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NEW BUS TO CA
Same trip as last
week, the last of five units for this customer.
This run was lined up
Thursday or Friday of last week, because of all the issues we had with the
prior trip, I opted to book my flight for Saturday, it'll give me an extra five
hours (that I needed last week)
Monday - 4/4/11
Working
late on Saturday night has now delayed my start time for Monday AM, have to
have that 34 hours off to re-set my hours. And another opps … I've been on
the road so much that I forgot to allow for travel time to my truck this AM. Am
so used to it being right outside my door. I'm getting ready in the AM when I
remember this, I'm able to get to work so that I'm only 15 minutes later than I
thought I'd be. But that 15 plus the delay from Saturday has put me in rush
hour traffic that costs me another 15 minutes.
I leave the first
fueling station two hours earlier than last week, now I need to make up more
time by not driving 50 mph. I start out at 55 and bump it to 60 as the fuel
seems to hold. Stop at the usual place in Des Moines, no issues but still get
to KC at the start of rush hour.
Fueling IS an issue here again in KC,
the pump has little pressure and I pull out once to let cars fuel. They don't
use much fuel and it allows the pump time to build pressure. Once I'm at 2,200#
(where I was last week) I call it a night and pull out. But running at 55 for a
while this AM has cost me enough time that I can't make it to Wichita tonight,
so I'll have to hole up in Emporia or pay bigger bucks somewhere between.
I plan on stopping at the Budget Host that doesn't have any food
nearby so I first stop at a Subway about a ½ before I shut down. I pull
into the motel, shut the unit down, pack up and walk toward the door …
WHAT??? No vacancy? At this motel? At 8 PM?
So I go to my usual spot,
the Guest House in, park, pack up and walk in … "Sorry, we are full" WHAT?
Seems the Guest House is hosting a police seminar that has the local
motels full. He suggests the Best Western (another driver I know stays there),
but it was a few more bucks so I'll try the Motel 6 next door. The desk clerk
at the GH said he didn't know if they had rooms as he had called them and they
'weren't very friendly.'
I walk next door and the clerk is on the
phone, it's not in English so I don't know if it's work related or not. By the
time he's off there are three of us waiting. He asks if I want a WiFi room,
"Sure I do, didn't know you had them."
MMmmmm. I log on to my WiFi and
find that I am pirating from the motel next door, this Motel 6 doesn't have
WiFi. It saves me a few steps, I had already gotten the OK from the desk clerk
next door to stop back so I could check my emails. I've stayed there enough
that the guy recognized me.
So here I sit, a few feet from Bruffs
eating my cold Subway … bummer.
Tuesday - 4/5/11
6AM
Not quite a 14 hour day yesterday. Fuel is looking OK so I run 60 mph again
today, still stopping every 100 miles so I can check the fuel. I've checked
where the 'extra' fuel stops are so I should be OK … SHOULD BE. I go past
the first 'extra' and I'm still OK, but about 35 miles from the 2nd 'extra' my
low fuel light comes on. ??? I still have 500#, it usually doesn't come on
until 300#. But no problem … right?
I didn't map out this
location this trip but did look at it last week so I'm going by memory. That
wasn't good enough, I have to stop and call dispatch AND I've burnt 400# in
that 35 miles. Dispatch tells me where it is and I remember going past the
intersection, the pumps are about a block off the main highway.
I make
it, but I can't get the one hose to connect, it connects back to the pump just
fine, but not to the bus. ??? I use the other hose and get plenty of fuel, not
fast but enough that I don't plan on stopping in OKC this time. Someone else
comes in and trys to fuel using the 1st hose, they can't get it to work either
and have to wait for me.
Both OK weight stations are open today, the
first guy just waves me through, green light all the way. The second one pulls
the guy ahead of me over and leaves the red light on for me, finally a green
and I'm rolling.
Fueling in Guthrie only cost me the extra ½
hour because of the pump being slow, I just swapped it for my OKC fuel stop.
This gets me all the way to Elk City where I know I can get a good fill …
right?
Elk City has only been taking me 15 minutes to fill so I decide
to stop at Arby's and grab a sandwich to eat while I'm taking the rest of my
½ hour cooldown. It's next to a shopping mall so lots of room to park
and turn around.
Hmmm … three pickups ahead of me at the fueling
station in Elk City, this is going to take all of my ½ hour … and
then some. I walk up and check when the first guy is still fueling and the
pressure is holding at 3,000#. Shouldn't be a problem. I notice when the guy
ahead of me is disconnecting that there is a loud pop but don't think too much
about until I can't connect the hose.
