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ND-BEACH-BUCKBOARD
"I need more like
this" It covers my basics and I'm not paying for a bunch of perks that everyone
but me is using. The down and up sides of my more recent stay is that they have
raised their prices in the last couple of years, but not nearly as fast as
those in Dickenson (where I can no longer afford to stay) Another down side is
that the Flying J next door took out their sit down restaurant and replaced it
with a Subway … it is still 24-hours but not the variety. Not much has
changed with the rooms, still use a key, not a card. I didn't ask, but I think
some of the same staff is here as was here 10 years ago when I first stayed
here. (Yes, I've been coming here that long so they must be doing something
right) They do not offer 'breakfast,' but they do have morning coffee and
bread/toast and just about anything you can put on it. The room, clean and
quiet. Water was hot. That is all I need. (see pic's for what else the room
offers)
MT-MISSOULA-RED LODGE
"The biggest plus is
next door." 4'B's (Not Fred's) This time I did have two small housecleaning
issues which took less time to take care of myself than to call the front desk.
Minor … but I looked even more closely for any other issues and didn't
find any. (I ALWAYS do a basic check of my room when I check in, even at the
Holliday Inn). And I suppose it's a really good idea when there is a sign in
the office that says 'No refunds after 30 minutes." The rooms are surprisingly
quiet for having the freeway on one side and a truck stop on the other, I
didn't hear a thing from either side. Motel is somewhat unique that on the
upper two floors, both the front and back are exterior walls. Your door faces
the parking lot/truckstop and the windows face the freeway. On the lower level
everything faces the freeway. Check in / check out / whole stay was
un-eventful. Breakfast had the basics of cereal and breads, plus biscuits and
gravy … and waffles and French toast that could be warmed in the toaster.
I've stayed other places in this town and likely will again, but this seems to
be my 'to to' place. HINT: The stairs are outdoors and are an iron mesh, if you
don't like height's you might be better off on the main floor.
MT-MISSOULA-4B'S
"Dilema solved" After I had ordered my
tomato soup and meatloaf I was wondering "How do you try a different soup (or
any item) when something is this good? After I ate until I hurt, I realized I
should have just had a bowl of tomato soup and a cup of one of their other
soups. : and skipped the meat. The meat was good, but that late at night I did
not need that much food. The service could have been faster, but I'm not going
to dock them for that this time. They did greet me and bring me my menu right
away and once I ordered, I got my meal faster than I did earlier today at
McDonalds. It's just there was a wait between getting the menu and the order
being taken. But I do understand that 'overnight' places are not fully staffed
and there did seem to be a good crowd for this time of the night. Tomato soup
was great … it is what makes me look for the 4B's. Meatloaf was good too,
or I would not have eaten until I hurt.
WA-ELLENSBURG-motel
"A new best place to stay." If it only had some 'have to have' food
nearby. Perkins, Ihop and Subway are the nearby choices. Very well kept up
… I'd put it on the level of the Comfort & Quality Inn's (which I
place above the Day's Inn/Super 8's) Nooooo issues. Both the PM and AM desk
clerks were pleasant. Dedicated big rig parking is a plus. Not sure what
breakfast was as I had to leave early, but that area looked 1st class also.
WA-ELLENSBURG-PERKINS
"The service gives it it's 5."
They greeted and seated me, I never stopped walking. A menu was in my hand a
minute later … and when I wasn't ready to order the 1st time, they didn't
forget about me. The food was on my table in about 5 minutes after I ordered.
(I made one phone call, so that is how I timed it). I was in and out in about a
half hour, the way I like it when I'm traveling solo. The food was typical
'Perkins,' I had an omelet with bacon and ?, with toast and home fries. Good,
hot, fresh..
MA-Tew-HOLIDAY INN
Holiday Inn all
around Everything about this place says 'Holiday Inn.' 1st class place with all
the perks I don't need or use. This was one of those rare nights where I
checked in after midnight but that didn't create any issues at this location.
I'll let my pictures tell the rest of the story other than mention they do have
big rig parking. HINT: This town does not have a 'taxi' so plan ahead if you
don't have wheels.
OH-ELYRIA-QUALITY INN
WAIT FOR
BILLING This is a top 'quality' Quality Inn, no issues. Clean, quiet, with a
big lot (but I wouldn't call it 'big rig' parking). Another after midnight
check in, meaning a late check out. Sign said breakfast until 9:30 but I was
advised it was usually available until later, but it wasn't. So I missed
breakfast on one of the few days I was around late enough to eat it. Looked
like it was a full layout. … no work for a week, and yesterday I turned
down the first trip they offered me when it changed from a two leg to a three
leg. That gamble paid off, because an hour later I was offered this run and
then found out the other one was canceled.
