1 Bus, heading to Johnsonburg PA

... spending the night at Kingman AZ

For breakfast we had the other half of last nights food. This AM it didn't seem nearly as spicy.

I hadn't gotten my permits printed last night so this AM I went to the front desk and asked if they could print them. His 1st computer locked up and he had to re-start it. His 2nd computer had a paper jam. So I decided to try again to print it myself and it worked. The guy at the front desk was still waiting for the system to come back up when I was done printing. And people were waiting to check out.

I did check when I got my receipt. Their breakfast was same as yesterday, choice of three pastries. Left over quesadillas were better.

SCRAPE. Even with the short bus I scrape the bottom coming out of their lot. With this bus I easily could have drove around the building and out the other driveway.

We are rolling at 6:30 local. It is just getting light outside.

Somewhere in the 1st hour we could see a big boom truck along the highway ahead. Not a good sign. Today it was there to lift a semi trailer upright. Not sure what they were going to do with it after that. It was burnt down to the frame. And not sure how strong the frame would be after getting that hot. It had been a refer. Didn't see a tractor is either he got unhooked or they had already taken care of that issue.

1st stop is the rest area near Avenal. Too short between stops, we need to look at why we are doing this the way we are.

Cutting across from Lost Hills thru Wasco at one point I counted six memorials within a mile along the highway. A few of them were next to high line posts. That is a pet peeve of mine. Near where I grew up, they had to put the cross country highlines along the highway because the game reserve would not let them cross their property. Which is more important? Disturbing the wildlife once in a while or someone's life forever? Some of those today were simple crosses, others were small buildings/minor shrines.

A few of the trucks I was seeing often enough that I remember things about them. Speed limit for trucks in CA is 55 mph. I am not a truck. And a few still pass me running at 65 mph. One guy I noticed a few times. He'd pass me, then get caught in traffic so I would pass him. For them it doesn't make any difference is the speed limit for cars is 65 or 55, they still drive over the speed limit. This same guy was on his phone every time I saw him. That is thousands of dollars in fines for both him and his company. Doesn't stop people though.

We got to see a lot of orchard work today. Including some type of tractor I have never seen. Also watched them trimming the trees. Topping them off, slicing paths, chopping the trimmings. Lots of work going on.

2nd stop was for food in Tehachapi, today it is the Flying J as I was able to get my permits printed before getting this far. Meatloaf with broccoli and mashed potatoes from PJ's. They also have a Wendy's. All the tables are gone, no indoor seating and no where to sit outside. I parked up against the curb so no one would be next to us. We sat on our steps and ate. We get one order and split it. Still more than enough.

While we were here I call my dispatcher to see why he is not putting money / advances on my card. Computer is having issues. But he manages to before I get to my next stop.

Normally I don't like to deal with advances or company cards, but in this case we get perks that make it worth it. But there has to be money on the card and BB likes to take the money we get off of there within the hour when we get paid. Today I had gotten paid a safety bonus so there was money, more than enough for my 1st fuel even if he hadn't gotten money on it.

3rd stop - Barstow ??? Usually our next stop is one of the rest areas on I-40. But today I have an 80 gallon tank instead of 125 gallon so I am not going to make it to Kingman. Well, it does look like I should but I don't want to risk it. We stop at Flying J, it is not the cheapest by it is a known. Today they are working on the road and they have a flag man. I forget there are still two lanes, just not room for both directions to take turns at the same time. For a moment I get confused.

4th stop, almost not, is the rest area near Essex. Almost not because I was in the passing lane at about a block to go when I saw the exit sign. So I hit the breaks, and the guy I'm passing does too because he doesn't know why I'm stopping. But he gets past I manage to get over. Whew ...

Still finding doors that aren't latched down. I should know where they all are but really wasn't thinking too much about them. Today have all been inside.

Scale is open, but someone comes on the loudspeaker when I pull on the scale telling me I am good to go. So no time lost here. Not here.

5th and final stops are in Kingman AZ

First we stop at the TA, not sure I have been to this one before. Half the pumps are blocked, the others have lines. I debate waiting or fueling somewhere else in the AM. We wait. People that aren't fueling are blocking pumps. People that have fueled don't pull out of the way. People go in and pay, and order food (?) before pumping. Finally someone comes out and opens up all the other pumps ... doesn't do us that are in line with trucks behind us any good. The new comers grab them before any one in line gets a chance.

30 minutes to fuel, then another 15 for my post trip inspection. I was hoping for a quick fuel and both combined would be 15 minutes. This is why I don't like TA, but to be fair, every truck stop in Kingman is like this. Packed.

2nd we check in to the Best Western. Ground floor, this time closer to our bus.

3rd we call for takeout at Oysters, the Mexican place attached to the hotel. We walk over and they know who we are when we say we are picking up. But then they ask if we also ordered street tacos. No, just enchiladas. They are talking mostly Spanish but we finally figure out that they had had two orders ready for pickup. The other people got there first and took our food. So the cook had to make our food while we waited. Too long standing in doors and an somewhat packed place. Food is always good.

Looking at our way home, we will have to pick up a car in Akron on Tuesday at 8 AM. That gives me 7 hours and I have three hours of driving plus a wait at the wash that sometimes can be three hours. I could have less than an hour to spare. Hope it all goes like clock work.

Load board

US - 327

IA - 131

MN - 7

WI - 1