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...My Life as 'Drive away' driver
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1 - New Bus 20180316 - CA-LA Got going pretty close to daylight. Breakfast was set up when we got there this time. First stop was at a rest area in Avenal, then on to the Iron Skillet in Lebec. Just as we were walking, a high school team walked in. Thought it was going to be crowded at the buffet but they must have all ordered off the menu. Not much for hot food that looked good, so I stayed with the soup and salad bar. We were kind of in a rush as the forecast was for snow on the pass within a few hours. We did make it across OK, but then spent lots of time in LA traffic. And this was shortly after noon, not rush hour. Besides lots of 'almost accidents' we got to see a few of the Hells Angles. First BB had a stop picked out at a stop that was not on the route we were going to take, and then when she picked out a rest area, it was closed when we got there. Pulled off at a Wal-mart a few miles later,. Tight turns but got in and out. Had to also call for my NM permit before they closed for the weekend. It was almost four hours from our last stop, almost double our routine. Stopped for a break in Baumont, before stopping for the night in Blythe. Saw signs that I-10 was closed at the state line, and found that traffic was backed up to Blythe but we didn't have any issues. Quality Inn was right next door to a Subway and a Mexican place. We chose Mexican. Noticed next door there was a tour bus in transit, interesting was that it was being moved by the manufacture, not the driveaway company that used to. Our company had also bid on it at one time. 20180317 - CA-LA Today would be a day of changing our minds. Didn't get a real early start as the plan was to not take a shut down and run short days. 10 hours yesterday, 10 today and then 4+ on Sunday. Somewhere down the road BB looked at the weather and found that winds will be up to 90 mph on Sunday. We had thought of driving if the winds didn't get that bad, or stopping if they did. And how far did we want to drive today? By the end of the day we decided to do our usual shut down at dark. We had hours to go further but it's been a long day and the motels and the food wouldn't be as good an hour plus down the road. And we'd have to wait until 7 am to get going because of my 're-start' hours. Hopefully just a minor issue with the POE, likely will never hear about it again. Did see where the big accident/fire had been on I-10 the night before, some trucker was picking through the remains. First stop was in Tonopah for fuel. This would be the cheapest we get fuel the whole trip. TA, not a place I like to stop, but the price was right. And when I got there, there were enough islands open that I drove in backwards so I could full my DEF also. By the time I was done there were people wanting to come into that island the correct way. With the fuel card I was able to pay for fuel and DEF right at the pump so that is a plus I don't have with using my credit card. Next stop was next to the former truckwash in Tuscon. Building is still there, next to a very old truck stop. Looks kind of dumpy but they have a restaurant in it that was good. I had a French Dip and BB had a ruben and soup. When we left I had to back out of my stop because of the huge hole in the blacktop. Guy stopped me after I backed out to say he liked my back up alarm ... BB had been my guide. We finally decide we will only run until dark, we just do a quick rest stop at Lordsburg before stopping in Clint, TX. Depending on how far we had planned on driving today I have either been running at 65 or 60. First tank full of fuel I got 8.5 mpg. At one spot in El Paso, I-10 is about three blocks from the fence between Mexico and the US. And the highway is up far enough that it can be seen quite well. Lots of roads up in the air. I was counting one place how many roads were crossing over and must have missed the 'lane ends' sign ... or there wasn't one. We stop at the last motel leaving town, a Best Western with two Mexican restaurants within a block and a Ma-Pa truckstop. This is where we will spend the next 34 hours for my re-set/wind break. Ate at a place called Mamacitas. Food was good but too much hot sauce for me. Interesting mix of music last night. A couple of country songs, then a couple of Irish songs. Dispatch in CA put 20 buses on the board. He usually does not put any. So I guess I could have had my pick of where I wanted to go. Just take one. There were a few going to HI, but those just go to the port ... "bridge isn't done yet." Also saw one bus going to the Key West :) Back in NV near Battle Mountain there was a coyote waiting to cross the road. It just stood there and watched until the coast was clear. We see a lot that didn't make it. From here we should be able to do a long day on Monday and then a short day but through Houston on Tuesday. I haven't called yet to see when I can deliver. If they close early it will be Wednesday. Rental cars aren't cheap, but it will be a two day rental against over 5,000 paid miles. Then home for a week. Drive for a week and then back home for dentist appointments for a week. Then ??? Shutting down for Sunday 20180318 - CA-LA Slept in. Went for a walk this AM around the buildings. Then later walked to the Subway at the truckstop. Then walked again this afternoon and then went next door again to eat. The other place across the street closes at 4 PM on Sundays so we missed that. BB got the same as yesterday but I went with a patty melt. Good thing we hadn't planned on stopping at the Mexican place at noon, just a few dozen bikers hanging out for a while. Forecast today for today was still for gusts up to 70 mph in the higher elevations.Couldn't see the mountains a few miles away for a good part of the day. Quit walking early the second time as it looked like the sand storm was getting closer. And we were getting pelted pretty good just walking on the blacktop. I had parked my bus on the north side of the building, kind of sheltering it from the worst of it. Breakfast opens at 6 AM tomorrow and we plan on being down there, then on the road by 6:30. Lots of computer time today. Didn't work on anything close in our family tree ... 