2 RV's to Rancho Cucamonga CA

... spending the night at Albert Lea MN

We spent the day doing the math on trips and hitting re-fresh. There were those runs that I mentioned yesterday that would all work, but I didn't want to set up anything until after noon. I had thought we might call the local dispatch but BB had stuff she wanted to get done in the AM ... and I wasn't that ready to add more work hours that I would have to wait to have drop off.

Here is what the numbers looked like today before we got work.

FRI

08:00 - 30

08:30 - 26

09:00 - 26

09:30 - 26

10:00 - 26

10:30 - 27

11:00 - 26

11:30 - 26

12:00 - 23

12:30 - 22 

01:00 - 22

01:30 - 22

I had spent some time working on the yard and BB was completely packed when I remembered that I needed to make a medical appointment on my way out of town. I can't just stop in anymore.

We weren't in a rush so I picked 3 PM, I still needed to get ready.

We were hoping that dispatch would be adding new runs so we were not in a rush to grab any of the ones that 'would work.' Finally about 1:30 I'm realizing what is on the board may be it. So I decide I want to call the bus dispatcher in NY to see if we should head that way or if she has plenty of drivers. While I am still looking up her number ...

BB comes out and starts saying what they are adding to the load board. ??? I had just looked at it a minute ago before looking for the dispatch number. That is how quick things change.

4 to Rancho Cucamonga. BB hesitates and then agrees I can call. She always wants to see what else they are going to put out to see if there is something better. She is still listing off the other new stuff they are adding as I am calling.

We get 2 no-tows. We don't even check the price of cars.

Now it is rush, not only do I have an appointment, we are leaving.

NOOOoooo. As soon as I get on the freeway the check engine light starts to flash. There are three warning lights that are always on, but flashing is something new. I don't remember every calling my mechanic from the side of the road before but We were going to put 500 miles on this thing before we get back. I call and they say bring it right in.

We have to go to the next exit to head back and the light isn't blinking, until I am heading back. They put the computer on it and it needs to be fixed, now. Or it could do major damage. So home we go to get our car and drop the van.

Someone isn't happy because they thought they could use it for the weekend. Opps. We need it.

All of this takes about 45 minutes so I will be late for my appointment. Not a big issue because when I called they said I could pick any time I wanted as they were completely open.

Because I am late, I do have to wait for others who were on time but I am in and out in about 15 minutes.

Sometime around now I realize that we will need to get permits on Monday AM. And that will delay us enough that we won't make delivery on Tuesday so we need to get that changed. Their preferred route is to go through Denver. But going through Denver means carrying chains. We will see what they say tomorrow AM. No major storms either way but I just try to avoid Denver any time of the year.

The other thing that our 45 minute delay did is ran us out of time to take a walk. We could have still done a half hour walk at the closest state park but then we would be eating late. We pass.

Our 2nd stop is the rest area just south of Lakeville.

3rd and final stop is the Comfort Inn in Albert Lea and to go food from the Skol's next door at the truck stop. I've gotten better food from there. BB got a southwestern salad, but they didn't give her southwestern dressing so that wasn't quite what she wanted. But her food was good.

So now our plan is ...

Sat - get past Kansas City

Sun - get to Dalhart TX and wait until the permit co opens Monday AM so we can get our permits before crossing the next border.

Mon - Holbrook AZ

Tues - near the drop

Not much chance we can do 500 miles before the end of THEIR day Tuesday.

Once we drop we are 6 hours from the buses I move. I will be talking to that dispatcher once or twice before I head that far out of route.

Load board

US - 160

IA - 21

MN - 2

WI - 3

Of the runs that were there last night, NY, MT and WA are all still there. A truck I had looked at out of NC is gone, but now there are two Non-CDL to CO so with BB also driving that would have paid good.

Also NC had 6 trucks to FL if we just wanted to stay south :) And two to MS, if we took those I would call the 3rd bus dispatchers. Options.