1 bus to Grand Junction CO
... spending the night at Mesquite NV
(the following is written almost 2 weeks later, so likely missing some details)
... first word in my notes is 'Opps.' Opps what? It's been two weeks. My guess ...
At some point this AM we realize that I may have not taken a full 10 hours off last night. Late night, early AM. BB does the math and I had 10 hours off ... and 15 minutes. That was close.
I try calling the drop but 'press 1 for bus schedule, press 2 for a missed bus, etc.' Everything I try goes to voicemail. I give up for now. At some point I will get the right info from dispatch.
1st stop was a rest area near Avenal.
2nd stop was at the CNG fuel station in Buttonwillow. As we are coming down the ramp, the bus driver we were talking to last night is heading up the ramp.
Today the fueling station is empty. So I can pick my pump and I pick the one I did not try last time. This one works. But the place fills up and the first person who try's the pump I tried last time gives up trying to get it to work and moves to a different pump. No issues for me today, but no receipt either. So I take a picture.
3rd stop was Loves and Carl's Jr for food. By stopping in Buttonwillow we do not need to stop in Tehachapi today. The Loves is a couple of blocks off the freeway and there is a guy on the shoulder of the road, with a table and a grill. Selling BBQ.
Leaving, we notice there is a new 'No Parking' sign across the road from the BBQ stand. I'm thinking he has been here before today. No takers today.
We thought we might see the other bus again today but we don't. He is heading to VA. He's been here less than a year and he's already getting the better trips. He's also moved a few electric buses. They get <> 250 miles a charge so one or two charges during the day plus overnight. But we are moving them instead of hauling them.
4th stop is the rest area near Baker.
5th stop was in Las Vegas. We had choices, but this one was the closest to the freeway. Traffic was stop and go by the time we got to downtown Vegas. Today we were noticing how many miles the city has expanded since we were here 30+ years ago.
The CNG fuel stop is empty, no other customers. We find the one CNG pump. Only a few extra inches on one side so we take the other. My card does not work, the way it responds I'm guessing it is too worn out. Then I try a 2nd card, that one is declined. So I try the pump from the other side (tying up both sides) On that one the key board does not work. So ... we try BB's card. It works.
With our credit cards, we have to call every time we are in Las Vegas. Or they will automatically decline them as stolen. We know that, but forgot.
It works up to $100 each time. Fuel here is not cheap so we had to restart the pump three times. And there was no restroom on site.
We had planned on getting past Las Vegas because the prices. We should have adjusted. Now we will be driving the last hour in the dark. 2 days in a row.
6th and final stop was the Best Western in Mesquite. Food was next door to Peggy Sue's. Really too late for much food but it's good and we need to eat. BB would have been fine with a single taco from Taco Bell tonight ... or a sandwich from the gas station.
Load board
US - 240
IA - 116
MN - 3
WI - 8