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9/24/10 - Friday
When I got back from my
last trip my bus was already in the lot and waiting so I looked to see how much
fuel it had. Not enough, the guy who fueled it came up short so I tell them
I'll wait until Monday to leave, I was supposed to leave on Saturday after my
36 hour shut down. I could have fueled it myself and moved my 36 hour shutdown
to Saturday and left Sunday but I needed a couple of days at home. Dispatch was
hoping I'd leave Sat, deliver on Tuesday take Weds off then take another trip
on Thursday delivering on Sunday. "No, when I get done with this one I'm local
again for a few days.
9/27/10
Monday The other two drivers have
called their pecking order for Monday morning, one will be there at 7 AM when
the station opens and the other will be there before 8. I usually count on an
hour per bus so I don't plan on getting down there until 9 AM. I usually try to
be to the office by 8, but after I got up in the morning, I decided not to push
it, why wait in line at the station?
By the time I get to the office,
other drivers are there and we start talking. I get to my bus and there are
drivers there and we start talking. Another reason to get here early. By the
time I get to the station both drivers are done and the pump has to be
re-started. It all takes time. Talked to my Dad the night before I left and he
said that I-35 had been closed because of the heavy / 10 inch rains down by
Owattana on Friday. I check and it was re-opened the same day. I can't really
see where it would have been based on the newspaper but just south of town
there is a creek that looks like it would have been higher. There is a
campground right there and the trailers tires are still in the water but I'm
thinking that to flood the freeway there had to be water in the those trailers.
Not sure how well those things withstand flood damage.
Down the road,
this time I'm only stopping once before Kansas City. Just north of Des Moines
at a rest area, looks like halfway, it's not. I need to back it off to the rest
area one stop prior, the one next to the 'prarie area.' I notice a couple
sitting at a bench that don't look like they are just relaxing there and a few
minutes later I see them walking back to their vehical … when the tow
truck pulls in. The Jeep goes on the flatbed and the U-haul gets hitched to the
tow. What a way to start a 'new life' somewhere. Pulling out on the freeway I
see that right across in the oncoming lanes there is a car facing the wrong
direction and traffic is down to one lane
Earlier would be better, by
the time I get to Kansas City it is the begining of rush hour. Is there any
other freeway where the exit sub-numbers to up to 'F?" The last five miles must
be the longest on the whole interstate. Getting in to fuel is not an issue, a
couple of local's stop by to talk. One says that both a school district and the
local ATT office are getting new CNG vehicles. Hope it helps them buy a new
pump. Last week I called dispatch to see if I could get to OKC with 2,400#
pressure. Today I end up calling the driver ahead of me to see if I can make it
on 2,000#, that's all I can get.
2,000# is all he got, so I'm off.
He'll run out the same place I will. I had planned on staying in Emporia again
but as long as I'm talking to him I ask him where he stays in Witchita. Motel 6
on Kellogg. I can't picture the place until I get there, I've been here before
and there is no food anywhere close. Used to be a resturant across the street
but that is closed. Surprised because there are at least five motels within a
mile there. He's already there and checked in before I get there. I didn't
completely understand his directions so I have to go and make a U-turn. Should
go past three motels and come in behind them. Their idea of 'Truck Parking' is
where ever cars aren't parked.
Food will have to be takeout. The motel
suggests Domino's, they are the one with their name on the key cards, but I go
for Papa Johns. Do I want their medium special for $10? No, I can't eat that
much so I order a small. $12. Huh? OK will take the midium but won't eat it
all. I should have asked the clerk what kind they liked. I could have split it
with them. Instead the second half was still sitting in the fridge when I left.
Could have been breakfast but I haven't been eating that much that early and
not sure how good it would be after sitting in a hot bus for 5-6 hours. Might
smell good but not the way a new bus should smell.
9/28/10 -
Tuesday
Check out of the Motel 6 and I'm back on the freeway. The motel
property is adjacent to freeway entrance. Opps, it's not a 'freeway' it's the
toll way. I'm watching my fuel but get to OKC without any problems. No drivers
in site. Signs say 'fair traffic' so I'm not sure it it's next week or last
week. The only clouds in the sky are from the airplanes, they gradually
disipate. It's a slow day when the most exciting thing is the clouds :
>>> Edited to add. OK State fair was Sept 16 thru 26. So if I
had left Sat I could have stopped there on Sunday … got to plan ahead.