Friday - 4/5/13
I was hoping to get a jump on things as these rig's only run 55. I got
to the office and saw some paperwork from my most often replacement. But it
turned out it was not he, and the shuttle driver was not there. Don't remember
what time they did get there, but instead of getting going 15 minutes early, we
go going 20 minutes late. Plus a couple of other minor issues that cost a
minute or two …
Dispatch only offered me the Seattle run, but
from turning down the other trip I knew there could be a 2nd leg so I left a
message that I was interested. Instead of calling me back, they booked me both
flights. So to Boston I am going.
We ended up getting to the pickup a
½ hour later than if I was driving ;) but once there we did not have any
issues. Just an all day of doing the math as to how far I would get.
With this customer, dispatch wants us to fuel ASAP as there are no fuel gauges,
I took the chance that I could get 70 miles to Fargo and that fill … got
me perks points. The plan was to then not stop until Beach but this being the
first rig of this type I've driven in two years I would decide not to chance
it.
I pull into the Flying J because I can see they have lanes open.
But I can't get the pump to work, finally a ½ hour later they cone off
the pump and I have to move to another pump. 9 More delays that are not my
fault.
I would think that people should be able to see a bright red
and orange 60 foot rig, but they somehow don't seem to know when they are
passed it, I've had more than a few just about take off my front bumper.
I usually try to take a break around Bismarck … a meal would have
been nice, but instead it is a quick 15 minute fuel, I was going to put in 40
gallons but it didn't take that much. I did take a quick second to call two
motels to make sure there would be rooms, I settled on Beach.
Rooms
turned out not to be an issue, I was the only big rig and not even a ½
dozen cars. I remember this place being full. At this time of the night I was
expecting to have to park at the 'J next door.
The only food now is
the Subway, so I used my perks points and got their April special and called it
a night.
Saturday - 4/6/13
I 'should' have enough
time on this trip so I give myself an extra ½ hour to get going this AM.
I go back to the 'J and check for my permit, they couldn't find it last night
and can't again this AM. I have a partial copy that was faxed, it does have all
my info, just not all the other legal mumbo, jumbo so I'll just run as is.
Not an issue as I'll get the go ahead at the scales, not just in MT,
but in ID and WA. ))) I like that (((
My first stop today is in Miles
City at the Pilot, then next door to McD's. This is where it takes 10 minutes
to get a basic burger … I miss the old days of being able to look behind
the counter to see what was sitting on the warmer if you were in a rush. So a
full half hour here instead of a 'quick' 15.
Weather is good and
plenty of time to see the sights at 55 mph. Once I clear Billings, the snow is
gone and farmers are out in their fields and lots of baby calf's. Out on the
range, miles from nowhere, I saw a calf on the opposite side of the fence as
its mama. I wonder how often these ranchers check their cattle or if I will see
it laying there next trip.
If I hadn't made Beach last night I might
have holed up in Bismarck that would have only allowed me to get to Livingston
tonight. Instead that is where I stop for my break. No real good place to stop,
I end up at the grocery store as it looks like lots of room. But someone is
'waiting' for me to go past so I can't turn where I want to, so end up doing a
figure 8 going in and blocking traffic going out.
Just like last
night, I'll get where I want to be, but it's closer on time than I like it. I'm
not sure I will try to make it to Missoula again next trip, I've made a list of
places/mile markers to stop every 50 miles or so.
Sunday -
4/7/13
Again, I give myself an extra half hour in the AM.
I'm
in the turn lane to get on the freeway when I remember I need to stop for fuel.
I had a fleeting thought of … there will be another fuel stop, but headed
over to the Flying J. Good thing I did, instead of the 50 gallons I was
thinking I used based on yesterday, I used almost 100 … which is about the
usable amount for this rig. So 450 is NOT a good range. Back to 350.
Did I mention this thing only goes 55?
In ND it held the 55 on the
hills, in MT I did have to start using the four way flashers as it got down
under 45 a few times. Sometimes it'll pick up speed going down hill and other
times it will not. But if you are not going the limit, it holds real good at
the speed you want it. Don't have to worry about burning up the breaks on these
things. One or two taps of the breaks on a 5 mile decent is not bad.
Somewhere yesterday I heard the word 'snow,' and I do hit some going up Lookout
Pass. I know I'm going to lose speed so I decide not to block traffic and I
just stay behind a slow truck … down to 30 miles an hour … then see
most everyone else stays behind me so I wouldn't have been blocking anything
had I passed the guy.
I usually switch the permits in my front window
when I get stopped at the scale, but no stop today so I have to pull over and
do it at the top of the pass. I take it easy going down, let them pass me.
Someday I'll stop at one of the lookouts, but not much to see when you are in
the clouds and it is snowing.
