Life Day 21501: Simmering in Santa Fe Springs
For once, I'm not that far behind with the journal.
On Friday the 19th, I interupted my 'wasting away' at the WWW to go deliver my load. That took a total of about 3 hours including the travel time. When I was empty, I set my PTA for Sunday AM at 0800. After that I basically 'geeked' on the computer. I did go to Outback Steak House for dinner tonight. I chose it because it is close to the WWW, about a mile away near the RIO. I had Pork Chops, a Baked Potato, and a Caesar Salad. Oh yeah, it came with a "thimble full" of cinnamon apples. It was good though.
I finally got out of Vegas on Monday the 22nd. I accepted a load which picked up in Henderson and delivered in San Leandro, CA. There was no freight out of here yesterday. I guess I could have deadheaded to LA or Phoenix, but couldn't see any point in doing that. When I arrived at the shipper, my load was not ready, even though I arrived at my appointment time. I spotted (parked) my empty trailer in a door for them and settled in to wait. In about 2 hours, my load was ready, and I drove to the TA truckstop for fuel and a few necessities. By this time it was nearing 1600. I drove to Bakersfield, CA and stopped for the night (with a quick stop in Barstow to give the MMM their last opportunity to romp 'sans leash' for a while). No sense killing myself by driving a full 11 hours. The load can't deliver until Wednesday AM.
On Tuesday, I left Bakersfield about 1330. I couldn't possibly leave without first having lunch at Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks. I had Pork Fried Rice, Pork Chow Mein, Egg Foo Yong, and also a side order of Fried Won Tons. Yummy as usual. I drove to Santa Nella where I 'hovered' while waiting for the I-580 traffic to disperse. While hovering, I took the opportunity to visit Pea Soup Anderson's, another of my favorite eating spots. I had "all you can eat soup (Split Pea, of course). About 1900, I drove to the consignee in San Leandro. I was able to park on the street for the night.
On Wednesday, I delivered my load at 0800. I recieved a pre-plan which picked up in Richmond, CA and delivered in Santa Fe Springs, CA. I was finished with the unload about 1030 and drove to Richmond. When I checked in at the shipping office, I was told that my load had already been shipped, YESTERDAY. I contacted my DM and recieved the correct pick-up number about 1/2 an hour later. I spotted my empty in a door for them and picked up the loaded trailer. I then drove to Coalinga, CA (Harris Ranch). I was fortunate to beat the traffic out of the Bay Area (I was traveling on I-80, I-880, and I-580, usually slow traffic under ideal conditions) without too much delay. I had dinner here. I ordered my usual Chicken Fried Steak. I had Hashbrowns in leiu of the usual Mashed potatoes. It was a good choice. Their "mixed vegetable" du jour turned out to be some nice asparagus and 1/2 an ear of corn. Much better than the usual mundane squash, broccoli, and carrots. I decided to have my desert 'on the road' by ordering a peach smoothie to go.
When I got back to my truck, I had a PrePlan on my QualCom. It was a good one, Industry, CA to Washington, D.C. (over 2600 miles). I , of course, accepted it.
After this feast, I drove to the consignee in Santa Fe Springs. I parked on the street in front for the night.
Thursday was a frustrating day. The frustration began almost immediately. It took about 4 hours to be unloaded. I also had 3 huge boxes of damaged product which I had to 'wrestle' into my 'sleeper' because I had to go load. The Claims department told me to turn it in to the terminal in Fontana. I then spent another 4 hours and 75 miles in LA traffic playing "trailer, trailer, where the #&*% is a trailer. I had a 14' trailer and had to find a 13' 6" trailer for the load to Washington D.C. By the time I was able to locate one, it was after 1500. The Shipper for the Washington load closed at 1600 and I was 30 miles away. I called and told them I might be a little late because of traffic and they sid OK. At the time I didn't know if OK meant; "OK we'll wait", or "OK, see you in the morning". I arrived about 1515, and they were waiting. WHEW!! It took about 1/2 an hour to load. I thanked them profusely, and drove to Fontana for fuel and to turn in the damaged product. By this time it as close to 1900 because of all the traffic. I drove to Barstow for dinner. The traffic was heavy all the way there. Seems like everyone in LA decided to get an early start on Memorial Day weekend. After dinner I drove to Lake Havasu City, AZ where I stopped for the night.