Also Emmylou Hariss was doing concerts in CA last week. I'll have to try to
match one of the ones next month out east up with a trip.
I need to
stop in Elk City for a fuel check, I'm more than good. As long as I'm stopped
at Love's I grab a drink and a cookie, Subway, white macadamia. But this is not
a ½ way point so back on the road. I thought I'd make it to Amarillo,
but am going to come up 20 miles short so I stop in Conway, TX for my half hour
cool down. No rain this trip so this time the bugs win over WiFi, need to wash
the windshield. And another bottle of juice for me. While I'm washing the
windows some guy comes over and asks if the bus is in service. Him and a buddy
are hitchhiking, but he doesn't ask for a ride.
In Amarillo the Flying
J has given up half their sign to Denny's. In most area's the Denny's sign is
below as the food signs are with TA and Pilot. Most billboards have also added
the Denny's logo. $26 seems to be the bottom dollar for motels in Amarillo, a
few more at $29.
At the NM POE three UPS trucks follow me in from AAA
Interstate Transportation, LLC. (I've added them to my mylynx.com list). There
is also a big mess at the POE. There is a flatbed with pipe that is being
unloaded. They've had to bring in two forklifts to do the job. I did ask the
scale person if they were loosing their load or overweight. No, neither so not
sure what it was. Don't like to spend any extra time in those places so I
didn't ask any more questions.
This is the first time I've been this
way since they built the new Flying J in Tucumcari (last trip I went through
downtown on Route 66). Last time I came through here three years ago they had
just started pushing off the top soil with a dozer. And I had forgotten that
Love's was enlarging, that's done now too. I don't think that Shell on the west
exit will ever re-open now with two big stations in town. I see Grayhound still
has it's shack out back of the Exxon station, it's big enough for two people.
The person selling the ticket and the person buying the ticket.
Santa
Rosa is an easy day from Witchita, just under 600 miles. The other driver is
already there, he's checked in and done eating by the time I get there. He's at
the Motel 6 for $40 (senior). I'd be $45 plus $3 for WiFi. Grrrrr. I say no
thanks and go across the street to the Silver Moon Motel. The billboard still
says $24 but two signs out front say $29, but still the better deal. Room #5
with a real key and the sign-in is done on a log format.
Next door is
the Silver Moon resturant. I go Mexican and get a blue corn chicken enchilada
and end up belonging to the clean plate club. No WiFi at either at the
resturant or the motel so it'll be tomorrow before I know what is going on in
the world. I do spend some time looking at my mapping software but it is old
and my address isn't showing. The road is there but not labeled.
Just
barely in bed and ouch. Not bed bugs I hope. No more bites but the next morning
I see something did bite me, almost in the same spot as two weeks ago. The
motel is old, if I'd have had a screw driver with I'd have tightened the door.
The sink looked dirty but I tried to clean it and it was just stained. Same
with one of the pillow cases, stained. I used the other one.
All in all
if the place is clean I sleep as well as I do in a $20 as a $90 motel. A lot of
the cheap ones are worn and well used, but you get what you pay for. I've
stayed here before, and likely will again. Didn't see any place else in town
less than the '6. Worst part about this one is that there is a light outside of
each door/window and the curtains are as thin as sheets so it doesn't really
get dark in the room.
9/29/10 - Wednesday
I'm rolling by 3:30
AM. The other driver was here last night before I was and is still here when I
leave. I never like to give up my room until my unit is running but today I
have an actual key, not a card. I'm afraid I will forget and take the key with
me, so I leave the key in the room and leave the room unlocked until I've done
my inspection. Other than truck lights, headlights and tail lights, there isn't
a whole lot to see until daybreak.
I'm pulling into Albuquque about
6:30, not much of a rush hour. Traffic slows to about 60 but that's how fast
I'm going so not an issue. A driver has given me a suggestion to get into this
stop so I don't get lost again :. It works. I'm still fueling when the second
driver pulls in. He has to wait about 5-10 minutes for me and then will be
stuck with a slow pump as I've drained all the reserves.
Traffic is
heavier now, but now I'm past downtown and watching it in the on coming lanes.