20180319 - CA-LA This is what happens when I don't do the write up the same day. I forget a lot of the details. Got going at daylight. Wind has died down so we can see the mountains in Mexico again. First stop was in Van Horn at a TA for fuel, put in enough to get to Junction, TX. Place was empty when we got there so I pulled in against the traffic so I could add DEF. Noon stop was in Fort Stockton at a Pilot for Subway, our other choice was Carl Jr/Hardees at Loves. When we were ready to pull in I was the nice guy and blocked traffic so an oversized load without an escort could turn in. He had to be in the oncoming traffic, two lanes over to make the turn. While here I called the drop and payroll. Its been two days and we haven't gotten paid, we usually get paid within a couple of hours. (Finally got paid Tuesday) Ozona, we stopped at a huge truck stop with no one there. It is a Ma / Pa place that is still trying to compete with the big chains. Restaurant, shop, motel. Everything seemed clean and current but no one around other than the cashier. Juction, made it. This fuel gauge jumps all over the place so I wasn't sure. And don't have a way to stick the tank yet. Gauge showed 1/8 when I was on the highway, flat on E as soon as I stopped. I had picked this place because this should be my last stop. But I thought I was getting better mileage so I didn't fill it ... should have. This is the cheapest fuel before we get to the Houston area. Boerne was our next stop and meal. Trying to get as far as we can during daylight hours. Whatabugger. Another half hour break. Hit San Antonio at rush hour, but not too bad of a delay. We decide on Schulmburg, TX for the night. Get there right at dark, it's been a long day. If we drive any later we will have to delay when we can leave in the AM. Desk clerk tells us to get going as soon as we can, Houston will be a parking lot. First day back at school after spring break. 20180320 - CA-LA We leave out at 6:30. That gets us to Houston about 8 AM. At least an hour delay getting through but mostly slow and go. At one point we saw a motorcycle cop who looked like he was holding up traffic. Turns out he was the escort for an overweight truck and no one else could be on the bridges when the heavy truck was. Got to close one time and the guy ahead of me burn his rubber stopping ... so I had to too. Last night BB was looking at the reviews for the truck wash, not good. But it wasn't any worse than anywhere else. It took about 20 minutes per truck. Then I added another 7 gallons of fuel because it was down to 1/4 while it sat. Ended up at 5/8's right before I pulled off the freeway to the drop ... and back to 1/4 at the drop. Dropped BB at the airport and then stopped at a huge lot about a mile away. She was there almost as soon as I was. No issues with the drop. Did get to see the bus that tried to take out a tree Friday. So they will need the one I brought. Stopped for the first time at Checkers, nothing special. Stopped for snacks later and when the clerk was wringing it up, I was watching the amount. It was over $5 so I threw down $6 on the counter before I saw the person had their hand out. Opps ... so I have my hand out for my change and he throws it on the counter .... Got to Texarkana, schlotzskys before going to the Best Western for the night. 660 miles tomorrow will get us to Des Moines and then 5+ hours for Thursday AM. Then home for 10 days. 20180321 - CA-LA Bad start to the AM, toilet would leak and then quit. Didn't flood us out, just annoying. Got going close to daylight. First stop was for fuel at a Shell in De Queen, 10 miles later we see a sign that says "Welcome to Oklahoma." Not good, we were not going to go through OK. But no cell service to look up where we were. We took a chance and kept going. It likely took us less out of the way and doubling back to where we missed the turn. The Shell we fueled at was right on the corner of the city streets where our road turned. We were looking at how to get in/out of the station and missed the highway signs. Interesting detour. Nice hills, mostly no passing zones. This all helped to get the mileage up over 50 mpg for a while. Based on the computer ETA's we likely only lost about 15 minutes by going this route, it just seemed like a long way out of the way. Stopped in Fort Smith at Wendy's, then Neosto at Loves for a break. Next stop was at Walmart in Harrisonville for fuel. Small station so no rest rooms at the gas pumps. We pushed on to the rest area at Holt north of Kansas City. No real rush hour yet at 4 PM in KC, we had expected it to take us an extra hour through town. Stopped in Osceola IA at Arbeys for food. I tried their new Cuban. Pretty good. We got to Ankenny about 8 PM. Comfort Inn for the night. If we are out of here by 8 am tomorrow we should be back to MSP before 1 PM to return the car. Dispatch called to see if we could take a run that's on the board. They are now paying extra to take trips where the RV is over 1 month old. Over a dozen that will have been on the board over a month by Friday. And the board has stayed over 100 RV's for over a month. We can't, we have family stuff two weekends in a row, plus I plan on working for the other company during the week. Over all there is over 400 units on the board including 30+ now out of WI. 20180322 - CA-LA Left out of the motel by 7:30. Already north of rush hour in Des Moines. :) 1st stop was the Pilot in Clear Lake for fuel, 2nd stop to pick up the car at Forest City. Then I did a stop at the Albert Lea Loves to pick up a new discount card. The card readers will no longer read mine so I have not been getting my points. Once we returned the car to Avis in Burnsville, we ate at the Honey Baked Ham again. Then home. IA is back up to 124, CA buses shows as over 100 but that has to be wrong and he is not answering his phone to ask. Off the road now, hopefully will hear tomorrow/Friday about working next week. If not, we might do a short IA or WI run just because of how far behind they are. When we went through Forest City there were still 200+ units lined up in the employee parking lot plus other places. Did not see any on the freeway. Did see a city bus, a cement mixer and a couple of garbage trucks. Not much.  |