1 Tree truck, dropped in Romeovill, IL ... Made it back to Cedar Rapids tonight.

Breakfast? Mini omelett, ham, yogurt. Apple juice was water, OJ had a little kick, the pineapple orange was a little flat but OK.

Very few cars in this lot in the AM either, quite a few more over at the Waffle House. Where I thought was a homeless cart last night was a garbage can this AM. ??? Still dark when we left but light shortly after.

Had to cross the scale coming into IN, sat on the scale a minute or two and then got the green light. Not sure what they were checking. Noticed they did the same thing to the empty truck ahead of us.

1st stop was the Greenfield rest area just east of Indy. Thought we'd make it past Indy but didn't. Doesn't make much difference, we were going to stop twice before delivery.

2nd stop was Demott, IN at the Love's. I had planned on making it further but my range dropped ... and Loves had the cheaper fuel. I make the mistake of asking BB what she wanted to do for food. I should have asked what SHE was going to do for food while I fueled. The drop said they would be there until 1 PM and I wanted to make it before then if I could.

At Pilot/Flying J, you swipe your credit card first and then your rewards card. At Loves, you swipe your rewards card first ... UNLESS you are paying with a company card. I messed it up the first time so it took a little longer. For fuel, I knew that when the range was at 145-155, I was at a 1/4 of a tank of fuel. So I did the math of how much fuel I would need when I reached that level and then added one more gallon.

3rd ... stop ... Midway. Not sure what was going on in Chicago today, but the routing software kept changing our route. It changed one more time just as we went past the point of no return. We went up Cicero avenue, eight miles of stop lights and 35 mph speed limit. Right when we were at the stoplight at the corner of the airport. BOOOOoooommmm ... a plane came in right over our heads. It looked like the wheels just cleared the fence next to the sidewalk.

Luckily there was a turn lane to get into the rental car area so I put on my flashers and let BB out. No one coming at that moment. Not shoulder on these streets so the UPS person and anyone else, just blocks one lane of traffic. BB had fun trying to find her way into the rental area, she finally had to walk in where the cars drove in, any doors there were, were locked.

20 more miles and I was at the customer ... with a range of nine miles to spare. So I wouldn't have needed that extra gallon :)

I drove around back of their building figuring they would be working in the shop. Those doors were open so I walked in and everyone was standing eating. Company must have bought food.

They had told me where to park the truck when I had called, but today they wanted it right where it was. Soon as my stuff was out they backed it around and started loading it.

The guy who signed for it, never came out to look at it or had anyone else look at it. All he asked about was the plates. I knew nothing about them and he said the last eight trucks didn't have them either ... I had noticed at pickup that there was a place to sign if I had gotten them. I didn't get them so I didn't sign.

BB got there a few minutes later and we loaded up and were off.

5th stop ... off to RAX. One of the five Rax still open is in Joliet, IL. We have stopped at this location a few times. It was a couple of miles out of route but nothing compared to the side trips to the airports. We both had the Big Rax. Lots of staff for the few customers. When we left the place was empty. But by then it was 2 pm.

Oh ... I made a $100+ on the fuel and that was after the side trips to the airport.

From Rax we were about a mile off of I-80. Nothing exciting there.

6th stop was the rest area / welcome center near Davenport.

We weren't sure how far we were going to make it so we didn't make reservations until we were in Cedar Rapids. It was after sunset and from here it is 5 hours to the airport and we have to have the rental car back about noon. So we should be able to make it.

7th and final stop, Cedar Rapids. First at Wendy's for food and then Comfort Inn for the night. After eating at 2, we weren't hungry but knew we wouldn't want to go back out. Wendy's was the closest except for the doughnut shop. We used to stay at the Clarion, but they lost their franchise when the employee's didn't get paid. Now it's a Ramada and we haven't stayed there again. Yet.

Lots of kids here tonight and loud. Christmas party was just winding down. I've been out of the room since and all is quiet.

At our motel last night there were cookies sitting out, we grabbed two when we checked in, another two when we came back from the Waffle House and another two this morning after breakfast. Some of the Comfort Inns have cookies in the evening others don't. When we checked in tonight I could see the empty cookie rack sitting behind the counter so I commented about it. The person said they would make more as the others were gone already. (Usually it's when they are gone, they're gone) About an hour later I get a knock on the door, the person delivered a plate of six cookies ... we ate them all ... they were good. Didn't need that many.

Unusual for a Saturday but work added RV's to the board. It is up to 28. Two to CA, FL, MN, MD, Greer and a bunch to NJ. We've done the NJ before and it's fair money but no chance of a 2nd leg. The CA are too far from the buses to make the connection and be back in two weeks. The FL are along the same route, but then it would be 700 miles back up to NC to get work. So we MAY try to get the Greer on Monday. Only one is a non-towable so the pay will be a little less.

Right now there are two trucks out of NC going to MS, about 600 miles but who knows what will be there by next week. Maybe another IL ... or MN.

So this trip is done, we have another five hours to get home tomorrow. Then take about 24 hours off and leave out again by Monday after noon.