2 RV's to CA. 1 to Manteca, 1 to Gilroy

... spending the night in York NE

No alarm this AM. Out of the house a little after 8 AM (not rushing it today)

Before we left we made hotel reservations for the next two nights. We usually either make the reservation from our last stop of the day or from the hotel parking lot. But when BB looked, our usual hotel in Lincoln was already sold out and hotels in Omaha were expensive.

1st stop was at a rest area near Owattona.

2nd stop was the lot to pick up our RV's. Two other people picking up. The lot is down from 200+ to still over 100. And there are still RV's in the employee lot that they haven't moved to our lot. And lots and lots of partially done ones sitting by their buildings. Easily another 100 there.

When I go to find my RV, a bird flies away and sits on the fence a few feet away ... I wonder if I am transporting something? Like a nest? I don't have a latter on this RV or I might have looked up there. Didn't think of climbing up on a nearby RV.

Small RV's so it took us under an hour. Talked to one other driver, he was heading to OKC this week. Last week he went to CO and was in shorts one day and it was snowing the next.

We both have enough fuel to get to Williams so we bypass or stop in Clear Lake this trip. Just before we get to Clear Lake a pickup pulling a trailer pulls out in front of me. A minute or two after, I see something the size and shape of a cell phone sliding across the road to the shoulder. I never caught up to them or I would have tried to get their attention.

3rd stop is for fuel and food in Williams at the Flying J. As we come down the exit ramp we see someone is working on their huge sign by the freeway. I found it interesting so as soon as I was stopped at the pump I walked to where I could take a picture. Then another picture after I had starting fueling.

Then as I am watching ... opps. The part of the sign they are lifting off the top of the pole drops about 20 feet back onto the poll but not in the same way it came off. Parts go flying. There were people in the air on another lift and on the ground with ropes to guide it but it didn't look like anyone got hit. We were there another half hour eating and they hadn't made any more progress.

We fuel 1st and then order Subway. Nice day to eat standing by our RV's.

We see another transporter, he has just picked up a tow truck in New Hampton IA heading to CO. Talked to him a little and he has moved the 'roll off' trucks we used to move out of IN. And they are moving the trash trucks from QC to CA that we used to move. But because of Covid, they are now picking them up in NY. This driver is done with those trucks. Too much pain from getting bounced around. I took a picture of his placard so I could add it to my list of companies.

Before we leave the station I call for our NV permits. We will need them 1st thing Monday AM.

No stop in Ankeny. So we saved one stop by bypassing Clear Lake.

Somewhere today we meet and IndyGo bus. Indianapolis. I have looked now and I-80 is shorter, if you exit the freeway at Lincoln and take non-freeway most of the rest of the way. 100's of miles. It is 80 miles more to take I-40 / I-44. But I thought I saw this bus in IA, if so, that route is 20 miles further than taking I-40.

And in Iowa we passed a trash truck. No plate, no placards. I followed him for a ways and every time he went over a bridge he hit the breaks. And it wasn't even a cab over. He is in for a rude awakening with a cabover.

4th stop is the rest area near Adair.

5th stop is the QT / Quick Trip near Gretna. I see two open pumps and as I am pulling in, someone comes from the other direction. But he isn't lining up for the pump and the tank is on his other side. ??? Then he swings out so I can get to the pump but he cuts in so BB can't pull in behind me. He never does fuel. All the pumps are full and he pulled in to talk to someone who was fueling.

When we went to leave it was a zoo. The traffic light was only letting a few cars through and it would change. We will likely find somewhere else to stop. This place had been cheaper at one time and it is a nice big store and big lot. Tonight was Friday night, we might give it another chance.

A few miles before our hotel, I pass a truck that is going about 55 mph, we run at 65 mph. When BB catches up to him she tries to pass and he speeds up. I don't know that he has sped up but I see that she isn't passing him so I speed up to give her more room. Then he is right on my bumper so I slow down, by then BB has slowed to pull in behind him. Somehow during all this the truck throws a rock. Nice big chip in BB's window. :(

Then in a few miles we follow him off at our exit.

6th and final stop is the Comfort Inn in York and the Taco Bell next door.

At the Taco Bell the staff was all wearing masks, but we were the only customers with masks on. This location still does not allow in door seating. Not sure if that is this store or this state.

As soon as had stopped our RV's I call the bus dispatcher ... 'it doesn't look good for next week, but call.'

There had been a truck from CA to FL but that one is gone. We will see. We have time to spend a few days in CA but I wouldn't want to spend the weekend unless he is paying.

Loadboard

US - 399

IA - 133

MN - 9

WI - 14

500 more miles tomorrow. Hotel is already reserved.