'Watch for falling rocks,' I see those
signs a lot, but on the MT side of Lookout Pass it is a really good idea. Signs
are up, the guardrail next to the mountain is gone and the guardrail on the
other side took a good hit. Not sure when that happened, but today there is a
guy going along with a shovel getting what fell down over night.
9 AM
Sunday morning in Wallace, ID I see the police giving a sobriety test …
did the guy really start that early? Or quit that late?
Do I / don't I
stop and put on fuel at Post Falls … another debate. I need to take a
break but don't want to double up if I end up getting stopped at the scale.
Then there is the weight issue, this rig is permitted and a full tank of fuel
gets it close. I don't stop and don't' get stopped.
1st I think I'm
going to stop at the TA west of town but then decide I'll just wait until the
rest area … but I forgot how far out that was.
Did I mention this
thing only goes 55?
… but now I'm almost 50 miles out of Spokane
and I can't get it over 45 mph. It doesn't look like it should be that much of
a climb. About the time I start thinking that something might be wrong, the
stop engine light comes on. I hit the shoulder and shut it off. Get out and
turn the battery off to do a computer re-set, check all the fluids. Everything
looks good so I re-start the rig and go … 45 mph.
As soon as I
get the next exit, I pull off and call dispatch. (I really had hoped this would
be a 'no dispatch' trip). Dispatch calls the manufacture who thinks they know
what the issue is but something is lost in the translation and I can't find
what they are talking about. So we do a 3-way call and I find it right away
… and it is something that I am able to fix with my little six inch tool
set. Takes a couple of hours but I'm on my way.
I could see the rest
area from the exit I pulled off at, and I'm back to 55 before I get to the rest
area. So I call dispatch and let them know and then start calling motels.
Calling motels was what I was going to do on my ½ hour break, but that
became a break-DOWN. Now I just want to get going so only call a couple on my
list and go
… 30 mph.
It broke again. I should have
looked at the rest area where I would have had plenty of room, instead I have
to drive 30 mph on the shoulder for a dozen miles to the next exit.
Good news and more good news. This is the exit with the scale so there is lots
of room to park and the scale is not open … this direction.
I
think I know why it didn't hold so I 'adjust' and have it fixed in a half hour
this time. This time it holds for the rest of the trip, another 250 miles.
But it cost me another three hours plus the hour I lost yesterday, it
is starting to cut into my 70, I'm down to about four hours to play with and
I'll be stuck somewhere in OHIO doing my 36 hour re-start.
I don't
like the Flying J in Ellensburg (or any of the other 'Broadway' locations) so I
head a few miles down the road to Love's with the idea I will back track those
miles and park at the 'J for the night while at the Days Inn. IF I don't get a
better offer.
That offer comes and I end up next to the Love's without
calling any other motels.
Love's was a treat … NOT. The DEF pump
quit working before it was full so I finally gave up and bought a 2-1/2 gallon
jug which came close to filling it. Lucky for me there was not a line so I
could pull in backwards and leave it sit.
Bathrooms at Love's is
currently an outhouse trailer … it works.
I had thought of
walking a ways to a casino /bar but as soon as I started walking I gave up on
that idea. My knees didn't want to work. Wasn't sure why but later realized it
might be from being on my knees for two hours working on my rig ??
Monday - 4/8/13
I don't like being on this tight of schedule
so I make sure I don't waste any time … no computer, just get up, get
ready and go.
And that gets me out of there on time, no breakfast,
that won't be available for another hour. The first scale is open, but the
weights aren't showing as we cross so not sure what they are doing. Heard they
flagged in one of our drivers and looked at his log for a while, he'd been off
duty prior to his trip so he said there wasn't much to look at. It's been a few
days since he told me but I thought it was maybe an hour delay ???
That was (I thought) my big variable for the day, did see the weather signs
were flashing a couple of places but I didn't see anything nasty. Did see a
snowplow and fresh snow.
I get to the wash a few minutes later than I
thought because I had guessed the exit wrong. Even when I wrote the directions
down last night it didn't register. But I'm still there in plenty of time
… even if he had opened on time. 7 AM and no one … finally I call, no
answer. The people finally show up after 8 and I'm told there are two ahead of
me … ))) really? Where ? ((( So even though it looked like I was first in
line, I had to back out of the way for those who were 'really' ahead of me. Not
happy about it, but what could I do?
Another hour lost and at some
point these could cost me.
Finally I'm washed and rolling, my
directions work to the fuel station. I fuel, then scale, then swing around
again close enough to a post that I can stand on it and put in another jug of
DEF. Again, lucky it isn't busy, All lanes were full when I got here but now I
have my choice.
Off to the inspection site … that is another
story.
Then to the finally delivery, found out three things I wish I
had known … note to dispatch.
$20 taxi ride and I am at the
airport with an hour to spare … so all the delays cost me was against my
70 hours.
