This will be my first road trip for my original company in about two years. BB can no longer ride with, but this time she is flying to CA to meet me. Her sister had a meeting planned there for Monday that is how this all came about. Meeting got canceled after plans were made so now we just need to find something to do for one extra day :)

Left out in a shuttle at nine AM, our first stop is Alexandria. Actually ate a breakfast of chili before getting to work, knowing that would be my last home cooked meal for a couple of weeks. Worked a little on the computer on the five hour ride to Crookston.

My bus is one that broke down last week and got towed back to Crookston, so they are giving me an extra day to get it to CA ... just in case. (not sure if the pay got adjusted)

Everything is ready at Crookston and I am in and out in fifteen minutes. First stop is Flying J in Fargo. There are not any fuel gauges on the buses so I like to make sure I'm not on the side of the road, for that reason anyways. It's been so long since I've bought fuel at Flying J / Pilot that I now have to pre-pay inside again. IF I buy enough fuel, I can start the fuel pumps with a perks card and when I'm done, I can get a receipt from a machine. No signature required. A 'fault' warning light has come on and off a few times, I left a message with the office but they have never shut me down before because of it.

Eight hours on duty and I need a break, Tower City, ND. I haven't stopped here since it was a hole in the wall a dozen years ago. New building, nice sized restaurant. In and out in 45 minutes. Just before I was ready to leave a driver started asking me about my job, he's looking to get out of his 18 wheeler. Sounds like one of his grandson's works there and we were interrupted by him ... as I walked away I heard him say something about "Winger, MN." We have family there but it was time to get going. I was waiting for my check or I could have been out in 30 minutes. Hadn't seen my server, found him talking to the cashier.

At soon point I thought the steering was getting a little sticky but it's hard to tell on the freeway going 60. Then when I turned at the top of the exit ramp I heard something gurgling. A block later it was hard to turn and two blocks later it was all arm power. Luckily there was a parking spot right by the entrance ... I could see I was leaving a trail of fluids.

There is not really any 'truck parking' if the place had been anywhere full. Signs all around saying no truck parking. May not be staying here again with a truck/RV.

Left a message with dispatch that I was down until repaired.

1st stop at Alexandria at Holiday (no Wendy's today)

2nd stop at Crookston to PU bus

3rd stop at Fargo at Flying J to fuel

4th stop at Tower at Tower Travel Center ... not sure if the restaurant has a name or not

5th stop at Dickeson at Quality Inn