2 RVs, heading to Reno NV

... spending the night at Kearney NE

Alarm went off at 6 AM. Breakfast was a bag lunch so we stopped to grab it after we had our van running and ate on the road. Lots of frost on the van this AM. And on the trees, everywhere. But it came off easy as the temps were not too cold.

We get to our lot/office about 8 AM, there is already a line waiting for paperwork. This is the most people we have seen at one time in quite a while. Sounds like last Wednesday afternoon the shipper brought over 70 RV's. And we saw them bringing over more while we did our inspections.

We had no issues, but it still takes our usual hour to check things out and be ready.

I did talk to one driver at the lot, he was towing and his pickup had a TX plate and he said he was taking one to TX ... and was glad to be leaving (the snow)

Talked to another driver we've seen before at the gas station, she was heading to FL. Also saw what looked to be a grandpa / granddaughter running together. Grandma was at the lot until they were ready to go.

1st stop was the Pilot in Clear Lake for fuel.

2nd stop was the QT / Quick Trip in Des Moines for Burger King. They don't have much for truck parking but we found room in the car lot. We ended up opening the back of the RV to use as a wind break when eating. Above freezing by lunch so eating outside wasn't too bad. And the fog lifted about noon so the rest of the day was much better driving. This AM it was about a half mile visability.

3rd stop was Adair for a rest break. Somewhere along here that was a Casey's that was closed, signs gone and work being done on the building. Now the sign is back up. It just says Casey's in Wendy's style writing. The 'General Store' in yellow is gone from the sign.

4th stop is Gretna NE at another QT for fuel. We are way earlier that we had thought so plans are changing as far as how far we will run tonight.

5th stop is York at a rest area. We had planned on trying to get as far as York by dark if we could. It is 4 PM. It won't be dark for another hour. So we make a reservation in Kearney and keep going.

6th and final stop is the Comfort Inn in Kearney. We could have stopped in Grand Island at the Quality Inn and had Arbey's. But this is a nice motel, further down the road, and has better food near by.

Food was going to be the burger and shake place next door. But they are closed on Monday. So we order from Joy's Table. Italian. It was good food too.

The way the office does the paperwork, is that they do it when they get the RV. That is also when they decide the fuel pay based on fuel that day. Fuel has gone up in the weeks this RV has been sitting there so BB is getting more for fuel than I and is getting better mileage.

It is the 1st of the year so we get some new paperwork from the office. Our plate stickers are expired, but that is normal. But we did get our new IFTA stickers for our placards. The office gives us magnets placards but I don't like the magnets because it could effect my computer. So I had my own placards made and used Scotch tape to put the IFTA stickers on in case I had to go back to the magnets. No issues last year so this year I try to take the Scotch tape off the placards. It is stuck. I'll have to deal with that when I get home, until they I will improvise.

Wind in WY. It was supposed to be bad today and then again tomorrow. Someone posted a picture of a new travel trailer that rolled there this AM.

Our plan is to get going as usual, but the forecast is still for high winds. The highway department just doesn't issue advisories / closures this far ahead.

IF we can keep going, we will be in Rawlins Tuesday night and Elko Wednesday night. Otherwise ???

Just checked my info, we ran I-80 14 times last year and we only worked eight months. So some trips there just isn't anything new.

Load board

US - 416 (this is the first time I have seen it over 400)

IA - 167

MN - 3

WI -15

So IA is up 30 again. And some good runs. But we are already gone.

If there wasn't a bus this time I was looking at the other trips on the load board. There is one in Yreka. It would be 250 miles on non-freeway through the mountains in the winter to get to it. Then the 1st 300 back would also be on non-freeway. Not sure how you would get there, there is not a rental car agent in town. The truck has a wood chipper behind it, so you can't tow your car.

Plus you would need to carry chains to get over the passes. And pay is $300 before you subtract motels, transportation, chains. I think that one is going to sit there for a while.