At breakfast this AM I noticed the sausage was about room temperature so I told the breakfast help. They took care of it right away, someone had shut the temp off on the warmer.

At 7:59 we started calling in, but the phones weren't working right so instead of being busy they would go to someones voice mail. Finally after 20 minutes of dialing with two phones we got through. Our first choice was gone but we are still going to El Cajon.

And I wasn't quite ready to walk out the door so a little delay there too ... and it was snowing so I drove a little slower. Someone who pulled on later down the freeway did a little 'fish tail' before getting going. Also saw those types of tracks on the side roads.

Got to the office and we waited a while before someone asked us what we needed. Turns out dispatch puts the paperwork in the lock box on Saturday even when the office is open ... so that too a few extra minutes.

Then I spent some time looking for my 'Intent,' when I had an 'Aspect,' so that took a little while extra too. Otherwise the pre-trip went OK. Did talk to one driver when we came in that had just taken an RV to MT, and back again. It was refused. He also mentioned another driver that had done the same recently. Also talked briefly to a gal that was taking her first trip since coming back to work for the company, talked to her again later, after she had locked her keys in her car. So far that bad luck hasn't rubbed off on us.

Made it to Clear Lake Pilot for fuel. Both units are gas so we'll be watching the same prices.

We had thought of making it to Des Moines but because of the little delays adding up we stopped in Ames at the Pizza Ranch. Just as well, I-35 was closed due to an accident. Lots of good fresh food at this place, stuffed.

No closed signs by the time we got going so we stayed on the freeway, just before the next rest area there was debris on both shoulders and the center cable was down for a block or more. Then at the rest area were all the tow trucks and cops so it had just re-opened.

Stopped again at the welcome center in MO, Eagleville. By then we knew we wouldn't make it to Ottawa or Emporia. Ended up picking Lenexa, there is a Clarion there that a few months ago was a Crown Plaza.

Got there a few minutes after sunset. As we come off the freeway we got to a red light. I stopped and then turned left, BB was blowing her horn at me ... until she saw the sign 'Left turn on red after stop.' It's one of those newer criss-cross overpasses they have started putting in to speed up traffic.

We ended up eating at the 'Bistro' at the motel. Our room has a fourth floor balcony overlooking the indoor pool. Nice room, but this Crown Plaza was really past it's prime by the time they moved on. There is a new Holiday Inn across the street, they took out a couple of really old motels (that I used to stay at.)

Just looked at the board, they added about 70 orders after 12 noon today. Lots of work now.

We have about 500 miles tomorrow to get to Dalhart, TX. That is the last motel before NM and we can't get our permits until 8:30. No way to get to our drop Tuesday without a permit.

We should be out of the snow by now.