Same problem as in Guthrie, I'm
ready to go ask for help when I remember the 'pop.' Ahhh. The guy ahead of me
did not bleed the pressure, I do and the hose connects. Still learning.
I quickly drain the pressure and after one driver comes and leaves (he
doesn't want to wait) a couple more come and I let them fuel so the pump has
time to build pressure again. But I cut back in line as two more people come,
I'm now up against the clock and will need to cut the pump based on time, not
pressure to stay on schedule.
One of the guys waiting is a CNG rep for
the area so he fills me in on a few details. This pump is going to be moved
down by I-40 (I need to find out if it will be out of commission for a few
days, that could be a real issue for us). And which pump in OKC is the best, it
has two compressors and twice the storage space and wide lanes. The one of
theirs I had stopped at is also new but has a trash company near it and if
they've just fueled it takes a bit to re-build the pressure. These guys are
also putting in pumps at the Flying J's and Love's … didn't know about
Love's but the one in Tulsa is one of the first. Good info to have.
Another interesting thing … I asked the guy about my little 'checking a
fuel leak while on the cell phone' incident and he said that it was no big deal
… Whew … but still doubt I'd do it again. Per this guy, to cause an
explosion, you would need highly concentrated fuel, something that won't happen
outdoors with wind as little as a couple of miles an hour, and the spark would
have to have heat of 200, or was it 400 degree's, but something that again is
not likely to happen from a cell phone.
No issues at the NM scale, now
on to Santa Rosa … I have to kick it down to make it, I've used too much
time at Guthrie and Elk City today fueling and it cut into my drive time. I
make it, barely.
I had planned on trying somewhere new but being up
against the clock I hit where I knew. The Travelodge, with a coupon that I
couldn't find. They finally said same price … but. I even walked down the
convenience store again, but they are out of the books that have the coupon.
After I check in, I find the coupon so I drop it off at the desk on my
way to the café next door. They put me in one of the two rooms on the
second floor, not sure why they would build a motel with only two upstairs
rooms … Room was OK, I need to start doing the motel write-ups right away,
my memory is getting shorter. The trips ARE running together where I only have
a day or so off.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Route
66 Restaurant, Santa Rosa NM
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Real home
cooking and real good." 4 of 5 stars Date of review: Apr 12, 2011
Last
time I was in Santa Rosa we had walked past this place to get to the Santa Fe
Grill, this time I was alone and thought I would give this place a try.
The family name on the menu made me decide to give a Mexican dish a try, two
chicken tacos. Nothing on that plate looked or tasted like it came out of a
box. Real home cooking and real good. I'll be back for the food.
The place
has an interesting look, lots of pictures/posters on the walls of mostly cars
that are well faded. They likely have been there for 20-30 years. It's an old
style café with a few stools, a few booths and a few tables. I wouldn't
be surprised if this place has been here for 60 years. (my guess)
And my
guess from bits and pieces of conversations I overheard is that the whole crew
was family, from great grandma at the counter, to grandma and two daughters
(??) waiting tables along with a granddaughter.
* Reviewer ratings for
this restaurant:
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Service
* Date of visit: April 2011
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wednesday - 4/6/11
Another 14 hour yesterday because of
slow fuel so the only difference in my wakeup time is the time change.
No issues at the ABQ fueling station, no issues at the AZ scale house. Someone
else was having issues. The 'boss man' there, (I think, based on prior visits)
was checking someone's log book. It didn't add up so the scale master called
the shipper where this guy had picked up his load and confirmed what the
scalemasters suspected.
"I must have made a booboo." The driver said.
Then the scale master pointed out another issue.
"I guess I made a
couple of booboo's" Then the scale master asked him how long he had been
driving … long time. Sounded like the driver was getting shut down for 10
hours but not fined.
On to Holbrook, I'm too far from PHX to make this
my ½ hour shutdown. Holbrook, Mc D's and WiFi. Then I think it's just
west of Winslow, AZ that I can first see the Flagstaff Mt, now that I know
where to look. Fuel holds good on this leg of the trip and no delays heading
into PHX.
It's now rush hour but I'm heading in, finally slow below
the posted two miles before my exit. No wait at the pump. In and out in a
½ hour then back into stop and go traffic. Good thing I still had a
½ of driving time and I use it all. A couple of motorcycle police drive
between the rows with their lights flashing. As soon as I get off of I-17 and
onto I-10 I see the issue on the right shoulder, from there on the traffic is
moving.
