2 RV heading to Davis CA

... spending the night at Laramie WY

Breakfast, the only hot food would have been waffles. I had yogurt and a hard boiled egg.

I'm in the habit of taking the stairs out of a hotel. Today that is what I did, took the closest stairs and out the closest door. I was in the back of the building on the end ... but there was a hotel fence that joined the freeway fence so I figured I would go back through the building. Wrong, no handle on the door from the outside. So I get to walk all the way around the building to get to our RV's.

We have parked so that there would be lots of room for other big rigs but none showed up.

We pull out at 7:30.

Just before Kearney there is an archway over the freeway. Today when we pass under the archway there are bugs. Not sure what kind as they all look the same on the windshield. But it was like going through a swarm of gnats but these were the size of June bugs.

Then at Kearney I pulled off the freeway. Our plan was to stop at the rest area. I thought I had missed it, most rest area's in Nebraska are before the major town coming from the east. I called BB from the ramp, she assured me it was just ahead so back on the freeway.

1st stop Kearney rest area.

2nd stop was the Loves in North Platt for fuel and food. My range would just get me to the drop so I added another three gallons. No place good to park so I parked across the McD's parking area. BB found someplace else to park.

As long as we were stopped, we called the drop and actually talked to someone. Usually just leave a message.

Then I called for our NV permits.

When we were ready to leave we kind of got in a traffic jam, BB, me, a car and another driver from our company.

3rd stop was Ogallala at Walmart for fuel for me. $.20 a gallon cheaper here than most of the state. If I hadn't added those three gallons, I would have come in with a range less than 20 miles. Not worth it to save a few pennies.

4th stop was the rest area by Sidney. From there I call the bus dispatcher. Not good, no work. I tell him I will look elsewhere. So I call another dispatcher that has a trip to MO picking up a few miles from my drop. 'Sorry, that is part two of the trip. The 1st truck needs to be picked up in AZ.' :( This dispatcher also had had a trip from the same pickup going to within an hour of my house in MN. But it was a 'tractor' and I hadn't called first thing so it was gone within a few minutes of west coast opening time.

Now we have no way out of CA. We will see how it goes.

When we were in North Platt for lunch, BB had looked at the hotels for tonight and lots of choices so we waited. Now a lot of the rooms are gone and the price has gone up by $50. If we push past Laramie the price is $100 more. If we stay in Cheyenne, it is a long push to Wendover. So BB makes a reservation for Larmaie and Wendover. Wendover is already $25 more than usual.

When we get close to the WY Port of Entry, traffic is one lane ... and then at a dead stop. We sat 20 minutes without moving. During that time, BB calls me and says we ordered our permits for the wrong day. I call when we get to the POE and re-order, not sure who picks up that cost. Likely us.

5th stop - POE near Burns. Someone was having a worse day than us. At the POE there was a transporter, tow pickup with a fifth-wheel that was being towed by a tow truck. That MAY have been the cause of the delay. But now there are two cops doing an inspection on the unit. Not the POE people, these two were from the highway departement.

One of our drivers parked beside us at the POE. He was heading to Sacramento and from there to Seattle. Two other RV's were just ahead of us, one didn't need a permit and with everything else going on I didn't see the other driver.

6th and final stop is Laramie. 1st for food at the Exxon. Papa Johns' didn't have the pizza's we wanted ready so it was about a 15 minute wait. Then to the hotel. Comfort Inn. For there not being any rooms, the parking lot is empty.

Load board

US - 429

IA - 133

MN - 6

WI - 14

BB lost her cruise yesterday and it never came back, so she can not go on auto pilot this trip.

It's late, more tomorrow.