1 bus DELIVERED to Cincinnati OH

... spending the night in North Liberty IA

The alarm went off this AM :( first time in a while.

-0-, no breakfast at all at this location. Same person that checked us in last night is back at 7 AM to check us out. One hour down the road and we will know how the day will go.

1st stop, bus wash in Walton KY. Two bays and one truck. They meet me by the time I stopped the bus, asked me what I wanted ... and if I wanted extra's. Then I drove in. By the time I paid, I was ready to get back in the bus and pull out. In and out in 15 minutes. :) It's a good way to start the day.

2nd stop, or not stop. Dropping BB at the airport to pick up a rental car. We had looked at a map a few times but I could see far enough ahead that the road I wanted wasn't there so I went in the opposite way I had wanted. If I kept going the way I thought I would have had to go through the airport. BUT ... road closed. I had to pull into a car lot and turn around. Only had to back up and pull forward 3-4 times to get turned around. BB walked to Hertz and I left. I noticed that one of the remote pay lots was closed. Not enough people flying.

I had looked at the route enough times to know where I'm going. Very few turns, and not much traffic. I exit the freeway in the correct place and notice I should have looked at the map closer. I had just entered this freeway from the left and could have taken a left exit, instead I the exit I planned was across four lanes of traffic in a quarter mile. No traffic so no issue.

I was able to see the train depot that I didn't want to drive under so I knew where I was. Found the correct cross streets and pulled in the lot.

3rd stop was the drop. The bus crew was on break by one of the closest doors and motioned for me to stop where I was. A couple of minutes later someone walked over and said I could pull the bus into place and they would look it over. They looked while I un-packed. I doubt I was there a half hour and part of that time was 'talking shop.' BB pulled up as the shop guy was bringing me my paperwork. We loaded and were rolling.

A few blocks later and we were on the freeway. About three hours earlier than I had guessed.

4th stop was a rest area in Indiana, the first one from the east, Batesville. BB used the restroom, I didn't. My way of reducing exposer.

5th stop was at the Burger King in Shelbyville. Drive thru. We each had a Whopper Jr.

No problems in Indy, just thankful not to get run over while driving the speed limit.

6th stop was at the Pilot in Crawfordsville for another rest stop. This time I did go in ... and got two lemonades and and a Klondike Oreo ice cream sandwich. The only place I can find them is at the truck stops.

7th stop, Farmers City IL at the rest area. I stayed out again, but I do get up and walk so I'm at least moving.

8th stop, Moline IL at Culvers. Now BB wants ice cream. She gets a hot fudge sundae and I get a malt. Malts are easier to eat while driving.

9th stop, Pilot in Walcott for fuel. $1.96. Saw another Amazon Prime delivery truck, this time I was able to talk to the driver. He was on his way to Seattle. No AC. Said company is paying the fuel on these otherwise no one will drive them.

10th stop ... a few more stops than the three yesterday. We first stopped at Arby's in North Liberty at the drive thru and then drove another block to the motel, Sleep Inn. We had looked at the motel in Walcott for the same price but the reviews were not good. Down side of this one was the 'pet friendly' rooms were $30 cheaper than the no pet rooms. But we were able to get a handicapped room for that cheaper price. Sounds like this place will have all their non-hot items out for breakfast.

After eating, we took our half hour walk.

Messages flying back on forth on FB today, sounds like my west coast dispatcher is really hurting for drivers. Others are wanting to know why buses aren't on the load board ... and lots of bad info being past but I don't want to get in the middle of all of it.

Covid. MN deaths had stayed below 40 and were heading down closer to 20 two weeks ago when we left. Yesterday they were below 10. Here. Not everywhere.

We have a few hours left to drive tomorrow. We did talk about making it home tonight and could have by dark ... if we hadn't stopped 10 times.

BB is still doing the Lysol wipe down. When I had the bus, she'd do the wipe down while I would bring up the second load of bags. We'll see what happens when we get home. Will she stop or follow people around :)

In MN, barbers re-opened the day we left. I walked in but it is appointments only. So I called today as soon as I had dropped the bus and the earliest I could get was 4:30 Thursday. So I will need to plan around that.

No word from my local dispatchers but as I tell others drivers ... if you want to work ... call them. So I will call, most likely Wednesday for Friday.