The motel here is doing some work so I have to avoid the
cement blocks, trucks, etc. Then another strange comment from a desk clerk, I
asked if I could borrow a broom "For what? To fly up to your room?"
… "No, to sweep out my bus."
Last night it was "You should be
organized before you come in here." Another time it was "I already told you
that …"
Another night at the Travelers Inn, another meal at the
Ihop.
When I come back to put the parking ticket in my window someone
is looking in the windows of my bus, kind of surprised me. But it was just one
of the city bus drivers who park along that street for their breaks getting a
'sneak preview.' That is one of the reasons I like to park where I do, there
always seems to be city buses parked just a few feet away, coming and going.
Less likely that someone is going to mess with it.
Thursday -
4/7/11
Rolling in the dark … as usual from PHX
But not
as late as some times … oh, that's right, the seasons are changing. It now
gets light earlier. Some trips it's still dark when I get to the CA (Fruit)
inspection station. As usual, I'm waved through without a question. AZ and
first CA scale closed this AM. Still lots of homes parked at Quartzsite, not
everyone has gone north yet.
I've been wondering why dispatch doesn't
include my favorite fuel stop instead of one that is way off the highway and
this I think I got it. Miles. We are supposed to stop for a tire cooldown every
240 miles and my stop is just over that and the other one is just under that
… OK.
Next I'll scale, there is a Flying J at this exit but I
haven't seen a scale and haven't looked online, and a wash here too. I had
thought that the Pilot was only a mile down the road but it turns out to be
closer to 20 so I can't combine the two like I thought for my half hour
shutdown. Should have taken it at the fuel stop, instead I take it at the
scale. This time they get the ticket right the first time. Actually they always
have here, it's the other locations ….
Nothing memorable in LA,
hard to find a place to stop and check the fuel. I stopped twice, and now I
can't remember why. It's not 100 miles through LA …
Up and down
the mountains, trying to keep up my speed without slowing down the trucks or
the cars. Trucks are to keep right, it doesn't say anything about buses so I
get further over than they do sometimes. See one backup in the oncoming lane,
up in the mountains where I can't see the accident. This is one of the few
places that the lanes cross so that the oncoming traffic is to the right of
you, not the left.
Wow, how soon I forget. Yesterday I had stopped to
check the fuel and coolant by Flagstaff and I noticed the coolant had dropped,
but was still showing in the sight glass. By the time I got back in the bus the
'low coolant' light was on, so I pulled down the ramp … the light went off
… and I stopped at a gas station to see if they had a funnel. They didn't,
but they let me take a plastic cup just in case. No more issues yesterday but
this AM the light came on when I started it. So I shut it off, walked across
the street to the truckstop (another perk of this place) and got a funnel. I
didn't buy any coolant then as I didn't know how much it would take, but now
when I'm scaling I decide to get some.
I call dispatch as this
customer is very picky about what kind we use. I forget that I've got the specs
in the bus and play dumb on the phone : Turns out this place doesn't have the
right stuff so I buy something close.
(The rest of this is written
after I have completed my next drip)
In Fowler (?) a few miles south
of Fresno I have been watching storm clouds ahead, hoping it's not hail. I saw
a car in PHX this trip that looked like a golf ball. Nope, no hail, SNOW. There
was enough that it was collection on my windshield where the wipers were
pushing it.
Fresno is going to be my stop for the night, there is one
motel coupon that is cheaper but I know there isn't any food nearby. Nothing
else, it's the only business at that exit.
I stayed at a Days Inn last
time, going to try something else this time unless nothing else looks good.
I had planned on staying at a Rodeway Inn, but when I pulled in I had
to drive around a boarded up restaurant and I couldn't see any other food
nearby so I decided to cross the freeway.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Motel 6, Fresno CA
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"all I need in a
room"
3 of 5 stars
Date of review: Apr 21, 2011
I hadn't
planned on staying at this Motel 6 when I got off at this exit, but the first
place did not have any food within walking distance, and then I took a wrong
turn and went through the neighborhood before going past the Motel 6. It looked
clean, well kept and with a large 'large vehicle' parking area.
Check in
was un-eventful, did have to pay for WiFi which is still a sore spot with me,
but last trip a place wanted $12.95 for WiFi in a $100+ room so $2.99 doesn't
sound as painful anymore.
Room was clean, warm and quiet, water was hot,
all I need in a room.
(I've now read some of the other reviews
regarding 'street walkers.' Yes, this is still an issue and the night I was
there the manger was keeping a close eye on them and on the parking lot. This
is a 'city' problem, not unique to this motel.)
