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NEW TRASH TRUCK TO NM
Same trip as
last week, but no two are the same so far.
Not sure which day I got
this flight, may have been Wednesday last week when I was delivering. Good news
was the flights are the same price, but this time I need to make it in three
days. When dispatch offers me the run I say I can, but I will need to bail on
the trip if there are any delays so they may want to find someone else. "We
have no one else." So I take the trip.
When we talked about flights
the only one for $130 was at 5 PM, the next cheapest one was $185 … I
quickly did the math and decided that for $5 less than the flight I wanted, I
could get on any flight that day (as long as there was room)
Monday - 4/25/11
6 AM dispatch again, this time there are three of us
instead of two. My flight is Weds, the other guy's is Thurs and the new gals is
Friday. And this time instead of talking the whole trip we all sleep, except
the driver.
Driver makes good time and has us there 45 minutes earlier
than last week, things are looking good … until they tell me my truck has
a check engine light on. When we got to the customer they had to look at our
paperwork to see which trucks we were taking because they had more than what we
were taking. I was glad to know this now, it makes me nervous when people are
trying to push a truck out that isn't really ready, but I find out that this
one has been ready and was missed in the shipping sequence.
The other
two have decided to run together, that will be interesting … the guy is
one who tells other guys "I run at my own pace, I stop when I want, I go when I
want." But none of this seemed to be an issue when the other driver was a
'she?' They are gone before I get my paperwork … don't expect to see them
again, except at some point I will have to pass them.
Thanks to the
shuttle driver getting us here 45 minutes early … I am able to leave at
the same time as last week. This truck checks good, I have it inspected by the
time I get paperwork from my company and I'm rolling.
Instead of
stopping at Wal-mart as I have been doing, I remember there is a 'new'
truckstop a few miles down the road. Good thing I had a ¼ tank of fuel,
because 'a few miles' is actually 20 miles. But I make it and find out they do
carry DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) if I need some, I don't, we didn't stop today
because everyone was sleeping and in my case I have ¾ of a tank so I'll
wait to see how it burns.
Next exit after I get back on the highway, I
see the other two pulled off at an exit with no services …?? … but
I'm past the exit by the time I see them. Oh well, they have my number.
IA? Same as last week I guess. I did stop at the last rest area to
check my emails, I had sent out some work emails over the weekend and wanted to
see if I had gotten responses. I had, but not the response I wanted. This cost
me 15 minutes that I hadn't put into this week's math.
Seeing I went
20 miles before fueling this trip, I was hoping to have a little cushion in the
fuel, but not so> still on 'E' when I pull off at the same place as last
week. No waiting for fuel, but I do have to see a cashier at Love's to get a
receipt … and rolling.
Kansas City … other than being 2nd
behind a semi that stalls in the center lane, no issues. Glad I wasn't any
later, that stall could mess up a rush hour for hours. Scale closed, as they
all are this trip except the NM POE.
As I near the Flying J in
Emporia, I meet the other two drivers, they've fueled and are heading on. ???
They must have past me while I fueled? And they must have decided not to stop
in Emporia as planned. That's the last I see of them.
Last trip I
stayed off the toll road, but I guessed it added about 20 miles, so this time I
take the toll … getting out to get my ticket and again to pay my toll, the
joys of right hand drives.
By now I can tell that I am going to be up
against the clock, that extra 45 minutes I gained this AM and then lost again
would have been nice. For a while I'm thinking I may end up in Wichita (same as
last week, due to taking 15 minutes to check my email … opps.) Then I see
a sign for my exit that says 'Kingman,' forgot about that town. Other than they
have a 'Sonic.' So I guessing they had motels too.
I had planned on
making a U-turn when I got to the first sign that said how for the towns were
if I couldn't make it. Turns out that 1st sign is 20 miles out of Wichita,
luckily I have time to make it if I hold at the speed limit … so I kick it
down and get to my motel with two minutes to spare on my 14 hours.
No
time to price shop, this place is $56, get them down to $52. Copa Motel
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Copa Motel, Kingman KS
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
3 of 5 stars
Date of review: May 7, 2011 - New
Not a lot of choices in this town,
this is the only motel with enough room to get in with a truck. I see a bunch
of shipping boxes in the lobby when I check in but don't think too much about
it. Later I realize they are doing a lot of work on this place.
They have
one of those (new) electronic billboard flashing the perks. New beds …
yes, and new sinks, and (new?) large flat screen TV's. Mixed in with the 'old,'
it makes for an interesting room. I normally won't pay this much for a room,
but tonight I don't have a choice … and it makes me think about it. This
place couldn't be getting all this 'new' stuff if they were charging $29 a
night. I don't understand how those places can make it.
Other interesting
notes about the room. The sign listing the TV channels still referred to this
place as the 'Budget Host.' The telephone was from a Quality (or Comfort) Inn
in Wichita. The bathroom fan was connect to the sink light switch (out side of
the bathroom door) and unlike some places where a 300# person couldn't fit in
the area allowed for the toilet, this toilet was centered on the wall across
from the tub, plenty of room.
Basics, heat, clean, quiet, hot water.
