2 RV's heading west. 1 to Carson City NV, 1 to Davis (both delivered)

... spending the night in Livermore CA

We had first planned on leaving at 6:30 for our 8 AM appointment. But that would only get us there on time if everything worked like clockwork. So we had decided 6:15 last night. But this AM we were up early, two time zones difference, so we headed out at 6 AM.

Breakfast was what we had in our bags. I had a fruit loops bar that we had gotten a few weeks ago. The one I ate a couple of weeks ago was better, starting to dry out. When I left I did see that the to-go bags were sitting out but I didn't grab one, we still have a few items in our 'emergency' supplies.

Good thing I had looked at the map again last night, the road out of town is not where I had told BB it was. So we got on the right road this AM but I missed a speed limit sign so we drove 55 mph instead of 65 for the first half hour. It was still mostly dark and BB's first AM dark driving plus we had time so it was OK.

Most of the next stretch had been under construction last time we came through, clear sailing this time.

Another opps. I had looked closely as to where BB's fuel stop was this AM, there were to repair shops / junk yards and a post office next too it. Nope, those are gone and I sailed on past. BB was watching her mileage so she knew it was the correct one so she pulled in. I turned on the first street I came to after I saw she was not behind me AND saw we were up to the freeway. I ended up going through a 500+ mobile home park with few through streets.

BB was done fueling when I got back to her so as soon as she went inside and got her receipt we were ready to go.

Another seven miles and we are at her drop. It took over an hour and a half so good we left before 6:30.

Within a couple of minutes someone arrives and opens the gate so we can pull in off the street. A few minutes later someone is out doing the inspection. No damage, small RV, we are pulling away from the RV dealer before our 8 AM appointment. Good day so far.

We are not back on the highway more than a mile and we see 'Chains or snow tires required six miles ahead.' ??? I debate turning around and going up through Reno. But instead we pull into a park and ride and BB checks the CA DOT website. No restrictions.

It was an overhead sign that displayed the warning, but the official sign on the side of the road was not flashing that chains or snow tires were required. Neither was the sign four miles down the road.

It did look like the road had been plowed though. So maybe the roads had been slick in the early hours? Today I have an RV that is not much bigger than a Sprinter. I would not want to take anything bigger on this road, but we did see semi's on it. It is a US highway. But most places the road is as wide as the solid white lines and then a drop off. Or a rock wall. In some places it looks like the rock higher up are sticking out over the white line on the roadway. And it is curvy.

150 miles from Carson City to Davis CA. About 50 of it was hills and tight curves, then 50 of non-freeway and then the last 50 was all freeway/expressway.

We do go through Tahoe, saw the lake but not Nessy. Easy to pick out where the state line is, no more casino's. Google suggested a bypass but traffic was light today so no issues.

I was wondering if this road would have a fruit inspection station, it did. CA cars get a by-pass lane, out of state plates have to drive under a shed and stop. I can see by the snow that I am the 2nd vehicle today. I pull in and stop. No one at the window so I leave.

This route is a long 150 miles. BB is saying slow down as we go around the curves and I am already going the suggested speed. It is pretty up here, lots of fresh snow. But there are long stretches of no passing so a person could get quite a following.

BB paid $2.29 for fuel in Carson City, the 1st stations we see in CA have fuel for $3.39. Somewhere on the outer suburbs of Sacramento was a Sams Club. Not sure what the price of fuel was, but cars were lined up four deep waiting for each fuel island.

Usually we stop at the 49'er for fuel, but it seems to always be congested and even if the pumps are working you still have to go in to get a receipt. So today I decide to go to one of the stations a few blocks from the drop. There is only one. The other one has closed since we were here last, all signage is gone and it is fenced off. Not sure if it will re-open as a gas station or as something else.

