No Drama To Report

Let's see, Sunday afternoon we unhooked Joe's trucks in West Valley, Utah. He would go back Monday morning to complete his delivery. This Sacramento to West Valley trip is finally over.

Yesterday we drove north to Ogden, Utah to get two trucks for Joe going to Fargo, North Dakota.

These trucks gave us a little pause. They have THREE rear axles, the frame is extra long, and the fifth wheel is up at the front axle instead of between the two rear axles. We were concerned the frames would be too long and the fenders of the extra front axle would get damaged by our trailer.

Progress on this trip, the final one before we can go home, seems slow. It has taken all morning and part of this afternoon to go 300 miles. Just seems like it is taking forever to make the miles go past.



-- Post From My iPhone

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs - Not The 70's Song

We left Bakersfield, California yesterday morning to finish our deadhead to Sacramento and the last two trucks from JDJ Trucking going to West Valley, UT.

We stopped for lunch at Pea Soup Andersen's then arriving at JDJ Trucking at 5 pm (3 local).

Neither Joe nor I followed through with tying the seatbelt securely to the steering wheel of the back truck. Thank God there was no real damage done. A sign got knocked over.

An off duty Nevada Highway Patrolman pulled in behind us. Joe walked back to see the damage, found none on the truck and the street sign down. The patrolman displayed his badge and gruffly told Joe that either Joe was going to call 9-1-1 or he was going to make the call.

There followed a very demanding and acusatory conversation, by the Nevada patrolman, informing Joe that he had been driving in such a manner as to be dangerous. Joe watched and listened to the patrolman, when he had wound down in his diatribe and saw that Joe was not cowering in fear the rant stopped for a moment.

Joe walked to the downed sign, picked it up and put it backwards in the hole it came out of. Once the sign was again upright he came back up to our trucks, still on the phone with a 9-1-1 operator.

I high tailed it to the back truck and got the steering wheel firmly secured.

By this time the Nevada patrolman decided he had not made a big enough impression on Joe so his shoulder holster with gun were now on full display.

Two local officers appeared. One stopped in front of our trucks and the other stopped behind the Nevada patrolman's pickup. The three officers were gathered together near the sign, the Nevada patrolman gesticulating and holding forth declaring his importance in this matter. Joe thought his presence was needed so he went back to join the group.

Some minutes later the local officers decided the Highway Patrol was needed and one was called.

One of the local officers inspected our trucks for damage, went to the sign and turned it the right way around. Finished with these duties he then went back to the group that now included a Highway Patrolman on motorcycle.

Joe went back to find out what fate would be decided on him.

A few minutes later the Nevada patrolman, along with his glowering wife, drove off. Must not have gone in their favor.

I anticipated Joe would return with a ticket for an insecure load that would cost a whole lot of money.

It seems the Nevada patrolman, with all of his officious behaviour - declaring his Police Officer status and saying "Officer Jones, or Officer Simpson (whatever their names were on their tags) got so overbearing the California Highway Patrolman told the Nevada patrolman he could leave the scene and they would handle it. The California officers all agreed since there was no damage done we could leave without incident.

We went to the 49er Truckstop in Sacramento for Joe's Nevada permit and we got out of town.

Tonight's stopping place was back to the Western Village Inn at Sparks, Nevada with no further incidents or police intervention.

It is well and truly time to get home and off the roads. The signs all indicate this.
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- Post From My iPhone

Napping Can Be Dangerous

Tuesday afternoon, October 21st, Joe and I were so tired we took a nap after all our errands were done. We were still at the Rodeway Inn at Ontario/Fontana, California.

I was wakened by four loud thumps. I thought someone was knocking on our door. After I turned on the lights and looked around Joe was, groaning painfully, trying to get up off the floor.

"What the hell happened?" I asked. His response was "I fell out of bed. Please get the First Aid Kit."

I did not immediately laugh. I at least waited until I had him bandaged and asked what caused him to fall out of bed.

The chest bruise is from hitting the corner of the nightstand. The knee abrasion is from landing on the carpeted floor when he fell.

It seems he was dreaming about being back in High School and on the football team. Some kid told him he was going to knock Joe down. Twice the kid came at Joe and didn't budge him. In Joe's dream the kid bounced off him and landed on the ground both times.

The kid must have pulled a fast one and knocked Joe down anyway.