Shortly before I reach the AZ scale I'm getting sleepy so I decide I'd better
stop and stretch for a couple of minutes. And that was it, about two minutes at
an exit. When I get to the AZ POE-Port of Entry I see a third driver of ours
just pulling out. He left about three hours before me on Monday and now I've
past one and caught up to the second. As I'm purchasing my permit, in walk the
same three guys moving UPS trucks that I had seen in NM POE yesterday. They
aren't setting speed records, I took more than 10 hours off last night plus
fueling time this AM and I still am staying ahead of them.
Break time
is Holbrook, still trying to figure out what happened to the old motel I stayed
at. I think it may now be a remodled Travelodge. (I should Google it) This time
I go in to McD's to use their wireless, and buy a wrap. I spend my half hour
shutdown looking up how to get out of our drop. I thought a rental car might
work. But a car is going to be $35, plus tax and gas <> $50. Split that
in two, $25. Compare that to a $10 taxi ride, $5 each, and $3 or $7 train
ticket. No car. I had also thought that two other drivers may have been in the
area, but one was going to be visiting for a day enroute and the other never
called me back. I'm assuming that he had already delivered by the time I
called.
I'm ready to go but I push the starter and … nothing.
That's a sinking feeling. I wait a few seconds and try again, it starts …
whew. Back on the road I finally turn the AC for the day, it's <> noon
local, IT DOESN'T WORK. It's getting warm, high 80's, low 90's with very little
ventlation. I don't want to call dispatch, they'll want me to stop and trouble
shoot. One, if I loose any time I'll get off schedule. Two, I don't want the
situation to go from bad to worse. It's running now, if I start messing it
might not.
Winslow, AZ. Pilot. Not anymore. It's now the 3B's. That has
to be at least the third name I've seen on the place since I've been driving.
Always seems to be doing OK, not empty, but must be something going on. I'm
sure the way they did the roadwork a few years ago didn't help. Closing the
road and running the freeway down one ramp and back up the other. Cuts the
freeway access in half. Not sure there are too many travelers that are going to
follow the detours to get to a truckstop.
Today I can see the Flagstaff
hill from about 60 miles out, even in the haze. Never noticed before, but today
it looks there are thunderheads forming where the forest fires are. The smoke
is going straight up into a lone thunderhead and then drifting off to the
north. Other than that there is just a small wisp of a cloud here and there.
At the scenic view where drivers are to check their breaks I stop and
gulp a bottle of juice, it's getting hot. I thought it would be cooler around
Flagstaff, but not today. I pop an emergency hatch open for more ventilation.
It helps, a little. This was one long ride down 5,000 feet. With the AC not
working, neither was my fan so if part of the electical system is gone, what's
going to go next? This is a hundred plus miles you do not loose power/control
on. This is most likely the slowest I have ever gone down this hill.
Just after the scenic view there was the remains of a bear in the
ditch. Not as common as skunks, armadillos and racoons. Uphill I'm still
pulling my own and am able to pass a few trucks even though I get down around
40 mph on the long climbs.
I stop again at the only open rest area and
buy some Lemonade, I didn't find any juice. Keep them liquids coming. I know
one of our driver got dehydrated earlier this year in a truck. Again, not
something you want to happen anywhere but specifially not on down grade like
this.
I was 60 miles closer to Phoenix this AM than last trip so I have
plenty of time, and I know where I'm going. I gulp another bottle of juice
before I start fueling. Fueling goes quickly. I expect to see the driver I past
or the one I caught up to, but I see neither, not sure if they are ahead or
still behind me.
EZ8, looks like an easy place to get in and out of.
I'm likely to try it when I'm driving something other than what I have today.
Now it's rush hour, but not really that bad. Only takes twice as long as it
should to get the 10 miles to the motel. I've decided it's not worth to go 10
miles out of my way twice to save $15. The $29 motel is something like the
Primer?? It's across the freeway from the Hyatt and Embassy Suites, had a
Bennigan's next door, it's closed. But ther is still a Black Angus steakhouse.
And its next to an amusment park, so it doesn't look like a bad area. Again, if
I was driving something else. There is also a Motel 6 for $29 in the same area,
no sign if there is truck parking or not.
>>> Edited to add:
Found it, Premier Inns it's in front of the Metro Center at exit 208, the park
is 'Castles and Coasters.'
