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>> THIS WRITE-UP WAS OVER THREE WEEKS
AFTER THE TRIP WAS TAKEN <<
NEW CONDOR TRASH TRUCK TO PHX
Tuesday - 5/31/11
Three of us heading to Phoenix today, 6
AM.
The guy who wasn't going to try to keep up to me on our last trip
together now has a flight six hours earlier than I. But he just did this trip
last week and made it so he knows it can be done. The third driver isn't flying
out until Saturday … two days after us. Don't remember who rolled first
but we all got rolling shortly.
Progress is being made on the Kwik
Trip on US 20, maybe by next trip ??? I made it 20 miles to the truckstop, fuel
and DEF. I didn't want to spend the time to put in the DEF now, I like to buy
it at one stop and put it in while fueling at the next stop.
But I
miss guessed on how long the DEF would last and had to stop at the Love's in
Des Moines. One of the drivers was telling us that he had gotten close to
running out. First the lights come on, then the truck went into 'limp mode.' My
light came on, but not into limp mode.
But this throws me off my
routine for fuel stops. Usually it is Kearney MO, then Emporia KS. This time it
is Des Moines, then Beto, KS …
No slow down issues, I make it to
Wichita KS and the Regency Inn and the Hanger One Steakhouse. I have hours to
go further but here is cheap and a known.
… no reviews …
I've reviewed both places before.
Nothing new at the motel, same great
food at the Hanger. Walked past a few rabbits that were not scared of me, got
within three feet of one of them.
Wednesday - 6/1/11
I took
an extra half hour off, don't remember why. Looks like I'd have had to do
peddle to the metal to make it to Pratt the first night.
Same fuel
stops today Greensburg, Hooker and Tucumcari. Vista scale is busy today, they
just got done checking a guy's log book … and they are deciding to shut
him down either for eight or ten hours depending on how he logged his sleeper
berth ??? I have no idea how that works, maybe I'll ask next time : Someone
else ahead of me so I need to log it as 15 minutes. Loose more time due to road
construction, actually loose the most time following the highway striping
truck, two lane highway hard to pass.
Did find a new way to pass
trucks with these right hand drives. Let a truck get between me and the truck I
want to pass, then when they try to pass the truck I want to pass, pull out
behind them. As long as they are in the passing lane, I'm safe to get over and
see what is coming. Worked this time.
And then there was Tucumcari
… credit card 'DENIED' again. This time the debt card still worked. I
should have known to call my wife first to get all the security info but don't
like bugging her at work. First two people can't help me because I can't answer
the security questions, but they put me through to a third. They get the card
released. But one of their questions was "Can you tell me which motel you
stayed at in February?"
"Mam, that was four months ago and I stay in a
different motel up to five nights a week. I have no idea." (I have no idea of
what states I was even in in February.)
Another question was how long
I had been in NM … "about two hours." With all this technology and they
can't change the 'suspicious' settings.
At the fueling station in ABQ
I give the lead driver a call. I passed him somewhere, I'm ahead of him. He's
going to be stopping at Grants so I will too. He's going to stop at the Motel 6
so I will to …
He had told me that he had paid $30 last week at
the six. I try to get that price but no go. Could it be because they were
training in someone in? Ended up costing $39 plus tax, could have stayed
downtown for $26.
The other driver is not able to get that rate
either. Not sure why we decided to stay at the same motel or leave at the same
time. I went to the steakhouse and he went to Subway, and we went our separate
ways in the AM, I lost him at the first light.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - New Mexico Steakhouse, Grants
NM <<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Worth the
extra money"
3 of 5 stars Reviewed July 1, 2011 NEW
I had run
into someone I knew and thought we might grab a bite to eat together but he
wanted cheap and I wanted good so we parted ways.
He went to Subway and I
came here. I could have gotten a Philly at Subway for less but not as good. I
was glad I spent the extra even without good company.
Also had a cup of
Potato soup, I was expecting a creamy soup but this was more like a white
broth. Flavor was good, but it was just white broth and potatoes. I guess I was
expecting 'loaded baked potato ... with cheese, bacon, etc
* Visited
May 2011
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Service
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR - Motel 6, Grants NM
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Not the cheapest
place in town"
3 of 5 stars Reviewed June 9, 2011 - NEW
In the
recent past when in Grants, I have stayed elsewhere. But I was misquoted a
price by someone who had stayed here in the past so I decided to give it this
place another try. It's a Motel 6. Front desk was helpful, but it is now June
and are charging 'summer rates,' added to charging extra for WiFI which puts
them about $10 over the Ma-Pa places in down town.
No complaints about the
motel, room was clean and cool/warm, water was hot, bed was sleepable, and I
think the pool was even open. Food close by is the new steakhouse next door at
the Best Western, an Asian buffet across the street, a Denny's and fast food.
* Stayed June 2011, traveled on business
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars Rooms
o 3 of 5 stars Location
o 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thursday - 6/2/11
Early … 2 AM ??? west coast time
???
I loose the other driver at the first light, I'll see him at a
truckstop, then parked in a 2nd truckstop as I sail past and then not again
until the drop.
I had hoped to make it to St Joseph but these trucks
are sucking more fuel the whole trip. So I have to stop before Gallup at a
Pilot. Never been here before, didn't know where to turn in. Not sure I'd take
a city bus on these roads, the blacktop is so rutted that I think the bus would
drag. In and out rather quickly.
I put in five gallons of DEF this
trip so I'm not going to need any more at St Joseph, so don't get to try the
bulk DEF station. Do fuel there and come in almost at a ¼ at the
customer.
I had talked to someone at the motel last night about the
clouds but no rain. He says its smoke, not clouds. But I don't notice it today.
(And this was before the big fire started)
No place to park at the
customer, I stop in the driveway. Then have to move so the sewer sucker can
empty their outhouse. I find the guy I need right away but he is busy. Then
when he has time we find that there is an issue with the truck, two in a row.
By the time he's done talking on the phone to the pickup location the other
driver is there.
So I wait for the other driver, who also has issues
with his truck then needs to use the outhouse. So I'm at the customer a few
minutes longer than I needed to be … and as we walk the four blocks to the
bus stop, we see the bus go past …
I wait, I loose. The other
driver rode the bus last week which is why I was willing to wait up for him
… and he's a good guy. We end up waiting a half hour, ride the bus for 10
minutes, wait for the next bus 10 minutes then another 10 minutes to the
airport. But that comes to $3.50 for me ($.85 for him) instead of the $23 Super
Shuttle, add another $20 for a taxi that goes the shortest route … one
driver got burned going another route.
I get to the airport 45 minutes
before my flight leaves, I find my airline, empty, that's a good thing. The guy
I ask can't help me but he walks me to someone who can. They don't think I can
make it and the say the plane is already 'heavy' ??? but give me a ticket for
the next flight out plus my 6 PM flight (it's now noon). I make it through
security, no time for wrong turns.
I get to the gate, it's loading, I
go to the counter. They say they will call me, I have time to go to the
restroom and come back, they hand me a seat and I'm on. Home at 5 pm instead of
midnight … another $40 saved. (my wife won't pick me up at midnight
anymore.)
… and this was the second time in a month that an
airline didn't charge me for changing my flight … another $50 saved.
I'm stuck in the middle … don't remember the flight. Oh, yeah
… it was rough, and you know it's going to be when the stewardesses come
through and re-check seatbelts in the middle of the flight.
Was
sitting next to a gal in sweats, didn't say much until we hit the ground. She
was back for her 35th reunion from St Olaf College. And had been back in the
past to give speeches. Never did find out what she did for a living. |
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