2 RV's to Manteca CA

... spending the night in Ankeny IA

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BB had a dentist appointment this AM so we finally got going closer to noon.

Once we were on the road we got started talking about the face masks that someone had left in this car, so we messaged to see who's they were. A friends of our grand-daughter who gets them from work. BB tried one on and fit much better than anything we have so we laid them in the sun to air out and we'll use them if needed. Not sure yet where that will be.

1st stop was in Burnsville for food at Arbey's, drive thru. It would have been faster to go to Honey Baked across the block.

But before we got there we met two squads with lights flashing. The closest I can find to the match I remember is the US Army Military Police.

Next stop was at the Welcome center in IA to use the rest room. We aren't sure if we can use the restrooms at the office. Shortly after we get back on the road, we hear noise from the car. It's only a few more miles so I keep going to the exit so we aren't stopping on the freeway. We did find one cable tie that had busted but it wasn't long until we heard the noise again. Oh well.

We are driving 'crash,' we left our car for our grand-daughter that lives with us. We would usually take our van but the tabs are expired. We ordered tabs, but they never sent them and now with all the issues, health and otherwise, we can't get a hold of anyone to ask.

We get about halfway from the freeway to the office and the road is closed, with a detour. We follow it for a ways and then BB looks online and even after going five miles, it is still faster to take a U-turn and go the opposite direction. This ends up taking taking us most of an extra half hour. But we have nothing but time this trip.

At the office we have to call and someone will bring us out our paperwork. They did come to the door and take our temps before they can hand us our paperwork ... and then they let BB in to use the restroom. Then we use our car to go find our RV's. When BB gets out of the car is when she realized she had left her purse in the restroom. So back to the office and make another call. Purse is still there.

100 degrees ...

And we are doing our inspections. I usually shut my RV off anytime we are stopped to save gas. Not today, AC is on and RV stays on except when I have to shut if off to make sure the second key works in this RV. Our inspection takes the usual hour. Heat slows us down, having been off the road three months slows us down.

One change here is that we no longer bring our inspection sheets back into the office, we use the 'tiny scanner' app and send them to the main office.

Lots of people picking up RV's, a couple with masks. The rest of us are not wearing masks, no one in the office is.

And a sight I didn't like to see ... RV's being flat bedded out. NO. We like to drive them. But the load board is back up over 100 tonight.

Gas is cheapest in the Caseys here in Forest City so that is where we stop. And we go inside to use the restroom and buy water. We had water in another car at home but we didn't get it moved to this car. Talked about it a few minutes before we left and then ... didn't.

None of the customers at Caseys were wearing masks, all the staff was. But every place has little signs where you are supposed to stand in line, six feet apart.

The Super 8 in town is now an off brand. We've stayed there a few times when we were cheaper.

From Forest City to the rest area in Huxley non-stop. Did see what looked to have been an accident on US-20 but I was busy watching someone making a U-turn on the freeway so I didn't get a good look at the accident.

I didn't go in at this rest area, or the prior one. Limiting my contact where I can. Other than that I guess I am more aware but not using extra caution.

We had talked about stopping somewhere else in Des Moines but ended up at our usual Sleep Inn in Ankeny. We know the area, the food, and being in a dead end area, roads are all dead ends, not likely to get the 'down town' trouble that is going on right now.

Check in has changed. Used to have to initial a half dozen places and then sign a paper. Then use their pen to sign the credit card machine. Now, they hand you the key. Yes :)

We ordered on line and then walked next door to Outback. Limited menu right now. They do have inside seating but we aren't ready for that yet. So we brought our food back to the room. What I get is often too spicy for me. And it was again tonight. So we trade chicken, BB's is pretty bland so she enjoyed the trade and so did it.

We'll need to call the drop tomorrow. Delivery is by appointment only.

We did get over 100 miles today :) Likely get close to 500 tomorrow, we'll see.

New cases, hospitalizations, deaths all down today for covid. We thought we were jumping the gun but maybe not.

In normal times, we might have stayed home a few more days. BB has an aunt that is doing very badly, but no one can see her at the hospital, not even her husband. And funerals now are either small or not at all. She had had a couple of stokes and they did some follow up tests and she went down hill from there and now 'out of it' and needs help breathing.

One day down.