1 RV to Huntley IL (delivered)

1 pickup to Shakopee (Thursday)

... spending the night at Duluth MN

Up before the alarm, by a few minutes.

Breakfast at 7:30. Yogurt looked better than eggs and sausage this AM.

Checked out at 8 AM and then called the 'new' dispatcher to ask the same question I asked yesterday. And I got the same answer, he would need to find out. While I was on the phone, he found out the ones I wanted were gone, from WI to MN.

But he did tell me there were more than what was showing online so I told him I would call him back later.

1st stop was in Huntley for fuel. I came in on fumes, even a little less than I would like. As soon as I start the pump, I look at my phone to see what that dispatcher had emailed me ... Opps !!! Glancing down was enough so that I put in more fuel than I needed, the extra comes out of my pocket. So I could have just as well put in more fuel originally and not run it down to fumes. :(

But I still spent less on fuel than BB did on this same exact trip two weeks ago.

2nd stop is a couple of blocks away. The drop. I bring my paperwork in to the office and go back out to take my stuff out of the RV. Someone comes by and asks where the paperwork is ... they leave and never come back. After a while I go into the office to see what is going on and that was it. They had 'inspected' it when they were out. My paper work is signed and I am ready to go.

3rd stop is the Oasis in Belvidere. BB uses the restroom and I call local dispatch. After thanking me for 18 years of service, they ask when I can work. I tell them where I am ... they had a semi in MLW yesterday. 'Opps' I say, but I'm glad I missed it.

4th stop is a Kwik Trip in Wisconsin Dells for fuel. Fuel is $.15 more than last week, more in line with the other stations around. While there I noticed the car on the other side of the pump was just using the spot for a parking spot. A pull through spot so they don't need to back out of the real parking spots.

And while stopped, I call 'new' dispatcher and ask for a Hill City trip. There was also a Park Rapids and a few Theif River Falls trips. By now I have talked to this dispatcher to understand what is going on. He seems to be a hybrid. At some locations, everything goes on the load board. At others, nothing goes on the load board. Here some does, some doesn't. And some is driveaway and other trips get hauled.

5th stop was in Mauston for a sandwich at the Log Cabin. We looked at all of the salads and soups and asked about them, but we ended up getting just the sandwiches.

... and another opps. I had eaten there before so I really didn't look at the menu ... and forgot to have them leave off the spicy sauce. I was able to eat it but it really ruins a good sandwich.

I had decided I would give him a couple of hours before calling him back. And we had decided to head to Duluth even if the trip fell through :)

About 15 minutes before I was going to call him, he called me. But it would still be most of another hour before I get the BL.

6th stop is Bloomer at a Kwik Trip for the restroom

And a few miles later there was a rest area. I couldn't remember if the rest area's were just south of Rice Lake or just south of Wausau and BB wasn't willing to wait.

7th stop was in Minong. In front of the 'temporarily closed' restaurant that the name had been removed from. I had finally gotten the BL and could call the pick up location. He didn't answer but called back before I was off the lot.

8th and final stop was the Comfort Inn in Duluth. Lake front. A little more pricy than last night, but the one in town was the same price. $250 was the cash price but we were using rewards points.

It was still early so we went for a walk on the board walk and out to the light house.

Then we called to order food from Grandma's across the street. Sorry, no take out and the deck is closed. Inside seating only. :( That is one of the big pluses for staying here.

By now we wanted Grandma's food so we called another location and they were doing takeout. So we ordered from them ... but they didn't have what BB wanted so she had to switch her order. They did have what I wanted. The food was to be ready by the time we could get there.

15 minutes to go 5 miles through Duluth. I don't think I have every been up by the Miller Hill Mall before. I don't know what it used to have but now the only anchor is Penny's. And between Penny's and Grandma's is the last remaining Bridgemans Ice Cream shop. But we didn't stop today. Maybe next summer on our trip through.

Lots of good views of the lake and the city from up on the hill.

After I was done eating I had to get my BL's (Bills of Lading) printed out. I had forgotten my jump drive so I had to log on to the hotel computer. When I did, I clicked for the computer NOT to remember me. But after I printed my stuff and logged out, I started the first letter of my account name and it filled in the rest ... Not sure how long it will hold on it it as I tried other letters and no names came up.

It is an old account that I now mainly use for printing at hotels. I had started a new account for that but the domain dropped my account for lack of use. This account I have had for 10 years and rarely use it so I don't think it is going anywhere.

Load board

US - 202

IA - 71/67

MN - 15

WI - 10

We will have about 1-1/2 hours to get to the pickup location and then another 200 miles to the drop. Pickup and drop are both within a mile of Hwy 169. Easy trip.

There are another six of these trips going to Shakopee on the load board and my guess is that is about half of the trips from MN to Shakopee. There is also a place in IA that he deals with that might work for us. We'll see how this one goes, we might do these instead of the RV trips that are a little longer.