STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Drive-by Dinner

On the evening of Saturday, October 28th, I got to have dinner with my brother Don and his wife Lou. Our schedules synchronized in Albuquerque, NM; I en route to New Jersey from LA via I-40, he hovering in the area in his RV. I arrived just before sunset and arranged to have him meet me at our terminal.

We went to a Golden Corral restaurant a couple of miles from the terminal. We had a nice leisurely dinner and a short visit. I had to continue driving because of a ‘tight’ schedule, so after dinner, he dropped me off at my truck and we went our separate ways. 

Life Day 21653: Hovering at Home

Sunday, Oct 22nd:
I left Wheeler Ridge about noon and drove to Ontario, arriving just before 1500. I settled in at a Farmer Boys restaurant. They are a pretty good local ‘fast-food’ franchise. It was serendipitously located about 2 blocks from the consignee so I won’t have too far to travel to make my delivery in the AM. I geeked for a while, then went to bed about 2030. My appointment was at 0530.

Monday: 
I awoke at about 0430 today. After I walked the MMM, I caught up on my paperwork. At a little after 0500, I drove the short distance to the Customer, and upon arrival was immediately assigned a dock door. The unload took a little over an hour. After completion, I drove back to Farmer Boy’s. By now, it was open and it was time for breakfast. About an hour after breakfast, I recieved and accepted a load which picked up in Mira Loma, CA and delivered in Grantsville, UT. I left about 1000 and arrived at the shipper about 15 minutes later. This was a drop/hook customer, so by 1100, I was on the way to our terminal in Fontana for fuel and an MMM walk. I left about noon. Before I left, I made arrangements to T-Call the load in Henderson, NV at our drop yard. No sense driving all the way to Grantsville when i’m going right through Las Vegas and due for hometime anyway. I arrived just before 1700, dropped the load and picked up an empty. I gave the MMM a good untethered romp, then drove to the WWW. AHHHH! Time to relax.

Tuesday:
Today was a “veg & geek” day and that’s about all I did. I did venture out to Sheplers to update my wardrobe. They carry a lot of Wrangler Jeans and i’m partial to them because they fit me better than Levi’s. I bought 6 pair of Wrangler Wranchers, which are “dressy” double-knit jeans with a western cut, and 3 new shirts.

Wednesday:
Today was laundry and ‘work in my storage shed’ day. I finished at sunset. After such an arduous day, I treated myself to a nice dinner at Bahama Breeze. I, once again, ordered the Coconut Shrimp. This time though, I ordered it as a dinner. It came with Caribbean Rice and Broccoli. In addition, I ordered a side of Black Bean Soup and a Caesar Salad. It was too much, the soup being as filling as it was delicious. I took home most of my rice and half of my shrimp. For a change, I had a non-alcoholic “Bahamarita”  (strawberry and mango margarita mix). It wasn’t bad. The total was just under $30.00, including the foofaraw ’girly-man’ drink, (less tip). Endurable, considering I got dinner and a lunch out of it.

IN A LATHER

More and more often these days, i’m finding these new Soap Dispensers in public restrooms which dispense Pre-lathered Soap. Is this just another indication of the Decline and Fall of America? Are there that many Americans with Physical Infirmities which prevent them from rubbing their hands together to make lather?? Have Americans become so Lazy that rubbing their hands together to make lather is too much of a strain?? Have Americans become so Dumb that they can’t comprehend the concept of rubbing their hands together to make lather?? Have Americans lives become so Cluttered that they can’t take the time to rub their hands together to make lather?? Have Americans so Addled their Brains with alcohol and/or drugs that Pre-lathered Soap is the only way to maintain minimum standards of Hygene?? Have Americans become so attuned to their bodies that they are afraid of a Repetitive Motion injury if they rub their hands together too often??
What kind of mind could even conceive a need for Pre-Lathered soap?  “Gee, Bill, you know my hands are really dirty”. “Yeah Fred, why don’t you go wash them”? “Wash them, Bill”? “Yeah, Fred, you know, go into the bathroom, turn on the water, put some soap on your hands, rub them together until a lather forms, then rinse them off and dry them”. “Gee, Bill, that sounds complicated, not to mention physically and mentally taxing, and time consuming. Plus, you could hurt yourself. There should be an easier way”. Both together, “I’ve got it, Pre-lathered Soap”!!
What’s next, Pre-Chewed Food?? GEEEZE!!!

Life Day 21650: Whereabouts, Wheeler Ridge

I’m trying a new, hopefully “easier on the eye” format beginning with this entry. Also note that there are 3 days contained in this entry rather than the (lately) usual 2 weeks.