Now I can start worrying about my next trip, the hours, the
motel, and the weather.
… and I hate still being up after
midnight, but if I don't get near my drop tonight, it'll count against my hours
tomorrow … and I've got about an hour to spare over the next three days vs
five hours lost over the last four.
(The following is written a week
later)
I was going to check on a SuperShuttle from Boston but didn't
see them before I saw the taxi's so I just jumped in and went. Actually I
didn't jump right in, at 1 AM there was a wait on taxi's.
$100 later I
am at my motel.
Tuesday - 4/9/13
… 11 AM and I
still don't want to get up.
I haven't done my homework, so I ask the
front desk to call me a taxi. At first I kind of got a blank look then they
said I should have scheduled it as there are no 'Taxi's' in this town. But they
do call someone who shows up on about a ½ hour and charges me $20 to go
four miles. Now I'm an hour later than I needed to be.
As long as I'm
here, dispatch wants me to check out the other truck. Both start and I let the
other one run for 15 minutes even though it eating away at my hours. Both
trucks are low on coolant, it's only a block to the gas station but they are
out. I re-check it, I still need some so I buy a gallon of water. Now I'm
another hour late … and it only gets worse. My entrance to the freeway is
closed so I have to detour. Not knowing the area, I follow it, but am guessing
it would have been faster to have re-routed my trip.
A few miles and
I'm on roads that I know, same ones we take to Maine and eastern Canada …
and it's 70 degrees today. Lakes are still frozen, but nice day today.
I was hoping I had a rig that would do 65 mph, but this one is set at 62 in the
flat spots. 65 would have gotten me home in two days and I could have worked
Friday, but there is no way to close that gap. So I'll spend the next two days
watching the mile posts to see how far I will get. My new goal is Eau Claire.
The rig has an EZPass for tollways, but the guy at the toll booth
gives me a ticket so I have to pay on the other end. But from then on the
EZPass works, NY, OH, IN and IL. But I check at every state …
I'm
able to make it to a Flying J in OH, but by then it is dark and it starts to
rain … and lightning. Lots of fireworks, lots of rain. With 15 minutes to
spare I make it just past Cleveland, OH. Not quite enough minutes to get to the
next exit and it's all recorded so I hold back, by now I know that this is not
a two day run. I find the motel I planned on staying at and check in. No food,
but it's past midnight again and don't really feel like eating.
Wednesday - 4/10/13
The guy at the desk last night said
breakfast was until 9:30, but food is usually out until 11. Not so, I go down
at 10:30 and it's all clean. 9 and one of the few days I would have eaten.
EZPass gives the OK and I'm rolling. A couple of fuel stops on the
turnpike. The one in IN is actually an 'AmBest' but it's only fuel, but at
least it has four diesel islands. Murphy was one person late today, the guy
behind me couldn't get the pump to work.
Lots of interesting food on
the turnpike, but when I need fuel it is McD's and then Burger King and Sbaro's
and I can't go any further. I was looking for a Tim Horton's or Roy Rogers,
something I don't get every day. This has been a 'fast food' trip, running
until either side of midnight every night.
Not getting rolling
yesterday is going to cost me today, it puts me in downtown Chicago at 4 PM
instead of 2. Well actually a missed turn put me in the downtown. I'm not used
to running west to Chicago and was in the wrong lane when I saw the only sign
for I-94 to stay in the bypass. So right through downtown I went.
Other than a couple of accidents it wasn't bad. And then 52 miles of road
construction. Like the other states, I went through a 'Pass' lane to make sure
the EZ was working and I got a blue light, but I still checked their website to
make sure I was OK. Don't need to be getting 5 'Pass' fines of a $100+ each.
Once I clear IL, I call for my room. Everything looks good. Scale is
closed, fuel was slow, so was the Subway … more fast food. Again, I will
pull off the road with only 15 minutes to spare. I call for my ride and un-pack
… I will be walking the ½ mile back to the rig in the AM.
Thursday - 4/11/13
The Twin Cities got hit with a
snowstorm last night so it would have been nice to have beat it, but didn't
happen. Now my hours are burned, I'm off the weekend and just need to be home
before rush hour.
Nothing exciting the last two hours home, it is a
pain to be that close and not make it. End up with 45 minutes to spare on my 70
hours.
I'm not cut out for these 6 day runs … but I may try one
of those 10 day ones no one else wants … another day.
EDITED TO
ADD: About a week later I get a call from dispatch asking if I had checked
opened the back of my box truck. I had not, I usually do, but with getting
another drivers truck ready I missed that part of my routine. Seems the truck I
brought back was ½ full of food, and the freezer hadn't been run in 10
days. Not sure how warm it got in there or what happened to the food (or why it
was in there.) I did not get charged for any spoiled food. |
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