At the Travelers Inn, my CLC card is denied.
It's worked fine the last two week, I need to contact them I did not get any
notice that they were going to or did deny my card. Our credit card gave us new
cards with new numbers a couple of months ago and I never updated CLC. Once the
last motels went through I thought this wasn't going to be an issue. End up
spending an extra $3 not using the CLC. I'll see what they say. I also ask for
a room closer to the WiFi, I get 2nd floor pool side. They had offered me the
same thing last time but I thought it might be too loud?? No one used it.
I look out the window and the other driver is already there, I must
have just missed him at the fuel stop. I call and offer to buy him dinner for
all the phone calls and suggest IHOP. He calls a few minutes later and asks
where I am. He's at Carl Jr's two doors down and doesn't know there is an IHOP
here. He's been here how many times? And goes past it every time he stays at
this motel, twice. It's on the corner between the motel and the freeway. Dinner
for two is $18.
He's planning on leaving at 4 AM, I think that is
cutting it close. I go back to the motel and check on how to get to the airport
from the drop. The maps show via train so we should be set. I strart with
setting my alarm for 3 AM then turn the lights back on and re-set it for 2:30
AM.
9/30/10 - Thursday
MORNING I slept good for about 5 hours,
4-5 is normal, then couldn't get back to sleep. But I don't think I moved at
all in those five hours. Usually I toss and turn quite a bit (In part because
someone keeps poking me to get me to quit snoring). The last couple of hours I
was mostly awake but could have been drifting in and out. So I was wide awake
when my alarm goes off at 2:30. I look out my window and the other driver
already has his bus running, by the time I'm out of the shower he's gone. He
had told me last night that he wasn't leaving until 4 AM, but could have
re-done the math.
When I get out to my bus the door is partly open ??
I've been closing them correctly for the last five years, I can't believe I
would have not done it right. Oh well, nothing missing. Didn't think of it
until later that I should ALWAYS check to make sure no one, no thing has gotten
in over night.
The last 160 miles of AZ goes fast, there are a few
place to fuel/motels but the hours on this trip won't allow it and other trips
don't route us this way. When I pull into the CA inspection station I get the
usual wave through and then see that the other driver that left a half hour
before me is now behind me. He passes … we aren't in trucks so he's not
following the truck speed limit … same view on scales, we aren't in a
truck.
About the time it was getting light I could smell the rain,
usually that is only for a few minutes before it actually rains but out here it
is so dry that the rain never hits the ground, so for an hour I was driving
under the rain. Even before we left AZ we could see the lightning, and once the
sun came up we could see the rainbows. Two for a while, and the ends were
getting closer to me than I ever remember … it was an intersting sight.
With a fast camera and traveling alone I may tried to get the below picture.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316520/The-end-world-Days-record-heat-followed-spectacular-thunderstorms-huge-rainbow-California.html
That extra 10 mph does help getting us to our drop an hour earlier than I
expected, so does 'following the old route.' We wash where he's washed before
then scale at the same place. I'm just not having any luck on the scales. The
other guy is ahead of me and gone by the time I'm done washing. I scale, then
go in to pay. They are confused, they have given the other driver my scale info
… certified copy. Not sure what he had done but I had to re-weight. More
time lost, not really, I'll still be waiting for him when I get to the fueling
station.
Now we have three hours to the drop, need to call them two
hours out. Last time through I had missed CA-210 and stayed on I-10 until the
signs for I-210, this time I'm just following. Following I don't spend as much
time looking around. Which I suppose is a good thing. Once we had to lock them
up to get stopped. This is at 10 AM with four-five lanes of traffic. I don't
want to know what it's like during 'rush hour (s, and hours, and hours).
After the air conditioning not working last night I don't dare turn it
on today. Considering it was a record 113 here a couple of days ago this rain
must have cooled things down this AM. I don't really get warm, but it does feel
good when a truck passes and I get an extra blast of air. Finally once we are
off the freeway I turn on the air and it seems to be working. By the time the
customer signs the paperwork it is chilly. Wish it had been yesterday.
Dispatch has included three notes on yellow paper reminding us how to
get into this customer and how not to. We get there and it can't be done, we
can't take a left turn into their driver way, the median is too high. We have
go past the customer and turn around in someone elses parking lot. I guess if I
had looked at an aerial shot of the customer before the drop instead of after I
would have known that. I did email dispatch a copy of the aerial shot and a
note. Thanks.