Thursday, the 19th:
Today, I left Santa Nella at 1015. I drove to Bakersfield and had lunch at Bill Lee’s. At 1515, I began the next leg of my journey to San Diego, arriving there at 2100. I had a hard time finding the customer in the dark (lighting was atrocious). The problem could have been avoided if the customer had used adequate signage. (This particular sign was in black lettering on dark wood, set back off the road). If you are in ‘business’, it seems to me that you would want people to be able to find you. A lighted, easy to read sign which includes the address would be a step in the right direction. I am noticing that more and more, this is the case. I don’t know if it is the businesses themselves going for aesthetics over practicality, or (more likely), Zoning regulations mandated by a bunch of Petty, Low-level Bureaucrats doing what Petty, Low-level Bureaucrats do best. Anyway, I digress. I did the drop delivery and then drove the 5 odd miles to Swift’s terminal in Otay Mesa, CA where I stopped for the night. It was clear and cool, just perfect for sleeping. I drove about 450 miles and used 9.5 of my available 11.25 hours.

Friday:
I awoke with a PrePlan on my QualCom. It picked up right there at the terminal and delivered in Portland, OR. I almost turned it down because I didn’t want to take a chance on the weather in the Northwest this time of year. But, in the comments section, it said to T-Call the load at our terminal in Lathrop so I accepted it. I left about 1100 and drove to our terminal in Fontana for fuel and a quick MMM break. I left at 1415 and drove to B’field. I parked at the Walmart on CA-58 (Rosedale Highway) and Coffee Rd. They have a nice grassy area for the MMM and it’s easy in/out even with a trailer. There are also a number of good restaurants in the area. This time, however, I just strolled with the MMM. I left at 1915 and drove to Lathrop. I did the T-Call. Just before I left B’field, I recieved a PrePlan which picked up at our terminal in Lathrop and delivered in Phoenix, but I didn’t respond to it. When I went into Dispatch, I found that the Phoenix load was already gone. They had evidently “double planned” the load, and the other driver had beat me there. The Planner found another load for me that also was right there at the terminal and delivered in Ontario, CA. It’s one step closer to Las Vegas anyway, and i’m due for some ‘hometime’. I dropped and hooked, then walked the MMM and went to bed. I used 11.75 of my 12.75 hours available and drove about 520 miles.

Today (Saturday):
I left Lathrop at 1015, the earliest I could ‘legally’, and drove to the Petro truckstop in Wheeler Ridge. I only had 5.5 hours available when I left Lathrop, so I stopped here for the day. I drove 246 miles and used 5.25 hours. I decided to have a PM Service done on my truck here since I had some spare time. One of the “bennies” was a free 18oz steak dinner. After the Service, I redeemed the coupon in the Restaurant. I’ve had better steaks in my time, but never one this good for the price, (FREE). Surprisingly the coupon included my drink, so the meal was truly FREE. The MMM enjoyed their portion as well.

Life Day 21647: Sleepy in Santa Nella

I’m weeks behind on this thing, so now it’s time to make it current.
My load in Ft. Collins was finally ready at 2300 on the 3rd. I hooked to it and left about 2330. I drove to our terminal in Denver and went to bed. JEEEEZE what a long, boring day.
On the 4th, I left Denver at 1045. I drove a total of 11.5 hours and 721 miles (including the half hour carry-over from the drive to Denver last night), stopping in Joseph City, AZ, about 75 miles from Flagstaff, for the night. I took a “doggie break” along the way about 1530, stopping at a rest area in New Mexico on I-40 at mm-375. I also stopped at our terminal in Albuquerque for a short break and fuel about 1900.
On the 5th I left Joseph City at 0930 and drove to the consignee in Flagstaff. I was unloaded in about an hour and drove to the Shipper. Yesterday I recieved and accepted a load from Flagstaff to Ontario, CA. I did the drop/hook pick-up and left Flagstaff about1300. I drove to Lake Havasu City, AZ. I had lunch and walked the MMM, then drove to Hesparia, CA where I stopped for the night. I took a short day today after yesterday’s “marathon”. I only drove 475 miles.
On the 6th I left Hesparia at 0700 and drove to the consignee in Ontario. Enroute, I recieved and accepted a load from Industry, CA to North Las Vegas, NV. I did the drop/hook delivery then went to breakfast at Farmer Boys because it was less than a mile away. Not bad for “fast food”. I then drove to the shipper in Industry. What a fiasco. All was well until I got to my exit off of CA-60. Traffic was backed up nerarly 1/2 a mile. Little did I know at the time, but I was fortunate. Things actually got worse before they got better. It took 1/2 an hour to make my way onto the exit ramp. Once there, it took another 15-minutes to get to the intersection. Here, I was able to see the problem, a _______ing train was switching cars on the tracks about 1/4 mile from the exit. To compound the problem, there was construction in the same area and traffic was being funneled from 3 lanes down to 1 lane. I had to somehow cross all the cross traffic and maneuver into the left turn lane, 1/8 of a mile before the RRX. I sat through 6 consecutive light changes at this point where absolutely no traffic moved. After that the intersection miraculously cleared momentarily, and I made my move. There was a surprisingly low number of “horn honks” and single digit “waves” as I proceeded into the turn lane. Fortunately, I was able to get all the way into the lane in one movement and didn’t block the other traffic. I finally made it to the shipper about 1130. I did the drop/hook and then drove to our terminal in Fontana for a quick break and fuel. The trip to Fontana went considerably smoother. The traffic jam was still in progress as I ’sailed’ by. At 1300, I left Fontana and drove directly to the consignee in North Las Vegas, did the drop/hook delivery then drove to the WWW to begin my much earned time off.
I spent much of the 7th, 8th and 9th running errands,working in my storage shed, and working on my music files. Nothing other than that was of much interest.
On the 10th, I recieved a good load. It picked up in North Las Vegas (the same customer that I delivered to on the 6th) and delivered in Elwood (greater Chicago), IL. With a major winter storm forcast for the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, I opted to drive the extra 125 miles and take the southern route (I-40 to US-54 to US-50 to I-35 to I-70 to I-55). At 1100, with the load picked up, I left NLV and drove to Albuquerque with stops in Kingman and Winslow, AZ. It was a little over 600 miles.
On the 11th, I left Albuquerque at 0930. The Balloon Fiesta was in full swing while I was there this time. It is really an impressive sight to see all the Balloons aloft simultaneously. I managed to take these pictures from our terminal before I left. They aren’t the best, but I was about 5 miles away and had to use full zoom to get these. I used my Video camera because it has a better “zoom” and pulled these “stills” off of the video . My little Olympus just couldn’t do justice to the event.



