2 RV's to Manteca CA 

... spending the night in Manteca, and tomorrow night

BP was still an issue today, I was able to get it down on the 3rd try. Three tries is what they give us at the clinic. So on my log of readings, I use the the 1st number where the top number is over 100 and under 140 up to three try's.

Yesterday I had mentioned that people were lining up along the highway in front of the motel. This AM I asked the desk clerk what the occasion was. The only thing they knew of was the protests. Didn't know that was something that spectators came to watch ... small town.

Breakfast, same as usual. Free at the Motel T cafe. I think the is the same server we have had in the past. European accent and very disorganized. Food was still good. Eggs, juice, toast and 4 strips of thick bacon. They only place I go where I can't eat all the bacon. All the tables in the center were open, but every other booth was roped off. And by the time we left most of the tables were stacked with dirty dishes. The server didn't pick up any of them as she walked past empty handed.

Got going about 7 AM local. Sand isn't blowing this AM.

Not a lot of progress on the Loves on the west end of town. There now is a sign that says opening soon, but there still aren't any buildings ... just acres of fresh blacktop.

1st stop is at the Flying J in Fernley. Noticed one of the help working with food had their mask around their neck. Also the on-site casio must have been boarded off. Now it is open enough to get into the casino but still lots of plywood. It used to be mostly open to the rest of the store on two sides.

On the curves like Evanston to SLC and over Donners Pass I have been slowing down to 55 mph. And on the hills today I slowed to 60 mph both up and down and that has kept the RPMs under 4,000. It takes a few minutes more but we have nothing but time. Snow on Donners Pass is gone but still some on the higher hills and the ski area's.

2nd stop is the rest area at Gold Run, we had talked about stopping for food but the Burger King that used to be a couple exits away is now closed and we had a huge breakfast. We made our motel reservations from here. After lots of checking we decided to stay right in Manteca, less than a mile from the drop. We also checked to make sure we had enough fuel to make it the rest of the way. BB started the day with a range of 30 miles more than we needed. Usually we gain miles coming down Donners Pass we gain lots of range.

But ... we knew ... and there was ... slow traffic on CA-99 south of Sacramento. Lots of signs saying to find a different way, we didn't. Should have gone the extra miles, we spent about an hour extra in traffic. It took three hours to go less than 120 miles. Because one lane was closed for a quarter mile. Two squads sitting in the closed lane but no one working and visible road damage. Some times we have gotten into the lane that says 'lane closed ahead,' that is the one that usually moves the fastest and did today, but we didn't get into it.

I ended up with a range of 40 miles more than I needed and ended with 80 more than I needed. BB started with 30 more and ended with 40 more. Between the two of us we made $50+ on fuel. No special pricing, just looking at GasBuddy and driving 65 mph (requirement of the shipper.)

When we pull off the freeway, the cross street is at a dead stop. I kind of guessed the reason, but once we got closer I could see ... A new Chic-fil-A. One lane of the main street is backed up for a couple of blocks to get into their lot, then the lane becomes two. I'm not sure I'd ever want to park and go in, no way to get out.

3rd stop, Best Western in Manteca.

Checked into the motel and then called Chic-fil-A to see if the lobby was open, it is not and they do not take walk ups or do delivery. So we walked back to the motel office to see who was open. Everyone. They just have different options. The closest Mexican place came highly recommended but we ended up walking to a Panera instead maybe a block away. Unlike the Chic-Fil-A, the staff outnumber us, their only customer, 5-1.

Again I got a 2nd cookie that I didn't order, but I didn't complain.

We didn't go for any additional walk but the area seems safe enough. I'm guessing there are the usual homeless camps close by, it looked like a couple just on the other side of the freeway sound wall from us, but they were kind of hidden by the bushes.

When I look online to view what an area looks like, I look for fences. With barb wire on top. Or razor wire on top. That was a good way to tell how safe the area is. Until last night I was searching Google and found out that razor wire is illegal in Fresno ... and who knows where else. So if it is illegal it won't show up on the street view and you won't know how safe the area is ... mmm. I didn't see the why of it being illegal.

Lots of food within walking distance, looks like about 25 places within three blocks plus the places that deliver. We're good.

Loadboard dropped five runs from yesterday. It's Saturday so nothing new on the board.

As of right now Monday's plan is ... drop, call dispatch. If dispatch says no work, we'll leave right away. If they say maybe, we'll stay until after 5 PM. If dispatch says yes, but not today we will stay. Or if he says come and get it, we will. Now that I will have Sunday off we can get anywhere west of the Mississippi by Friday and not run out of hours. Anything beyond will be Monday.

Covid.

Our MN numbers had come down for two days, then were back up and now slightly back down again for Friday. The average for the last four days is lower than any four days in the prior few weeks.

Protests.

There are signs reminding people of curfew, other than that no signs of groups of people or damage.