1 mixer to Dickenson ND

... spending the night in Bismarck ND

Rolling from home by 7:30. To the shipper by 9 AM. No issues so far.

But the code I have for the lock box doesn't work. The number I have is something like 8765 and the lock box has a bar with 1 through 5. Something has changed. And I go outside when I call dispatch so when I am talking to them everything isn't clicking. It clicks once I start keying the correct numbers in.

Sign on the building door here says masks and temp taken. Not sure if that was for only the employees but no one stopped me from walking in.

It's been a while since I've been down here, looks like there are still eight companies moving new units from here. Plus the location has two extra lock boxes, one is currently not being used and my other company is using two lock boxes.

Just now, 12 hours later, realized that BB could have been looking for my truck while I was trying to access the lock box for my keys. That isn't what happened. So after I have the keys, we each walk down a row of trucks and don't find anything. So we switch rows and I find it almost right away ... I had walked past the rear of it and somehow missed it the first time.

Kenworth. All checks out good.

I thought I had everything I needed in my backpack so I left my '2nd bag' in the car. Opps, soon found out I needed my tape to hold my placards on (not sure when that got moved.) So BB had to come back to the shipper, she had already left. Later I realized my cap is not in my back pack nor is my juice or water.

Did have an issue getting the hood open, I'm guessing it was just stuck. AND this thing is a stick. It's been a while. At first I was trying to use the clutch but I never did master that on any truck and didn't today either. So back to finding and grinding. Not much grinding, sometimes it was dropping right in without even rolling.

1st stop (after pickup) 100 miles to the TA in Rogers MN. Burger King is closed, that was one of the places we were going to walk to. I see a small lot and pull in and realize the sign says 'commuter parking only.' So I left even though there were other trucks parked there. I headed to the main truck lot at the TA. Their lot is about 75% reserved/reservations only and the other few spots were full. So I thought I would just go back to the Burger King lot. BUT no left turn and once I was heading the opposite direction I wanted to go there was no parking signs and no vacant lots.

I did get back to where I could have turned to go to Burger King, but then when we left I would have to go through all this again. Instead I pulled across the highway and into a Target lot. And called BB who had no idea where I had gone. She found me and we went through the drive thru with the car at Arby's. Neither Wendy's or Arby's allows counter ordering, drive thru only.

Back to the topic of the TA. The only restaurant this one has is closed due to the virus, so it was just going to be a place to park while we drove somewhere.

2nd stop, after another 100 miles. Pilot in Alexandria. I thought I would miss one of the stops BB wanted to make but this truck is thirsty. I wasn't going to make it a 3rd 100 miles to Fargo.

Opps, another thing that wasn't in my back pack. My fuel gloves. And this place doesn't even have paper dispensers. Most gas stations / truck stops do. So I was careful of what I touched after I fueled. Used one had to steer, shift, etc. And then went in and washed good. Had to get a fuel receipt inside. BB was just walking up to the store when I was.

Called the drop before I left the truckstop. My contact didn't pick up so I left a message. Hope they get it. We plan to drop before noon. But if we only make it to Jamestown that will be a 700 mile day to get home Friday.

3rd stop, after another 100 miles. Petro in Fargo. Google said they had a Popeye's Chicken but when we got there we also saw a Charley's Cheesesteak. We both ordered Cheesesteak, BB ordered chicken and I had the beef.

After waiting a half hour, which should be our total break, I noticed that they were serving numbers higher than ours. So I asked them ... 'Ah ... you didn't get your food yet.' "No, and it's been over a half hour." They said they would start it right away (as there was no food on the grill.) Soon someone walking past us said the grill wanted to talk to us. They gave us our money back. And we had our food and were done eating within 15 minutes once I talked to them. So it doesn't take long.

Then we noticed a couple of people who ordered right after us go up to the counter, it seems they had somehow forgotten / lost three orders. My back was to the grill so I don't know if they got their money back also.

Food was good, but never as good at the airport in Atlanta. I've even emailed back and forth with corp as to why that location is so much better and there shouldn't be any difference.

Rain had been coming down in buckets by the time I walked in. It wouldn't have been but it looked like rain was coming so I looked for my cap in my back pack. And during that time it started to pour. But an hour later it was all gone.

Also noticed when I pulled in that this location has fuel islands with DEF on the right side. Where it is on the buses. So I wouldn't have to back in. When I left, I stopped and took a picture and saw a company name on those islands. Soooo, I don't know if just anyone can use those islands. And I haven't found an email and don't want to call, unless I go this way with a bus.

I spent a lot of time looking at farm fields. Good crops, bad crops, last years crops. At least three different farms of 80+ acres in different areas of last years corn still in the field. Then one place just before we shut down tonight I could smell the freshly harvested corn. And there were the three combines and two grain wagons in a newly harvested field. In the last week of June ??

4th and final stop, another 100 miles. The Quality Inn in Jamestown. I had hoped to get to Bismarck but that would be another 100 miles and it has already been a 12 hour day. The EcoLodge had the best reviews and is the lowest end motel. The Comfort Inn is the high end motel but was cheaper than the Quality Inn. The Quality Inn showed it was serving hot breakfast so here we are.

And their hot breakfast is made to order, we find out once we are here. Lots of truck parking and also lots of trucks.

Load boards.

IA - 41

MN - 10

WI - 2