As we pull into their neighbors lot to turn aournd here
comes the same customer rep that helped me out in San Fransico two weeks ago.
He's back in LA. Didn't say why. He directs us as to where park and I go and
find someone to sign off. No problems at delivery.
A short ride to the
MetroLink/rail and we are on our way. But didn't get enough answers. I had
looked last night on the internet and found that the rail goes right past the
airport, and today we purchased tickets for 'Burbank Airport,' but on the train
I could see us go past and stop in downtown. I try to use a help phone but I
get the TTT instead. The other driver flags down security who explains to us
that we need to call the Super Shuttle to get the rest of the way, so we do.
The airport picks up the tab. After we set this up I'm looking around and see
that we were supposed to catch a second train, the one that just left, back to
the airport. I'm wondering if the security guy doesn't get a kickback from the
Super Shuttle guys??
We likely get there about the same time as having
taken the train and walking the two blocks into the airport. Now the fun
starts.
I have tickets for yesterday and tomorrow but not today. I try
yesterday first because that's the flight the other driver is on. US Air, the
guy is polite and helpful, to a point. Nothing he can do about my ticket. The
ticket was for $150 and that is what the change fee would be, so it's bascially
worthless. He can sell me a new ticket for $225.
Then I go to American
Airlines, Opps. Not sure why I had AA stuck my mind. My ticket is for United,
the next counter down. Again polite and helpful, but. I knew this was going
nowhere when they had to call the corp number to find out what they could do.
$150 change fee, plus $991 for the change in price. I told them I can get a
pretty nice motel room for that price and left.
I did make use of their
wireless and found out that Southwest had a flight for $431 the others started
around $550, so it's time to look for motels. Embassy Suites, Hyatt, Marriot,
nothing was looking cheap. CLC for the Holiday Inn is $110. The only other CLC
is the Ramada for $50+ so that's where I ended up. Didn't see any 'no-name'
places listed anwhere. I'll try to remember to count on Friday but this place
may only have six or so gates. You need an outside latter to get up to the
plane.
EVENING
I pick the Ramada because they are a CLC motel for
$50+ with an airport shuttle. Place isn't bad but if it wasn't next to an
airport it wouldn't be worth the $50 without CLC. I checked in around 3:30pm, I
remember because their inhouse lounge doesn't open until 5pm. So I spend some
time putting my trip paperwork together so I can fax it. We are supposed to fax
from delivery unless we can drop off the paperwork the next AM. Seeing I'm
stuck in Burbank, I need to fax it. I take it down to fax, they fax and hand
the paperwork back to me, I say thanks and leave. A few minutes later I get a
call in my room that they don't have a credit card to charge the faxes to (I'd
used CLC). "Charges?" I ask. "Yes, $18 for the six pages." After I stop choking
I say I'll be down to pay cash.
It's been so long since anyone has
charged for a fax I didn't even think to ask. LE$$ON learned. I take it up with
both people behind the counter. I loose.
By this time I had already
decided I would eat at their in-house lounge, the price didn't seem too bad.
$12 for chicken laguenne. They asked if I wanted soup or salad, "Salad." When I
got the bill, the salad was $5 extra, plus a $3 drink and taxes, tip and I've
just spent $25 for something that might have come out of Hormel ready to eat
box on sale at Walmart for $.99. By the time I was done, I could only eat
½, the rest of the food looked like slow moving food at a buffet, where
it starts to change color.
Room isn't too bad, I've only seen one ant.
The other customers in the motel van from the airport were complaining about
the ant's in their room. (They are in town a few days for pilot training). It
is a 30 year old motel in need of renovation. Only real problem with the room
is that the tolet runs every few minutes, must be a slow leak. I'll have to
shut the water off to sleep. Four floors with about 200 rooms, haven't seen
anyone around but I see 'do not disturb' signs on some of the rooms and can
hear the TV in the next room.
10/1/10 - FRIDAY
Ug, I wake up 2-3
hours after go to sleep and have to run to the bathroom. Not sure it was from
last nights meal, but. I do go right back to sleep but wake up again about two
hours before I need to be up and lay there thinking, but as usual when the
alarm goes off I am dead to the world. Rush, rush, rush. I want to be at the
front desk by 6 AM even though I know the first shuttle won't leave until 6:30.