* Reviewer ratings for
this hotel:
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Rooms
o 3 of 5
stars Location
o 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5 stars Service
o
3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
* Date of stay: April 2011
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
But when I left the motel to get something to eat, I noticed right at
the property line there was a (likely) homeless gal sitting near the sideway,
then I looked around and saw them on the main street, at the bus stop. Lots of
homeless, or near homeless ….
I decide to cross the street
further down, do a little J-walking to avoid contact. But the people were
likely the least of my worries, this was a main street right at the freeway
exit and no stoplights for about two miles and I'm trying to cross a four lane
highway. I make it halfway, wait and make it the rest of the way. The Denny's
I'm heading to is only one business off the main street but I cut through the
first business parking lot to stay off of the sidewalks.
Typical old
style Denny's. (No Trip Advisor write-up) I have their new 'bacon meatloaf.'
with loaded (including bacon : ) potato soup. Interesting meatloaf, it's more
like a sausage patty with BBQ sauce over it. Too much BBQ for me, but I did eat
all the meatloaf, not sure I'd order it again … or maybe I will.
Sitting in Denny's I was watching the people on the side street, wondering if
there are a whole lot of 'streetwalkers' around here or that is just the way
they dress. But most people walked both ways, seem to be walking to the gas
station next door for pop or cigs or …
Same routine on my way
back to the motel, trying to stay away from the homeless, and again get stuck
in the middle of the street for a while. I do notice that one of the
'streetwalkers' is now talking to the homeless person by my motel. They are
taking up the whole sidewalk so I step into the street to go around them by six
feet, this side steet is pretty quiet. As soon as I step off the sidewalk they
start asking if I have any …. "Burgers, fries (my hands are empty) …
cigs, drugs … "I just keep repeating 'No' until I'm far enough away that
they aren't likely to follow.
Back at my room I realize that I didn't
get my WiFi code so I have to walk back to the office, now I see the manger is
standing out in the driveway near the 'streetwalker' … He comes back in
before I'm done and I comment about his 'Welcoming committee.' He good hearty
has some rely. Twice later I look out my window and he is out patrolling the
parking lot, entrance. He's not dressed as a security guard, just a dress shirt
and slacks. Once when I look out I see that 'the walker' is talking to someone
who has stopped for her …
Friday - 4/8/11
Was it
yesterday … or the day before ???
I can no longer remember which
day along this highway that I saw the backup for an accident in the oncoming
lanes and was thinking of how lucky I had been traffic wise. A few miles later
we are stopped. But I was lucky, (It wasn't me, and) I was on one side of the
exit ramp and the accident was on the other side so as soon as it was cleared I
was rolling again.
Then roadwork on the oncoming lanes, backed up
again, then another accident in the oncoming lanes. Then a truck in the ditch
on our side, but he had gotten all the way off the highway so it was only
slowing traffic … the guy was pulling a set up doubles, trailers. And the
2nd trailer was facing us, the middle trailer was facing the ditch and the
tractor was facing the 2nd trailer, not sure if he was able to hit it or not
…
I can't remember the exits I want but I remember when I see
them, does make it interesting 'cuz I don't know if it's coming up in 5 miles
or 50 miles.
Earlier today and no line at the wash, don't stop at the
scale. I had found a 2nd wash if this one had been backed up, but I don't think
they even had all three bays open.
Quick turnaround at the drop, no
company reps on site, they were supposed to be here still, but. I ask about a
city bus to the Greyhound and they offer me a ride, more $ saved. I'm two hours
early, good thing … an hour before my bus comes they lock up, to be back
six hours later. Never did ask the driver about tickets when the depot is
closed.
Only one other person standing around, then some religious
people come and offer us some literature, we both decline and they move on
without comment. Oh yeah, billboards for "Judgement Day / World Ending, May 21"
out here.
Interesting driver and as always, interesting passengers.
Like the one who didn't get off until the new passengers had boarded. Had to
have taken up two seats … and was traveling with a dog. They came from the
back of the bus, so it might have just taken them that long to get between each
of the seats.
I sat right behind the driver, next stop was SAC. No
idea where I'm going when I get there, I wonder inside looking for someone to
ask, then leave the building. As I'm walking down the street the first person I
see is a woman in colorful African garb, but when 'she' asks me for change I'm
not so sure it was a she. The voice was awful deep.
I see a train pass
and follow the tracks hoping to catch it to the end of the line and take a taxi
from there to the airport. After a couple of blocks but before I get to its
next stop, I see a mailman and ask about the train service. He tried to answer
but I don't think he spent any time on mass transit (would be like asking me
about the bus in my home town … I don't ride it there.) Then he points be
across the street to a bus stop, 'ask the next driver' he tells me. I do and he
gives me basic directions which I promptly forget the details.