-- Post From My iPhone

Foolishness And Mayhem Is The Order Of The Day

We went to Big Rigs Truck Sales in Fontana, California yesterday to get four bank repo trucks and take them to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Taylor/Martin Auctions. Two Volvos and two Freightliners. These four trucks were not quite junk but wouldn't take much longer to make them junk.

My truck, a Freightliner, was dead. It was being charged while we did all of our regular write up and hook up stuff for the back trucks. There was extra work involved in getting the back trucks done because they were in such bad shape.

It took us four hours to get our work done. Then we got to wait another 30 minutes to find out where the Nevada Permit Office had faxed our permits. We got them later in Barstow, California at the Flying J.

The Santa Anna winds were blowing so hard we had to stop twice to take care of the air fairings of the back trucks to keep them from being blown off.

When we got to the Cajon Weigh Station we found it was open. Joe went over the scales first and was told to park and go to the office. I got the green light that all was well but went and parked next to Joe. Joe spent almost 40 minutes inside listening to the scale guy tell him our set up is illegal "all over in California" when we know different. We were in Sacramento the week before and he went over the scales and was given the green light that all was good.

The scale guy held Joe's driver license until he could get the weight right on the back axle. One and a half hours later, two adjustments, and two backwards drives to get to the scale to reweigh Joe got his license back and we left.

Barstow was the fuel stop for us and a place to get our Nevada Permits faxed. Craziness ran rampant at the Flying J. People with cameras were taking pictures of all the trucks in the fuel islands. There was a driver in our lane that was posing for the cameras and chatting, holding up another driver and us to get fuel. This nonsense went on for 20 minutes. Finally the people got back on the bus to their next adventure and left, cameras and all.

We parked after fueling and went into the restaurant. Before we finished eating a decision was reached. Get a room in Barstow and call it a day. We stayed at the Days Inn, formerly the Red Roof Inn. To get up early and finish the last 70 miles in the morning.

Up at 6:30 our time - 4:30 local - we were checked out and on the road at 7:30. Breakfast was at Whiskey Pete's in Primm, Nevada at 9:00 our time.

At 11:30 our time (9:30) we arrived at the delivery site, only after faulty directions from the delivery site people three times, and began our unhooking. Done and out of there in two hours.

Now we are deadheading nearly 600 miles to Sacramento, California for the last two trucks going to Salt Lake City, UT.

We have been gone for a month and a half with little down time. If there were a "Grumpy Meter" on me - anyone checking it would see it has gone into the Red Zone. I am way past Grumpy and Edgy.

I WANT TO GO HOME!!





-- Post From My iPhone

Nevada Highway Patrol Crackdown and A Train Wreck

Yesterday, October 21, we left Mesquite, Nevada for Fontana, California to deliver our trucks.

We got about 15 miles out of town when I got pulled over by the Highway Patrol. Had my permit with me this time for this trip. While I waited 30 minutes beside the road, for whatever checks the police do, Joe was stopped ahead of me waiting for me to tell him when we could go again.

Once I was released the patrolman passed me and quickly turned his lights on. I thought he was stopping Joe but he stopped an oversized load instead. The Nevada Highway Patrol are making quite a presence on the highways.

We got into Fontana in the afternoon and delivered our trucks to the Volvo dealership yard. Afterwards we had to go to the Volvo office and see if a guy we worked with was still there. He used to be the representative we dealt with at Freightliner years ago. He was still at Volvo but in a different capacity and loving his job.

Later in the evening we drive 45 miles to Garden Grove to see our California daughter for a while after she got off work. We had a great visit. It is good to see our kids face to face. We text them or talk on the phone but face to face is the best.

Getting back to the hotel - midnight our time - we got to the corner of Milliken and Gausti between the two T/A Truckstops and saw a tow truck, police lights flashing, a huge gathering of people, and a train vs semi wreck.

A Martin Trucking Company trainee had stopped on the railroad tracks. The trailer was cut in half, boxes were strewn all over the ground and the train was stopped. The train engine was about half a mile further from the wreck when it got stopped. Joe and I went to look at the train engine. Pieces of the trailer were embedded in the front of the train engine and its windshield was shattered. More boxes of freight had been carried all the way up with the train and lay around like offerings. Lunchables had exploded out of their boxes.

Homeless people were the nights scavangers. Scurrying around and picking up as many of the unopened cases of Lunchables as they could carry. A feast was before them.

