I think we are still on east coast time, we are up early again.

Very small breakfast area, but the usual stuff, plus we got the 'Happy Valentine's Day' every time we walked past the front desk. Not sure what, but something took a little longer this AM so we got going 15 minutes later than we had planned.

Las Vegas wasn't bad for a rush hour ... in the rain. Some slow and go but no stop and go.

First stop was in Primm at the CA boarder at the Flying J. This is the first place is the first one I've seen with a Qdoba.

This is the first time I have been this way with a truck since they built a new scale and fruit inspection area. We got waved through the inspection station without stopping. At this scale, there is scale even on the empty lane. 5 mph in the empty lane and 3 mph on the loaded lanes. The light stays green and we are free to go.

Next stop is at the TA at Barstow. They have a Black Bear Restaurant at the truckstop. There are 20+ food places within a few blocks but this was the place we wanted to eat. Long story short, I ordered a chicken salad sandwich and got a tuna salad sandwich. The waiter at first insisted that is what I ordered. They did bring me the correct order but by the time we were out of there, we had been there over an hour and a half.

Once we have left the TA and are on the street, we have a red light. I'm not to the light yet when it changes, but someone has started crossing so I continue to drive slowly. I look to see if anyone is behind me, there isn't, but someone is coming up fast in the right lane. I lay on the horn, they guy walking across the street finally looks our direction and gets across the street. The truck in the right lane doesn't seem to even slow down. The guy walking across the street without a walk light was on his cell phone.

West of Barstow is a town called Kramer Corner. It's always a slow spot but today there is high water at the stoplight so the oncoming traffic was backed up for miles. Not sure why traffic from our direction wasn't. (We wouldn't have made it to our motel if it had been backed up.) Signs say this road should be complete by 2020. Then it will be four lane all the way from Barstow to Bakersfield.

Shortly after Kramer Corner, two runs show up on the board, we were right at an exit so I took it. Called four times and finally got something other than the answering machine. They are pickups. We take them. We now have a plan. One hour from my drop we will pick up two pickups going to OH, another 2,400 miles.

Donners Pass had been open for a little while this AM, by late in the day it will be closed til noon Sunday. In Wyoming roads are still an issue. We finally decide we will head south and add the extra miles to this leg of the trip also.

Next stop is Tehachapi for fuel. Loves. We get a little discount there, but very little. After we fuel, I call my drop again and got more details. Also called the next PU and left a message. The PU called back later and left a message, we can pickup until 4 pm.

Somewhere after Tehachapi, being the nice guy I am, I pulled to the left lane to let someone coming up the ramp on. The guy who had been behind me caught up to the person getting on the freeway and wouldn't let me get back over. A few miles later he did back off and I got over. I was busy with something besides just driving and I had noticed one of the people who had been behind me in the left lane just kind of hung right beside me. At first I thought he was just pacing me as people do when they aren't paying attention but I didn't look over. Then he shot ahead, I figured he wanted to show me some sign language for blocking traffic. :(

Half hour or so later I pass someone and notice something in my lower right mirror. Off at the next exit. Turns out one of my storage doors is open, hanging into traffic. Opps ... maybe ... just maybe the guy I thought wanted to show me a sign really wanted to tell me one of my doors was open ...

Last stop of the day was going to be a rest area near Button Willow. It was closed, By now we realized how late we would get to the motel so we stopped to eat at Lost Hills. We planned on stopping at Pilot and their Wendy's. Pilot didn't have any pull through parking spots so we drove out. By accident we ended up at a off-brand station with a DQ. They had a huge parking lot, newly paved. Here I could pull in to a parking spot without backing up.

So we had DQ. Interesting place. Some shelves full, some shelves empty ... like the shelves would be if right before a hurricane arrives.

Two hours later we are at our motel in Santa Nella, Quality Inn. Here I decide to park in my usual spot where I have to back up. I try a few times but I just can't seem to back without being able to see my trailer/chipper until it is too far sideways to keep backing. I get it to where I should be able to get out in the AM.

Less than three hours to my drop from here. Rental car is on the way. Then one hour to our next pickup. And about 10 miles to drop the rental car. We plan on staying close to where we pickup. I am still running close on hours and we decided this when we thought we would wait for the pass to open.

We should deliver by Thursday, home by Saturday, leave again Sunday if there is work.