Haul out the jolly! A Kenworth Capitol Christmas
Move over Santa Claus, there’s a new sleigh in town. You can keep your 12 reindeer, this huge delivery is pulled by an 18 wheeler, more specifically the Kenworth T680.
Hardy Brothers Trucking has been selected as the Official Hauler of the 2022 Capitol Christmas Tree. The company was represented by husband and wife team Ed Kingdom Jr. and Deb Kingdom. From November 5-18, the couple took the future Capitol Christmas tree on a scenic route from Fletcher, NC, to the nation’s capital (with a few stops along the way).
The next-generation 76-inch, center-roof sleeper, equipped with PACCAR Powertrain, was the truck for the job that delivered the 78-foot tall Red Spruce, nicknamed “Ruby,” to DC. The truck also featured the new Kenworth digital mirror system, LED lighting, and advanced driver assistance systems, including lane departure warning and torque-assist steering.
With holiday-centric pit stops in North Carolina and Virginia, local community members celebrated Ruby’s arrival and farewell, officially ushering in the holiday season.
So let’s take a (virtual) road trip from Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina, to the Capitol and let the holiday celebrations begin!
Here we begin: The Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. Ruby was harvested on November 2nd, lifted into the air and placed on the trailer of the truck.
With her seat belt securely strapped in, Ruby was ready for her 14-day tour.
“It was a challenge at first to get used to the amount of space it takes to maneuver such a long road train, especially in the small towns we visited, but we learned quickly,” said Ed. “We set our route in advance and the state patrol who accompanied us along the way helped us a lot.”
5 Nov
After a quick stop at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center (WNC Agricultural Center) in Fletcher, NC, it was time to head west.
Nov 6
Next on the map is Murphy, NC. A town in Cherokee County about four hours west of the WNC Agricultural Center. The holiday mood was contagious here.
Despite your best efforts, even the Grinch joined in the holiday fun!
Locals even had the opportunity to do so Deck the loot and left their mark (see what I did there?).
8 Nov
After visiting the students and community at Watauga High School in Boone, NC, Ruby made her way to Newton, North Carolina.
9 Nov
After heading north, the Kenworth T680 reached Veterans Memorial Park, Mt. Airy, NC. Here Ruby had to take a break and pose for some photos.
Nov 14
After a brief visit to some of the historic sites from Fort Raleigh, North Carolina, it was time to cross over to Virginia for the very last stop.
Nov 14
At the Suffolk Visitor Center in Suffolk, Virginia, Ruby was hailed by locals and sent on the final leg of her journey.
Nov 18
I guess you could say that the Hardy Brothers Company team, Ed Kingdom Jr. and Deb Kingdom, and the Kenworth T680 brought the spirit of Christmas to the Capitol. But the fun isn’t over yet!
The moment you’ve all been waiting for… After being placed and decorated on the West Lawn of the Capitol, Ruby was ready to make her final debut. Now we can all have our Buddy the Elf moment!
Nov 29
When pictures say more than a thousand words, I’ll let them speak.