Woe to the Martin Transportation trainer who was in charge of the trainee. I wonder if either one will still have a job after this.

The train's Engineer and Conductor had clocked in only an hour previous to the wreck. They would be going back home as soon as the clearing crew showed up.

This morning you would never have known there had been an incident. No debris, train gone, not a piece of trailer or glass left to hint at last nights events.

Laundry today, replacment of a tail light bulb on our pickup, FedEx papers and logs to dispatch offices, a trip to the post office to send off money to Oregon for Joe's ticket last week, take a look at the trashed trucks we get to take to Las Vegas tomorrow, and a much needed nap were what we did today.



-- Post From My iPhone

Virgin River Hotel & Casino - Mesquite, Nevada

On this trip to Fontana, California we are getting off I-70 in Utah and taking I-15 into California.

One of the stops we make on this route, since 1991, is the Virgin River Hotel and Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. When we first started coming here the Virgin River was just a small building with slot machines and a cafe. The only large casino north of Las Vegas on I-15 was the Peppermill at that time.

Over the years the Virgin River has grown and was a competing casino for the Peppermill. In about 1993 or 1994 the Peppermill got a name change and became the Oasis.

In about 1995 Merv Griffin built a huge casino complex called Players Island.

Through all these changes we stayed at the Virgin River every time we came through. We visited the other casinos to check them out, but we always stayed at Virgin River.

Over the last few years more changes have been made. A truckstop across the street from the Virgin River, a big parking lot for large vehicles across the street from the Oasis. Players Island was changed to Casa Blanca in about 2000.

Now the Black brothers, who had the original little building with slot machines, own the Virgin River, Oasis, and Casa Blanca.

Yesterday I called and made reservations for tonight at Virgin River. When we arrived in town the truckstop parking lot has been closed off and we didn't know where we were going to park. I called the Virgin River back and asked where the truck parking was. I was told it now is across from the Oasis. I got our reservations changed to the Oasis.

Trying to get into the parking lot was ridiculous. The median barriers block the lot entrance. We had to make a U-turn to get into the lot. Joe called the Oasis and asked if bobtails could park at the Oasis parking lot near the hotel rooms and he was told we could.

We went over in the bobtail, got checked in, played some Blackjack, went to the Paradise Buffet for dinner, played some more Blackjack and then decided to go to our room. On the way to the bobtail we found a note on the driver side window stating we could not park in the hotel lot.

Now for my rant!!! Our money is just as good as the people with cars. The Black brothers could provide some kind of shuttle service for us truck drivers since we are virtually trapped with these trucks and have to schlepp a bunch of bags and suitcases which are rather cumbersome to our room.

The Western Village Hotel and Casino in Sparks, Nevada provides a free shuttle to their hotel from the truckstops for the truck drivers. So, Mr. Black, WTF - we truck drivers aren't worth your time?

You can be sure that ALL of our friends and other truck drivers we know will be told to STEER CLEAR of Mesquite, Nevada. Take your money where it will be appreciated.



-- Post From My iPhone

Volvo Rumors and I-70 Over Vail Pass

Let me see...my last post was about our trucks from Sacramento, California going to Salt Lake City, Utah.

We delivered those trucks on Wednesday morning and started our deadhead to Commerce City, Colorado - Denver area.

We got to the Volvo Dealership Friday morning about 11. These are brand new trucks. The batteries were all dead. The computers in these trucks suck the life out of batteries while they sit turned off.

The rumor we had heard was this: Jump starting a 2006 and newer Volvo blows the headlights out. This seems questionable and, frankly, unbelievable with all the advances made toward the efficiency of these newer vehicles. It is not cost effective to pay $700 for headlights or worry about a wiring flare because the batteries need to be jumped.

At the Volvo Dealership I asked if this rumor was true or not. It is, in fact, true. Three of the four trucks have blown headlights after the dealership people jump started the trucks. We even had to have one of the trucks traded out and left behind because of a massive coolant leak that masked a big engine oil leak. These are brand new trucks. What the heck is up with that?????

I have to clarify blown headlights. They did not explode and fling glass everywhere or hurl shrapnel. The lights just don't work and won't until a mechanic does their mojo on them. Probably a 10 minute job at a cost of $700 to the truck owner. Bend Over.

