STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 22585: Sleepless in Seattle (actually Sumner)

May 13, 2009 on 2:51 pm | In On The Road |

This post does not span enough time to ‘chronicle’, so I won’t bother.
These last couple of days have been grueling. After bidding the family a fond adieu on Sunday night, I geeked for a little while, walked the MMM, and went to bed.
On Monday, the 11th, I awoke at about 0700. After I gave the MMM their morning constitutional, I geeked a little more on the computer. I called the customer, and they said that they were sticking strictly to appointments, which meant that it would be not be starting my work day until 1500. Yuk!! I hate when that happens. I soon became bored beyond tears, so, after a quite tasty Reuben Sub from Togo’s, I drove across the freeway to the customer anyway. I arrived a little after noon. I just got in the back of the line, hoping to ’sneak in’ ahead of schedule. The theory was sound, but the practice proved ineffectual. The place was a ZOO!! In actuality, I’m glad I showed up early. Between the time I arrived and my actual appointment time, 4 more trucks got in line behind me. Had I waited for my appointment time, I would have been there 3­­­ to 4 hours longer, judging by the pace at which they were working. I finally got out of there about 1730. I drove directly to my next customer in Fresno, arriving about ½ an hour late for my appointment there. I didn’t matter because they were behind schedule as well. What is it about Mondays???? I finally got out of there about 2200. I drove to our terminal in Lathrop fueled and walked the MMM. By this time, it was 0030 Tuesday morning, and I was exhausted. I had to continue on in spite of being tired because, due to the early appointment on Wednesday morning (0600), I had to get within about 10 hours driving time of Auburn in order to make the delivery on time. I just got an “ATTA BOY” for having 100% on-time pick ups and deliveries in April, so I didn’t want to blow it so early this month. I drove to the O’Brien Rest Area, (about 20 miles north of Redding) arriving just before sunrise at 0630. That was as far as I could “legally” drive.
On Tuesday, I left the Rest Area at 1700. I delayed my departure by about 1½ hours from the time I could legally begin driving. Timing was the key to today. If I left too early, I could make the drive to Auburn, but couldn’t make the delivery within the allotted 14-hour window. If I left too late, I would be late for the appointment, and as this was a grocery warehouse, I would have had to re-schedule or go on “stand-by”, which is even worse. I drove to Rice Hill, OR where I took a 45 minute break for dinner. From there, I drove to Chehalis, WA. I took a short MMM break here. I left there at 0400 (Wednesday) morning and drove the rest of the way to Auburn. I arrived 45 minutes early for my appointment. YEA ME!!!  After I was unloaded, I drove the 7 odd miles to our terminal here in Sumner, arriving at 0700. I set my PTA for tomorrow morning at 0700. I only have 2 more hours remaining to drive today, so why bother making myself available this afternoon. I need the break after two consecutive “all-nighters” anyway. I’ve used 68 of the possible 70 hours available this week. That is a good thing.
I’m too keyed up to sleep right now, which is why I’m writing this. I’ll stay up until about 2000, then sleep the “sleep of the dead”. It is sprinkling here right now. I was hoping to get a decent picture of Mount Rainer, which is prominent in the eastern horizon from the terminal, but it is obscured by the clouds. DRAT!!!! It is really breath taking (when you can see it).