If you’re not a “morning person” you’ll miss out. They start going up just after sunrise and are usually done, except for a few stragglers, by about 1000. Someday I hope to attend the entire event. I drove to Emporia, KS (666 miles) with breaks in Tucumcari, NM where I transitioned to the 2-lane roads, and Liberal, KS.
On the 12th, I drove from Emporia to Wilmington, IL. I stopped in Warrenton, MO for fuel and lunch and at a rest area on I-55N in Illinois at mm102. I drove just over 601 miles. Wilmington is only about 5 miles from the consignee. It was a “dump” of a truckstop. Muddy and no grass for the MMM, but hey, “beggars can’t be choosers”.
On the 13th, I left Wilmington at 1000 and drove the 5 odd miles to the consignee in Elwood. I did the drop/hook and settled in to wait for a load. After an hour or so, I accepted a load from Muscatine, IA to Albuquerque, NM. It had 4 stops in Albuquerque. At 1245, I left Elwood and drove the 170 miles to Muscatine. The load wasn’t scheduled to pick-up until 2130, and they were pretty much running on schedule, so I settled in for the wait. The load was finally ready at 2230, but by this time my 14-hour window was about to ’slam shut”, so I just hooked to the trailer and went to bed. While I was waiting, I took a little detour into town for something to eat. I finally settled for a burger and fries at a local drive-in called Culvers. I survived, but wasn’t impressed. After that, I went to a Fleet and Farm, which is like a Walmart for farmers. I bought a hood for my winter coveralls which I didn’t buy for some reason 2 years ago when I bought the rest of the set. I also bought a pair of insulated, water-proof, boots, and 2 pair of winter socks. A pair of insulated rubberized gloves and a balaclava (ski mask) completed the ensemble. Now when, AND IF, I decide to accept a load into the sub-arctic climes of the northwest, i’ll be at least reasonably warm while i’m installing my chains. Now all I need to do is buy the chains. LATER, after I get my new truck.
I spent the 14th and 15th driving to Albuquerque. I stopped in Newton, KS on the 14th. On the 15th, I made it to Albuquerque and spent the night on the street outside my first drop.
On the 16th, I made all 4 deliveries on-time or ahead of time. I accepted a PrePlan which picked up at our terminal in Albuquerque and delivered in Hayward, CA. I only have 12.75 hours available over the next 2 days, so i’m going to have to stop short (probably in Barstow) and wait until the “wee hours” of the 18th to leave and drive into Hayward. At 1300, I left Albuquerque and drove to Kingman, AZ where , after a too big dinner, I decided to stop for the night. I stopped along the way in Winslow, AZ for a quick MMM break. I used up 8.25 of my 12.75 available hours, so i’ll have 4.5 hours available, just enough to drive to Barstow tomorrow.
Today, the 18th, I left Barstow at 0200 (GEEEEEEZE) and drove to Bakersfield (i’m getting too old for this S__T). (Yesterday, the 17th, as planned, I arrived in Barstow about noon). I did a quick walk, as much for me as the MMM, then drove to Santa Nella. I took another short break here. At 0845, I left Santa Nella and began the final leg of my odyssey to Hayward. Along the way, my delivery destination was changed to San Leandro. No big deal. I arrived at 1030 (1/2 an hour early). I did the drop/hook delivery and the paperwork. I recieved a PrePlan which picked up in Fremont and delivers in San Diego. I started the day with only 10.75 hours available, but that will be enough to get me to Fremont, make my pick-up and get out of the ‘rat-race’ before I stop for the day. At 1215 I drove to Fremont and did the drop/hook. At 1400, I left and drove back to Santa Nella via Ca-101 and CA-152. I ran out of hours here having used all of my available 10.75. The first thing I did (after walking the MMM) was go to Pea Soup Andersons for soup and the politically incorrect, but OH SO YUMMY veal chops. I have until 2000 tomorrow to get to San Diego, so i’ll get to ’sleep in’.