On Friday the 19th, I interupted my 'wasting away' at the WWW to go deliver my load. That took a total of about 3 hours including the travel time. When I was empty, I set my PTA for Sunday AM at 0800. After that I basically 'geeked' on the computer. I did go to Outback Steak House for dinner tonight. I chose it because it is close to the WWW, about a mile away near the RIO. I had Pork Chops, a Baked Potato, and a Caesar Salad. Oh yeah, it came with a "thimble full" of cinnamon apples. It was good though.
I finally got out of Vegas on Monday the 22nd. I accepted a load which picked up in Henderson and delivered in San Leandro, CA. There was no freight out of here yesterday. I guess I could have deadheaded to LA or Phoenix, but couldn't see any point in doing that. When I arrived at the shipper, my load was not ready, even though I arrived at my appointment time. I spotted (parked) my empty trailer in a door for them and settled in to wait. In about 2 hours, my load was ready, and I drove to the TA truckstop for fuel and a few necessities. By this time it was nearing 1600. I drove to Bakersfield, CA and stopped for the night (with a quick stop in Barstow to give the MMM their last opportunity to romp 'sans leash' for a while). No sense killing myself by driving a full 11 hours. The load can't deliver until Wednesday AM.
On Tuesday, I left Bakersfield about 1330. I couldn't possibly leave without first having lunch at Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks. I had Pork Fried Rice, Pork Chow Mein, Egg Foo Yong, and also a side order of Fried Won Tons. Yummy as usual. I drove to Santa Nella where I 'hovered' while waiting for the I-580 traffic to disperse. While hovering, I took the opportunity to visit Pea Soup Anderson's, another of my favorite eating spots. I had "all you can eat soup (Split Pea, of course). About 1900, I drove to the consignee in San Leandro. I was able to park on the street for the night.
On Wednesday, I delivered my load at 0800. I recieved a pre-plan which picked up in Richmond, CA and delivered in Santa Fe Springs, CA. I was finished with the unload about 1030 and drove to Richmond. When I checked in at the shipping office, I was told that my load had already been shipped, YESTERDAY. I contacted my DM and recieved the correct pick-up number about 1/2 an hour later. I spotted my empty in a door for them and picked up the loaded trailer. I then drove to Coalinga, CA (Harris Ranch). I was fortunate to beat the traffic out of the Bay Area (I was traveling on I-80, I-880, and I-580, usually slow traffic under ideal conditions) without too much delay. I had dinner here. I ordered my usual Chicken Fried Steak. I had Hashbrowns in leiu of the usual Mashed potatoes. It was a good choice. Their "mixed vegetable" du jour turned out to be some nice asparagus and 1/2 an ear of corn. Much better than the usual mundane squash, broccoli, and carrots. I decided to have my desert 'on the road' by ordering a peach smoothie to go.
When I got back to my truck, I had a PrePlan on my QualCom. It was a good one, Industry, CA to Washington, D.C. (over 2600 miles). I , of course, accepted it.
After this feast, I drove to the consignee in Santa Fe Springs. I parked on the street in front for the night.
Thursday was a frustrating day. The frustration began almost immediately. It took about 4 hours to be unloaded. I also had 3 huge boxes of damaged product which I had to 'wrestle' into my 'sleeper' because I had to go load. The Claims department told me to turn it in to the terminal in Fontana. I then spent another 4 hours and 75 miles in LA traffic playing "trailer, trailer, where the #&*% is a trailer. I had a 14' trailer and had to find a 13' 6" trailer for the load to Washington D.C. By the time I was able to locate one, it was after 1500. The Shipper for the Washington load closed at 1600 and I was 30 miles away. I called and told them I might be a little late because of traffic and they sid OK. At the time I didn't know if OK meant; "OK we'll wait", or "OK, see you in the morning". I arrived about 1515, and they were waiting. WHEW!! It took about 1/2 an hour to load. I thanked them profusely, and drove to Fontana for fuel and to turn in the damaged product. By this time it as close to 1900 because of all the traffic. I drove to Barstow for dinner. The traffic was heavy all the way there. Seems like everyone in LA decided to get an early start on Memorial Day weekend. After dinner I drove to Lake Havasu City, AZ where I stopped for the night.
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