Same person checked us out in the AM as checked us in the PM. Breakfast was the usual.

Local news was on in the breakfast area, they mentioned something about fires in OK. Yesterday it looked like we were driving through the southern edge of some smoke for a few miles. Looking online now it says that 40,000 acres have burned and 60 houses have been destroyed. Not getting nearly the press as the west coast fires.

We had gotten past the downtown so no issues with traffic heading out of town. Lots of backups heading into town. One toll again today, one yesterday.

First stop is 50 miles down the road at the Flying J in Joplin. From here I call the shipper and let them know the issues I have been having so they can deal with them on their end. While we are fueling another driveaway driver stops to ask questions a couple of times. He lives in CA and looking for work from there, good luck. But later today our company has for units heading from CA to VA, but we are no longer there.

We stop in St Robert at a Cracker Barrel for lunch. Could have been in and out in a half hour if we had wanted. Fast service. BB had her usual fish and I had the meat loaf. Before we left I called the drop and said we'd be there after noon tomorrow. They didn't have any other questions.

Had talked about calling about any buses in IN, but as of now both of us are ready to head home. Part of the issue with calling about the buses is they might try to talk us into something we don't want or haven't looked at the plus / minus of the run. With anything on the board we know exactly what we want before we call. Relying on dispatch is why we left company #2.

Next stop was at a rest area in St Clair. I let a truck in front of me right before we pulled off. He couldn't find a place to park so he just blocked the exit for anyone leaving. Because I was behind him, I was far enough back that I saw someone pull out and I took that spot. So no way to exit while we were there. But it didn't block things up, lots of open spots by those pulling forward and leaving. We were in and out in about five minutes.

This had been a change of stops. We had not planned on stopping until we got into IL but that was too far for BB so we added an extra stop.

Six Flags has a sign they are opening this week in St Louis. The amusement park in OKC was open already yesterday when we went past. Signs of spring.

Not much for field work being done, but the calves are getting big and the grass is getting green.

We stop again in Effingham at the Iron Skillet at the Petro. I didn't know how to get into their non-truck parking so I ended up parking with the big rigs. Buffet. $9.99 on Monday evenings. I did have a little lettuce, we'll see if that effects my tests in a couple of days. Almost thought I was going to have a throat issue, but this time sucking on an ice cube cleared it. Or it wasn't really happening.

Another hour and we are at the Quality Inn in Terra Haute. 200 miles to go.

There are three RV's in IN right now, two heading west that could work if we wanted to stay out. Only two in IA and they are both going to BC Canada.

One of the drivers that has been calling be recently, called again today and left a message. He's driving for a new company already. I think that is less than a week from his first phone call to them ... and he was already a few miles into his run.

Still meaning lots of transporters.