in a prolong conversation with a man who was a total stranger, in their home. The knife with which I cut the turkey, was sitting on the Turkey dish, on the table between Ted and I. Tammy's first order was to removed the knife from the table; an instinctive cautionary measure. After which she joined the conversation which went on for four hours. When it was time to go, the couple insisted that I took some fruits with me; however I reluctantly took an apple.

Theodore and Tammy have been married for thirty years, the couple have one daughter and three grandchildren.

This was another awesome couple and for me another beautiful experience.

A friendly neighbor

Tony "Big T" Richards

I was hanging around Creedmoor, in Grenville County, North Caroline; in my effort to confirm the name of my present location, I asked a young man what is the name of this place. After the young man left, an older fellow by the name of Tony Richards AKA Big T, came over to where I was and told me he overheard me asking where I was. He then gave me all the information I need about the environment. He also gives me a lesson on hunting. He said ever since he was a child he hunted. However although he go out with the hunting party, He have not kill anything for a while.

He further explained that between Novembers to January is call rut. This is when the Deer go through their mating period. He describes the territorial behavior of the male in order to win the affection and the right to mate with particular female.

Toney who is from a small town call Stem in Granville County, explain that there is only three business place in Stem, a general store a gestation and the newest addition to the commercial life of Stem is a Dollar General. He also told me that having a Dollar General is a big thing in Stem. 

Tony farms with his uncles in the Summer months and hunt deer in the winter.  In the summer the crop of choice is Fescue grass that is use to make hay. Big T explained how that grass is dried and wind row, piled, collected and stocked as well as all of the other procedure and hard work that is required to make hay. I learn a lot just listening to Tony’s stories.