Oh yes, new light fixtures on the walls too …
* 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: May 2011
* Visit was
for: Business
* Solo Traveler * Member since: November 28, 2010
*
Recommended by this reviewer? Yes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - China Restaurant,
Kingman KS <<<<<<<<<<<<<
"The
food was good, good enough that next time I'll try something different" 3 of 5
stars Date of review: Apr 29, 2011
My choices within walking distance
of my motel are McDonalds and 'China,' a Chinese restaurant. The motel clerk
says the food is good and plenty of it. I agree on both.
The place is
completely empty when I get there at 8 PM, I'm worried it's closed but they are
open until 9:30. Tonight I am the only customer for my one hour there, at some
places that would have scared my away, but thanks to the recommendation I
wasn't.
I ordered the Sweet and Sour Chicken with Fried rice, I was able
to finish the chicken but not the rice, too much food. It was good, good enough
that next time I'll try something different. Tonight I wanted to be 'safe' and
order something I could order anywhere.
The Honey Pineapple Chicken looked
interesting …
* Reviewer ratings for this restaurant:
o 3 of
5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Service
* Date of visit: April
2011
* Member since: November 28, 2010
* Would you recommend this
restaurant to a friend? Yes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WiFi worked, electrical outlets by the table, it all helps.
Tuesday - 4/26/11
6 AM … again … ?
All
is quiet in this town at this time of the AM … two stop lights, one at
each corner of one of the schools.
I had hoped to make it to
Greensburg but that would have taken an extra hour, the 45 minutes from
yesterday plus not stopping to check emails. So it can (maybe) be done. Pratt
was the more likely stop, but that was still another 30 minutes.
Next
time I'll likely try staying off the toll road and seeing if I can make Pratt
via Hutchinson but I'll need to run the mileage ahead of time. And next time I
will also try to find a different fuel stop. I'm fueling in Emporia, Greensburg
and Hooker and only putting in a ½ a tank at each place. I need to fuel
in Hooker to make it to Tucumcari, so my option is fueling ½ way between
Emporia and Greensburg. I think Pratt used to be my stop.
Asked this
time and found out that Loves is putting in truck parking on the next block
from their pumps, I couldn't tell what it was. No stopping in Texhoma today if
I'm going to catch the early flight home. No stopping at the PO either.
Do still need to stop and get a NM permit and I was told three times
in my few minutes there that I needed to bring correct change next time. $10.
Every permit is $10. Plan ahead
Looking up Nara Visa after last trip I
couldn't find the history I had found before, but did find a site that had a
picture of the "closed" motel. It's open again and I told the owner of the
website I'd take a picture> I did, but from inside the truck, next trip I'll
stop and get out. And I did check with the guys at the scale, yes, it's open.
Coming through the first town in TX< I pass two squads with a
pickup pulled over, didn't see the driver, but saw the cops with tools taking
the truck apart, putting things in boxes. I wonder how they know who to target?
This time I got a good look, right hand drive, 35 mph speed zone. Somewhere up
in this area I see a sign for 'Self Storage' and what there is are a few of the
shipping containers (as in the kind stuff is shipped on ships in) sitting side
by side along the road ???
… And I forgot to figure the road
construction into my math. Another 15 minute delay today waiting for the pilot
car.
Tucumcari Flying J is quick, start the pump at the pump, get my
receipts from the Kiosk inside. No time to cruise through Tucumcari taking
pictures. Once I hit the freeway I realize that today is going to be a tight
one to make Gallup, 680 miles. And knowing I'm in a hurry makes it hard to hold
the speed at 65 when the trucks will do 75.
Truck is on 'E' again when
I pull into ABQ at the Flying J, another quick stop and I'm rolling. West of
ABQ I start having problems with my mirrors, lucky for me it's the right
mirrors so when I need to pass someone, I just open the window and push it back
out.
I think it was at Clines Corner, but may have been somewhere
else, I see a TV news crew but don't see anything newsworthy. Later on the
radio I here that winds have been up to 70 mph with sustained winds of 30 mph
plus in the area I was. Causing downed trees and power lines.
At
Grants I have to make the call, kick it down and make it to Gallup with again,
only minutes to spare. Tonight I've decided on the TA, cheap, truck parking and
food.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I would not recommend this motel or ANY motel in Gallup. Reason being
the trains that run right though town. Not sure that any motels are more than a
½ mile from the tracks and the horns blow … (as they should)
Another issue I had with this motel was that when I checked in, I did
my usual little walk through to make sure it's clean, toilet and tub are clean
and then go eat. So it was a couple of hours later when I had to use the
bathroom that I realized that when I had checked it the toilet seat was up.
When I put it down to use the toilet, I saw that there were either 'body
fluids' or cleaning residue all over the toilet seat. So I had to use the one
and only wash cloth to clean it before I could use the toilet. (I reported it,
but was not going to switch rooms at this point)
The rest of the room
was clean and will take this as an oversight, planning on staying here again
until I tried to sleep and heard the trains. Motel is clearly marketed to
truckers, it was a Howard Johnson when I used to come through here and the
price notices on the door are still for Howard Johnson but you now check in at
the truck stop fuel desk.
