Ray Bradley Hauling

About Ray Bradley Hauling

Below Lock and Dam 19, the open water the turbines keep from freezing draws bald eagles all winter long, dozens of them lining the bare trees along the Keokuk riverfront even on the coldest mornings. Ray Bradley Hauling runs its trucks along that same stretch of river road well before the birds are stirring, hauling snow out of the tight lots near the old lock district so the handful of businesses down there can open on schedule. Fog off the open water below the dam drifts up into the streets some mornings, freezing fine on windshields and turning the riverfront a soft gray well past sunrise. A truckload of snow has to go somewhere, and the low ground near the river bottoms south of town gives this crew somewhere to put it that won't just wash back downtown come the next thaw. By the time the eagles start working the open water for breakfast, the riverfront lots are clear and the trucks are already circling back for another load.