Wow. Slept in. No early AM phone calls.

For breakfast they had the usual, but their yogurt was the smaller containers so I had some eggs besides. They also had hot oatmeal, which is unusual.

Plan was to be leaving at 6:45. Took us a little longer to get going in the AM so I was thinking we were going to be late to our pickup. Won't have done us any good to get going any earlier. We got to the pickup and we still had to wait for them to unlock the gate. One other truck was ahead of us so it took us a few minutes longer. But that gave me a chance to watch the guy hook up the other one. When he got to mine, he had it all connected by the time I could get to the back of my truck. The guy did say that all the trucks from the east would be stopping here to pickup a chipper ... and they would stay hooked until the both died. I should have asked him how many ... I will if I get back here.

The total time at the pickup was about a half hour including waits to unlock and the other driver to hook. So not bad. Did quickly ask the other driver where he was going, same place. But he is going down to I-40 and across.

We head west, but soon the weather reports get updated and it is highly unlikely that we will be able to cross at Donners Pass. So we could have gone the southern route also.

We weren't sure how long this AM was going to take so we make the first stop less than 120 miles down the road at Avoca. The Flying J there for fuel. It shuts me off at less than full. Not sure why but I didn't restart it. Had just barely enough to get to the next fuel stop. Looks like the Maid Rite is closing. Sign on the service area is gone, another sign said closed, but there was still someone in the back.

Where we used to stay in Lincoln at the Quality Inn is now the Motel 6. Six story building with a restaurant. Not sure the restaurant is still open, I think it was the first time we were there, but closed on later visits.

Somewhere along here it started to rain. So most of the day was rain and below freezing temps. When we stopped for food in York an the Iron Skillet the parking lot was icy. The roads didn't seem to get icy but the trees were all shiny and the truck took on a lot of ice. Had to run the defrost on high part of the time to keep the ice off the windows.

Food at the Iron Skillet was ok. Same crew as we have seen there in the past. Not a whole lot there I liked to day but full as always and I never got the the soup. Didn't try the salads either, they looked like they had been put out at breakfast and not touched since. In and out in an hour.

Next stop was the Pilot in Elm Creek. We try to avoid this place with cars because it is so small and crowded. Today ... no one. Spent some time here and knocked the ice off and cleared the mirrors.

Plan was to stop in Ogallala to either eat or for the night depending on my hours. We were ahead of time so it would be to stop to eat, but after a buffet for lunch neither of us was hungry. So we decided to stop at the rest area ... it was closed. So we decided to push past the two hour mark and go direct to Sidney.

Somewhere after Ogallala I saw a truck almost along side of me. Someone would catch up to us and he'd pull behind me. Then back out until the next car caught up to us, then back in behind me. Once he finally did pass, I realized that we were both maxed at 65 mph and at some point I had slowed enough for him to catch up and then I was back up to 65.

Once we got past the Denver split, things changed. We had been running 65 most of the day, even in the rain. Past the split I lost power, well not really. But there is enough change in elevation that I averaged 50 mph instead of 65. So I was under 50 mph quite a bit. I just looked and the change in elevation is 1,000 feet in less than 100 miles.

And this truck does not want to downshift. Others I kick the cruise off because they are always downshifting. And it doesn't make any difference if the cruise is on or I am standing on it. It is like the buses, it must be computer governed how fast it will excel. Lots of time with the flashers on. Better get used to it.

When we get to Sidney we go to the IHOP Express. I had never seen one before and didn't realize this was one until we were walking up to the building. It is order at the counter from a limited menu. Then they bring the food to you. Unlike most places this style, they use real glasses, plates and silverware. Food was good, service was quick. (older reviews were nasty)

Bought more anti-gel as we walked out. Then fueled before crossing the street to the motel. Did see another truck like mine with a chipper in the lot but BB wouldn't let me go talk to them. She was ready for the motel.

Nothing new out of CA today so what is there will likely be gone by Friday. Nothing good out of IA so glad we didn't rush back.

I will be close on my hours because I didn't do a re-start. No long days. Tomorrow I can only work 8 hours. That is short for this kind of work. Friday will be a short day also be we need to be delivered by the time I run out of hours.

Did call the drop at noon but never heard back. Will try again tomorrow, if still no response I will call dispatch on Weds.