Lots of signs around the motel reminding the 'skiers to be quiet.' Not sure if all the younger people there today were from a ski group, but there was a lot of young ones at breakfast. Food was OK, I just had an egg patty and sausage patty.

No one blocked me in, but the motel lot did fill up overnight.

Three tolls this AM. $6.50 each. Much easier when I have someone to hand me the correct change :)

Inconsiderate people.

1st fuel stop. As I am coming down the highway, I see a pump that no one is at, but someone has pulled ahead. I pull in behind them. I fuel, go in and get my receipt, go back in a second time and use the bathroom and he hasn't moved.

2nd fuel stop did not involve me but ... when we got to the small station, I could see that there was a stack of semi-tractors in the first lane with no one around. The place is so congested that I had to wait to get to a line, then had to wait for the guy ahead of me. I fueled, pulled ahead and fueled. Went inside to use the restroom and as I am waiting in line to pay for an item, the person ahead of me is buying misc food items and has to go back to get more stuff so the cashier is just standing waiting. Turns out that is the guy with the stack ... I pour in my anti-gel, do my log and head out. As we leave, he is just picking up the hose to START fueling. By now trucks are backed up out to the main highway.

Back to the 1st fuel stop, as I was walking out the cashier asked if I wanted a gift bag. I said "What I'd really like is the guy ahead of me to move." I did end up taking a gift bag. The card in it said Happy Holidays. Various little things in it.

... oh, yeah. When I pulled in I had to turn to get in the fuel lane and kind of forgot that the front of my truck overhangs about three feet past my front bumper, no harm done but I did get closer to the next semi that I wanted.

Lots of time up and down hills with the flashers on.

We eat again in Chillicothe, a few days ago it was at the Moe's in Pilot. Today it was Bob Evans. We parked at a nearby shopping center where there was lots of room. Bob Evans, food was good ... not sure what the story behind it was, but I heard one of the wait staff say to another "stay away from my tables." ???

Though Dayton and we stop again for fuel in Eaton. This Pilot has about 10 pumps, but is someone is waiting for a pump, the back of their semi is blocking one lane of traffic on a two lane road. Which means the trucks leaving have to take turns with the trucks coming in on the one open lane. And in the lot, every time someone wants to park everyone else has to come to a stop (and a lot of them don't know how to back.)

One place earlier today, a cop passed me at the posted. Then got a little ways ahead to the next truck and hung beside him, then behind him ... and finally took off again. I'm guessing that driver was nervous for a while.

Going past INDY, there is a motel that used to be a Holiday Inn with a water park. Then it was Paradise Park or something ... now I can see threw the remains of the building. Companies come, and companies go. Changes.

We had planned on stopping at Danville tonight, but I called the motel and there is no longer any food at that exit. The Big Boy that was there last time has closed (not surprised.) SEVEN motels at the exit and no food for miles. We had thought of stopping and buying a cold sandwich to take to the motel.

Then we decided to just stop in Crawfordsville for the night. Cracker Barrel within walking distance and McD's and Subway across the street. We likely would have been here a few days ago but they were full (?) on a Tuesday night. Lots of room tonight, the place is being re-done so trucks and containers sitting in the lot.

We did walk to Craker Barrel. It was further than I thought. Best Western is the closer motel, we had to walk thru their parking lot to get to Craker Barrel.

No wait to get seated. The no longer have meatloaf on the main menu but it was the special tonight. I decided to stick with my French Dip and potato soup. BB had a chicken salad. All was well until the waitress forgot I wanted more water. Not sure if that flustered her, but when she came back she dropped the glass, so broken glass and water all over the floor.

Back at the motel we look at which route to take from IA to CA. We had talked about still going the southern route. It ads about six hours and would cost another $200 in gas. But it looks like we will slide between the storms at Donners Pass.

We also looked at my hours. As a driver, we can't go over 70 hours in 8 days. So now I will be having to work shorter days to stay under the 70 based on how many hours I drove that day a week and a day ago. We need to go Donners Pass to make delivery Friday. We'll see then if we get work heading back east.

Right now there are five non-CDL trucks from CA heading east over 2,500 miles plus some CDL units. And there seems to have been some for the last week plus so hopefully a few more days ...

IA put more RV's out Saturday, that is unusual. That got it up over 60 the first time this year. Still nothing we would have taken if we had headed home instead of taking this truck.