STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21734: Tracy Tedium

January 13, 2007 on 10:54 am | In On The Road |

Unfortunately, there is still not much on which to update you. Freight is still abysmal.

Wednesday, January 10th, 2007:
Sometime in the ‘wee hours’ last night, I recieved a PrePlan which picked up in Tolleson, AZ and delivered in Tracy, CA. After taking care of “business”, (walking the MMM, and my AM toilette), I accepted the Plan. It wasn’t scheduled for pick up until 2100, so I settled in at the Flying J for the wait. I migrated there from the terminal last night because I ran out of ’smokes’. Cigarettes are now over $5.00 per pack in AZ due to a recent tobacco tax increase. YUK!! I took a nap for about 3 hours in mid afternoon due to the late hour of the appointment. About 1900, I went to the shipper and picked up the load. It was a drop/hook. I then drove to Quartzsite, AZ. I took a short break here, then drove to Fontana, CA where I stopped for the night (early AM).

Thursday:
I left Fontana at 1230, the earliest I could after the late arrival. I drove to Lost Hills, CA where I took a break for lunch and to walk the MMM. About 1700, I drove to the customer in Tracy. I verified my 0700 appointment, then went to bed. 

Friday:
I awoke at 0600 and walked the MMM. It was cold (33 degrees). I checked in with recieving at 0645 and was assigned a dock. This was a ‘live’ unload. Just as the sun was rising in the east, I was empty. I settled in to wait for my next load. I couldn’t get a good internet connection because the signal was blocked by the building, so I just dinked with my music files. At 2030, still without a PrePlan, I decided to re-locate to our terminal in Lathrop, about 10 miles away. The terminal was packed because it is Friday, but I managed to find a “sort of” parking spot out of the way of most of the traffic. I settled in here for the night.

ADDENDUM:  

Saturday:
I awoke this AM still without a PrePlan. It was still cold for this area. About noon, I recieved and accepted a PrePlan which picked up in Lovelock, NV and delivered in Quincy, IL, but not until tomorrow morning. At least i’ll get a few miles today driving to Lovelock. It was scheduled to T-Call at our terminal in Salt Lake City. About 1300, after fueling and walking the MMM one more time, I drove to Sparks, NV. I found the Black Bear Diner there. It is directly across the street from Sierra Sid’s Casino and TA truckstop (they don’t have a website). Sierra Sid’s does have an extensive gun collection, including Elvis Presley’s gun collection purchased from his father after his (Elvis’) death. Anyway, after dinner, I drove the 90 odd miles to Lovelock and went to bed in the parking lot of Sturgeon’s Casino.

Sunday:
I arose at 0600 and drove to the shipper on the eastern outskirts of Lovelock. I did the drop/hook pick up, walked the MMM, and left a little after 0800. I drove directly to our terminal in Salt Lake City. I stopped briefly at a Rest Area so the MMM could make some “yellow snow”. After arriving in SLC, I t-called the load, then drove the Flying J to wait for another load.