So we pull in to the other station, Valero. I stop at the only diesel pump but then realize that the screen is not working so I have to go inside to pre-pay and back in to get a receipt when I am done. This is what I was hoping to avoid. Usually this place is packed, today as I am walking back to my RV I am the only one in the lot. As we were about ready to leave I noticed there are also Valero pumps behind the building. I knew there were contract only pumps / Pacific Pride but those are not open to the public. Now I know there are open pumps back there but I should have looked a the nozzle size. We can't fuel at the truck islands without and adaptor which we do not carry.

We are at the drop, no one ahead of us delivering, and a partially empty lot. They are low on RV's.

Same guy as usual checked us in. He has been here a while, but the guys from when we started seem to be gone. This time we drag all of our stuff into the office before BB walks down the street to get the rental car. Most times we have just stacked it in the lot until she gets back. This makes it look like we live on the road. Eight pieces of luggage plus a large case of water.

Inspection today took an hour. Clean delivery. I had thought they might find windshield damage but they did not. I couldn't see it, but I know I did get peppered a couple of times.

As soon as we are to the car, I call the west coast dispatcher. I am to call back after 3 PM. Before I can move the car, I get a call. My first thought was that was quick, but it is a dispatcher from my local company wondering if I am back in town yet. Nope. They called last time two weeks ago when I was on my way to Livermore. Same as this time.

Next is the In-N-Out Burger for lunch. This place is packed, the drive-thru is packed, cars are lined up on the street and I have to go past and make a u-turn to get in the line. Then we decided to park and order inside. Now I remember, CA now has NO inside dining. And for some reason no one wants to sit outside. They do have a dozen out door tables but for a while we are the only ones eating out in this 70 degree weather.

We each get a double double and I get a shake. I forget that BB does not like their strawberry malts so I get to eat the whole thing.

Then off to the rest of the 90 miles down to Livermore.

I miss the exit to get to our outlets, so we take the next exit and then drive past the buses before heading to walk. We get to the Livermore Outlets with an hour to walk before it is time to call back. This place is packed. The parking lot is full to the edges, we usually park in one spot. Not this time.

One of the stores had 30+ people waiting in line to get into the store. Others had 10-20 people waiting. And others had none. Too many people, we only walk around the perimeter once. Even being outside, too many people, too close.

At the usual time I call the dispatcher. Nothing for today, then he says ... 'unless you want to go to Portland.' I say "It is not one of my first choices." And he lets it go. So we are in a motel for the night.

We check into the Quality Inn in Livermore. The price is now cheaper than driving the hour down to Santa Nella.

A while later we order online and then go and pickup food from JB's. We split a sandwich and then had three cookies with ice cream. We didn't finish them all tonight.

Again, no eating inside. But this place had two tents set up outside plus their usual outdoor seating area. After dark the temps had dropped into the 50's so no longer balmy.

We had gotten the cookies and ice cream before, but couldn't remember which kind was best so we got the 'trio' again. This time I posted the flavors on Facebook for future reference.

One of the truck-stops had been offering the drivers of our company a free Thanksgiving meal but we had to sign up by last Friday, but we didn't. Now they changed the rules so we just need to print a coupon and include our driver name and info. We did do that tonight.

And while I was at the front desk getting this printed, I got talking to the guy and the front desk about business. When we came back to the motel at 6 PM, there was only one car in the lot. His. Rooms here used to be $100, $150, $200 a night during the week. Tonight it was less than $80.

They just remodeled this place last winter, just got done when Covid hit. Most of their business was business travelers coming for company meetings. -0-. That business is maybe gone forever. By 8 PM when I looked the lot had six cars. Still not much for a 30 room hotel.

Load board

US - 199

IA - 87

MN - 2

WI -0-

When I dropped in Davis this afternoon, I looked at the load board and there was another Carson City and Davis run that would work for us. And they are still there tonight. Jct City OR trips are still there from yesterday as are other CA, OR and WA orders.

And there are five orders to Hastings MN, that is about a half hour from our house.

Tomorrow we will look for someplace else to walk, where it is not so crowded. Just looked at my 'grave map' and the closest cemetery where family is buried that we have not visited is over an hours drive.