But I
start in the right direction and find a bus stop and a schedule for a bus to
the airport, it'll be there in 5 minutes … or if it was early, an hour
from now. Not early, I board … we go right past the Greyhound station and
the next stop is in front of Macy's … now I remember, this is where I was
supposed to have gone, took a right instead of a left at my last turn.
Not a bad deal. Last week we spent $25 on a taxi to get a rental car, $37 on
the rental car and another $13 on gas. $75 split in two was $38 each. Today I
spend $17 on Greyhound and another $2 the city bus, so about ½ the cost
when I travel alone.
Once at the airport I try to find a cheap motel
with an airport shuttle. Not much listed so I ask the help desk who has a few
more motels not listed on the travel board. None are in my price range, so the
Quality Inn with a coupon it is. But they aren't sure when they'll get there, I
call an hour later and they say "We said we'd call when we knew …" OK
…
It's another hour, I don't mind but it would have been nice to
know the time, I'm just working here or there on my computer anyways. I had to
move outside to call them the 2nd time, I had lost cell service inside. The cop
on this beat was doing his job, on his little cart … whatever those two
wheeled things that were going to change life were called. But he does keep the
area clear of stoppers.
Finally the shuttle is there, the driver had
been doing their shopping. They weren't expecting customers this early, It's
maybe 3-4 in the afternoon. It is about a half hour to the motel so a taxi both
ways would have equalized the cost of the motel. I ask the driver about food
near the motel … "A Mexican place and lots of fast food." Was the reply
… when we get there I ask them what about the IHOP in their parking lot
… "Oh yeah, that too."
>>>>>>>> TRIP
ADVISOR - Quality Inn, Sacramento CA
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"I'd likely stay
here again even if I'm not using the airport shuttle." 3 of 5 stars Date of
review: Apr 21, 2011
I used the airport shuttle both PM and AM, I did
have to wait in the PM but not an issue for me, it was either on my laptop at
the airport or on the laptop at the motel.
Front desk was helpful, room
was warm, clean and quiet. Water was hot.
This is not an overpriced
airport motel, even without the airport shuttle it could run in the $100 range
in most cities. Other than the pool being closed, everything was top notch.
I'd likely stay here again even if I'm not using the shuttle.
(After
I wrote the above I looked at the older reviews, the front desk was very
plesant at check-in and the same for checkout, other than making us use the
window instead of the lobby at 4 AM … but the pool area is still off
limits as of April, 2011)
* Reviewer ratings for this hotel:
o 4
of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Rooms
o 3 of 5 stars Location
o 3
of 5 stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5 stars Service
o 3 of 5 stars Sleep
Quality
* Date of stay: April 2011
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
not posted, can't find name <<<<<<<
The airport
shuttle driver had suggested this place so I ended up here.
The food
and service had the feeling of a large chain, but boy the food was good. I had
two chicken enchilada's and eat way more than I should have. Full house on a
Thursday night.
If I'm in the area, I'll be back.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Saturday - 4/10/11
I made sure last night I'd be on the
4:30 shuttle, the next one wasn't until 6 AM and my flight was at 7. But that
means another 4 AM morning.
I'm down at the office, the door is still
locked … until 7 AM ?? So I check out at the window, there is going to be
five of us plus the driver in the minivan so it'll be cramped.
I hold
my backpack, that way I don't feel as guilty about not tipping the driver : As
soon as we hit the freeway, one of the guests says they have forgotten their
cell phone … Ahhhg. ))) Don't people look around before they leave their
room? (((
The driver doesn't ask anyone if this is an issue, just
makes a U-turn at the next exit and heads back. As we are pulling up the guest
says "STOP! STOP." His phone was laying on the pavement and the van tires just
missed it.
Now the guests start talking, the guy next to me does the
same thing I do, but for a Union company out of Portland or Seattle. Doing only
the stacked units. Where they 'piggyback' two, three or four trucks together
with one driver.
At the airport there are lines, the counters haven't
opened yet, but I have my ticket, picked it up last night so I'm straight to
security. I only see one person giong through when I'm walking up and they are
gone when I get there. So it's just me and three lines to choose from.
Plenty of time to finish the work I didn't finish last night. I got tired
before I was done doing my computer work.
Different crew at the gate
than last week. And it's not a 'casual day' today either. Not sure the main gal
here could have lasted through our 8 hour delay and cancelation last week.
Uneventful flight home … |
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