(other than the toilet) the room was clean,
water hot … but not quiet. Maybe a set of earplugs would help, the trucker
price of $29 is posted on the side of the building, for others it is $32 still
making it one of the better deals in town. One other note, there were enough
power outlets, just not by the desk … this place has not been updated for
the current electronic toys that some of us carry. Laptops, cell phones, etc.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Country Pride.
The only food within walking distance of the
motel (other than Subway).
No buffet at this location, overall truckstop
is smaller than most. More the size of a franchise Flying J.
I go for the
patty melt …real good. And baked potato … could have been more done
(but it was way more than I was going to eat all of anyway) I had the salad bar
so topped the tater with cheese and REAL bacon bits, and lots of butter.
Ham Potato soup was good, lettuce was fresh. Someone was good at keeping the
salad bar stocked, but the items that weren't moving … weren't going to
move. They looked like they had been there all day and no one had touched them,
and no one was going to touching them now. I even checked to see if the items
were sitting on ice, they were had just been there that long.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wednesday - 4/27/11
Trains … trains … trains
… counted five in the space of 10 minutes at one point during the night
…
3 AM ??? That's what it is 20 miles from here in AZ when I
start rolling this AM. This truck is burning a little more fuel than last trip
so I need to fuel here in Gallup this AM, won't make it all the way to Wnislow,
AZ.
Scale is closed? This AM. That saves me a couple of minutes. I
dropped the truck with too much fuel last time, my guess is that I need 10
gallons more than what I put in this AM in Gallup but I go ahead and fill the
truck in Joseph City instead of Winslow. That's 20 miles further and will get
me that much closer to a ¼ tank of fuel at delivery.
After I
pull in to a pump I see that the next pump has a DEF pump, so I back out.
Backing is hard to do in a well lit area. Lights are reflecting on the mirrors
from everywhere. Helps to have the backup cam, at least I know there is nothing
in the six feet or so behind me.
I can't get the pump to work, nor can
I get it to re-set (so tonight I've emailed Love's to find out how they are
supposed to work). I did not want to spend any more time this AM, I don't have
a lot of time to play with to catch the early flight.
I thought
staying awake might be an issue today, but wasn't. I must have slept more than
I thought I did. Nothing new in AZ, but every trip is different. As an example
I must not have been to the AZ scale in the dark for a while. It seems like it
is out in the middle of nowhere, but today (night) I can see lights everywhere,
it just doesn't seem like that many people in the daylight.
This truck
is like the last one, it has enough 'drag' that I haven't had to use the breaks
on any of the hills until I get to the big drop south of Flagstaff, then I need
to ride the breaks a little. Down side of coming in early, about five miles
north of I-10 I hit the morning rush hour … brakes worked so I didn't
actually hit it. Always need to do at least one break check a trip, and a few
horn checks.
Once traffic stops I decide it's a good time to call for
my ride, but by the time I get off hold I'm back to driving at the posted speed
limit again. So I'm glad to hear that they know who I am, where I want to be
picked up and what my credit card number is. The only thing that isn't a yes/no
question is what time I want to be picked up. They like a 24 hour notice, I'm
calling them with about an hour notice. But that was when I felt comfortable
knowing when I'd be delivering.
I find the place with no problem,
third trip in as many months. And because I sat here for three hours last week
I know where to look for someone to sign my paperwork. One little issue at
delivery, the shipper had transposed some numbers in their rush to get me on
the road so this end had to call to double check. All is good, now I have a
½ hour to spare and wait …
At the airport I was going to
see if I could use my voucher as payment to get on the earlier flight and then
decided to just take the easy way out. Use the kiosk, pay with my credit card,
get on the first plane out.
No issues at security, for me. The TSA
person likes that I have my tools pulled out so they can quickly look at them.
I got behind an old couple, others ahead of me/behind them switched to the
other line and were long gone before I got through. Oh well, I've got an hour
plus until flight time.
I get in line at my gate and just as I get to
the counter the agent gets on the PA and says "All of you who are needing seat
assignments, I will call you by name when I have them …" Ok, no reason to
wait in line then. I had hoped to ask for an isle or exit row seat but …
I don't usually eat breakfast but today I order a Wendy's Mornin'
Melt™ Panini. Not as good as the picture made it look. Too dry. I ordered
from the breakfast menu, but by the time I got my order they had changed to
signs to lunch. It was still breakfast there but after noon by home-time.
WiFi says I have a full signal but it doesn't work very well. I get a
couple of emails and then nothing. I have to call dispatch because I can see
they sent an email, but the computer won't respond so I can't open it … no
work yet for Monday. They had asked earlier about me leaving again on Saturday.
Don't want to, but we'll see. I plan on holding out until Friday for another
one of these PHX trips.
Talk briefly to the gal next to me on the
plane, she has an artificial hip so she sets off security every time. This time
they did the little swab thing they do and that machine quit working … so
the TSA decided she must be hiding something. Yep, a 65 year old lady with a
bad hip. They went through everything, the padded her down once and then again
in private until a supervisor came by and said to let her go …
Save, quick flight. $50 got me home at 4 PM instead of midnight. |
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