When I ran trips in the past I would always take the motel shampoo, this time
I've decided to only carry one little bottle, when one is running out I'll pick
up the next one. After the $18 fax last night I want to take anything this
isn't nailed down. But I can only get three bottles in my ½ quart liquid
bag.
I'm down at the desk ready to check out but the guy is on the
phone, by the time he's off there are two other people waiting. I let them go
ahead as I've got a half hour before shuttle time. By the time I check out the
shuttle driver is there and one of those guys I let go ahead is also in the
shuttle. They are still loading when I get out to the van and we are on our way
… it's 6:15, that will help me getting on the SFO flight if possible. All
in all I guess I'd stay at this motel. At $60 it's in line with the $50 motel
in SEA and the $70 in SFO. But next time I'd walk to food first and then call
for the ride. AND NOT FAX anything. I also found out that they will shuttle you
to any restuarants in the area.
I get to the airport and get in the
line that is forming outside, then I'm told it's for security. I still have to
go inside to get my ticket. I ask the guy at the counter about gettting on an
earlier fliight, no can do. The SFO flights are being delayed and he now has 15
people wanting to fill two seats on the DVR flight (the one I want to get on).
And they can not change your routing to get you to the same destination. If you
are flying via DVR, they can only put you on earlier flights via DVR so the 7
AM flight is not an option. He suggests I come back in the afternoon. I've
already checked out of my motel so I've nowhere else to go.
The
security line is still long so I'm deciding if I want to go in or walk to food.
Line quickly goes down and I get in line, I need to figure out a better way to
pack. It takes me four buckets plus my back pack to get through security.
Security starts asking me about my 'allen' wrenches, she couldn't remember what
they were called. That gets me sidetracked and I forget to empty my pockets.
BEEP, beep, beep. I empty my pockets and no alarms but they still want to pack
me down. Then they want to look and my misc items I keep in a clear makeup bag.
(33% battery left and my computer just shut down) I'm through, there is five
gates in this terminal, I'm guessing another five in the other terminal. I find
United. There is only a coffee shop and a magazine stand. That's it.
Even before the SFO flight is boarded they are giving passengers the
option of switching to the DVR flight, I get in line and say I know there is
<> -0- chance of getting on, but want to be on the list anyway. He says
you know there is a $50 charge if you get on and hands me a new ticket. A half
hour later they are calling all passengers for DVR so I wait until the line
goes down and ask if I'll be able to get on. "You are on, I gave you a ticket."
"What about the zero percent chance of getting on that the ticket agent said?"
I ask. He just smiled and said something under his breath. I'm on.
Flight is full, I'm guessing the guy at the gate just wanted a full
flight so the plane would leave on time, the guy at the counter wanted happy
customers. Hey, I'm happy! On the plane I hear a guy saying he usually doesn't
get to the airport this early (for this 8 something flight to SFO) but did
today so now he'll be ontime instead of delayed in SFO. Small plane, most
people have to check there bag at the gate, even my back pack likely would not
have fit.
When I get to DVR I see there is no one at my gate yet so I
have time to go get a Schlotzsky's. As soon as someone comes to the counter I'm
there waiting. 1st in line for standby. WHAT? $50 per each leg of a flight. I'm
learning. There ends up being 12 on standby and a full fight, but I'm first on
the list. Two people finally run up after last call, so I was 'that close' to
making it on that first flight.
The airline rolls the 12 people forward
to the next flight, but I'm #2 because someone new has the airlines 'perks'
card. Once they start posting I can see that there are four seats left plus one
in first class, so now I have my hopes up. Six people had also paid $100 to
lock in their seat on the earlier flight. The airline waits until the last
minute, giving us every opertunity to spend that extra $50 to lock in that
seat. Finally I'm the first one called, if I didn't know the order of the
standby I never would have known it was me and I'd have been stuck in DVR. I've
never had anyone get my name so wrong. I'm guessing the person who was first on
the list got the 1st class seat.
Not sure if my seat mate had never
been in a plane before but he asked me what all those round things were on the
ground. Irrigation circles.
We land 30 minutes early so I'm able to get
a Charlies before my ride gets there. |
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