STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 22366: Hovering Around home

October 7, 2008 on 6:24 pm | In On The Road | Comments Off

Let’s see what I’ve been up to lately.

When I left off, I was in Colby, KS with a load going to Elkton, VA. I left there about 1100 on the 25th and drove to Salina, KS. I had a shower and lunch there, then drove to Kansas City, MO where I stopped for fuel (much cheaper here than in Kansas). From there, I drove to Boonville, MO where I stopped for the night. My hours are in consideration when I drive now. Since I’ve been out over a week, I can only drive as many hours the next day as I pick up at midnight.

On the 26th, I drove to Leavenworth, IN making one stop in Alorton, IL. I had only 7 hours to drive today, and I used them all.

The 27th was much the same as yesterday. I drove from Leavenworth to Greenville, VA. Again, I made only one stop in Grayson, KY. I used all of my 8.25 available hours. Greenville was only about 30 miles from my destination anyway.

On a rainy Sunday, the 28th, I finished the trip to Elkton. I accepted a load from Big Island, VA to Batavia, NY. Big Island is neither big, nor an island. It is basically a pulp paper plant out in the middle of nowhere. I had a full complement of hours available today, with a little to spare. After I picked up the load in “Big Island”, I drove to Clearfield, PA, again stopping only once, in Breezewood, PA. The day seemed longer than it was (I used all of my 14 hours), because the load was heavy, and Pennsylvania is comprised mostly of hills (the natives laughably call them Mountains). The grades are short, but steep, and they really slow you down.

Monday was a short day, by intent. I made the delivery about 1330. My next load picked up in Buffalo, NY (about 40 miles from Batavia) , but not until the next day, and delivered in Shepherdsville, KY (just south of Louisville) . I drove to the Flying J in nearby Corfu, NY (about 12 miles from Batavia) and called it a day. I needed a break, and it was a “safe haven” close enough to Buffalo (less than an hour) so that I could easily be on time for my 0700 appointment in the morning. Still raining more often than not.

On Tuesday, I picked up the load in Buffalo, and drove to Shepherdsville, KY with a stop in Columbus, OH for fuel. the weather was getting better.

On Wednesday, Oct 1st, I delivered the load. It was a drop/hook delivery. My next load picked up in Seymour, IN and delivered in Hutchinson, KS. After I picked up the load, I drove to Warrenton, MO where my 14 hours expired. I stopped along the way in Mount Vernon, IL for dinner.

On Thursday, I had only 9 hours available. I drove to Hutchinson, KS and made the delivery with a quick stop in a Rest Area for the MMM. My next load picked up in Salina, KS, but again, not until the next day. It delivers in Las Vegas, NV. I drove to Salina and called it a day. I used 8.5 of my 9 hours.

Friday was a “long” short day. I only had 7.5 hours available, but it took 13.5 to use them. I showed up at 1030 for my 1100 appointment. The shipper took their own sweet time loading me. I didn’t get out of Salina until 1700. I drove to Denver, CO arriving right at midnight. I made a short stop in a Rest Area for the MMM along the way.

With 9.25 hours available to drive, I set off from Denver about 1130 on Saturday. My route took me over the high Rockies on I-70. Autumn is in full splendor there. I drove to Beaver, UT where I ran out of hours. I stopped to take these pictures in a View Area at the summit of Dillon Pass overlooking Dillon Lake and the town of Breckenridge.

 
The day was overcast, so they aren’t as good as I’d like, but you can still get the idea. I also stopped in Fruita, CO for dinner.

On Sunday, I drove to Las Vegas, with a stop in Saint George, UT to top off my fuel at a price much lower than in Nevada. Since the consignee was on the north side of town, I drove there and spent the night. I didn’t feel like driving all the way to the WWW and back fighting early morning rush hour traffic. They recently started road construction from Charleston Blvd all the way past Craig Rd. It is a nightmare now any time of day. Rush hour would be unbearable.

On Monday, the 6th, I delivered the load, then retired to the WWW for some much needed and desired time off.

P.S. I finally got around to posting the pictures of the Randolf Collier Rest Area in the post titled Quixotic In Quartzsite. They are worth a look.