Yesterday we putzed around with these trucks for about six hours. Taking them across the street to put fuel in them so they can idle for four hours while we slowly get our work done. We didn't shut them off until about 6pm. Fingers crossed they would restart this morning.

Thankfully, they started this morning and we were able to get this run started. These trucks are going to a Volvo Dealership in Fontana, California.

Leaving Denver we took I-70 west and up in the mountains. The Eisenhouer Tunnel I was really worried about going down that mountain. With an engine brake it was not really bad. A little scarey at times but all in all it was not a bad trip down the mountain.

So, our day has ended in Green River, Utah at the Super 8.



-- Post From My iPhone

California Highway Patrol and Nevada Highway Patrol

What a day!!!

The place we picked up trucks today, in Sacramento, had the California license plates on them and the trucks had not been de- identified - meaning the trucking company's name and DOT numbers were still on the trucks.

The man we got the trucks from was nice with Joe and quite testy with me. He was really irked about the agreement he had reached with the buyer and got after me a couple times. I barely said four words to him.

Leaving the pick up location and on I-80 the Sacramento Weigh Station was open. Joe got all the green lights and headed for the highway. I got the inspection light and had to go to the back of the scale house where I got to sit for an hour while the Highway Patrol tried to see if my boom was legal in their state.

I had got Joe stopped before he got too far away - a half mile - and called him to come back and explain the boom set up and why it was, in fact, legal. Some guy, not an officer, climbed all over my boom. Peering down the boom structure, looking into the tubing, turning and twisting everything that moved, pounded on the chains and safety chains, handling the hydraulic cylinder and just picking the whole thing apart to the Highway Patrolman. This got the CHP guy all excited and he called his boss to come in.

After an hour of Joe telling them the guy was not correct the CHP boss wanted a chain attached to both rear frame members then we could leave.

Joe had walked to his truck and back to mine three times, one of those times dragging a 40 pound chain. We finally left California and no tickets.

Into Nevada we went to Boomtown and the truckstop to buy permits. The truckstop is gone - Cabela's bought the property. No permits. We have to go to Sparks and the T/A now.

Joe got pulled over by the Nevada Highway Patrol, I pulled over behind the patrolman. These trucks with the California plates and the trucking company's name and DOT numbers got us ticketed and we were cited for not having permits for Nevada.

This time two and a half hours later, at roadside, we were allowed to go as long as we promised we would get permits yet tonight.

At the T/A in Sparks, Nevada we find they no longer do permits - Sierra Syd's Casino does them at the cashier cage. We had to call ComData to get the permits, cost $184.95.

What a day!!!

We have parked in the T/A parking lot and got a hotel room at Western Village Hotel and Casino for the night.


-- Post From My iPhone

Walmart - Citrus Heights, California

Yes, I know - it doesn't take much to entertain an idiot. I could not believe what I was seeing and had to take pictures of it.

At Walmart in Citrus Heights they have two floors. The automotive is upstairs, fabrics and housewares are upstairs also. When we first walked in I thought "How do we get upstairs?". Joe found the answer. There is an escalator that takes the shopping carts up along with a regular escalator for you to go up and down.

Can you believe it????

Ya, and can you dig it? Joe with his socks on. It was not cold enough for pants and jackets but it was cool enough to make bare toes so chilly they loose feeling in them.

Pea Soup Andersen's - Santa Nella, CA

Pea Soup Andersen's specialty is....Pea Soup. They sell packets of dried peas you can purchase to make the soup at home. They have a cheese tasting area, since pea soup is not all they sell. You can purchase local wines to go with Pea Soup Andersen's cheeses they sell.

The man pictured is the first wait person we met a few years ago on our first trip here. Joe and I debated who he reminded us of, then we hit on it. Raul Julia is who he resembles. When we spoke with him at our first trip we found out he has worked for Pea Soup Andersen's for over 15 years. He is in charge of all the new hires in training, and having worked there for so long there are many of his family and extended family who have started out in the dining room and moved on to other areas at Pea Soup Andersen's - some going into management positions.

If you don't like pea soup they have all kinds of other food items you may find you like better.

This is a touristy place. When you first walk in you are confronted with things such as wind chimes and dolls, as well as, all the various things to keep the kids entertained during long trips. And of course, snack foods of all kinds.

10 Trucks In Three Days To Port In Everett

Wednesday, October 8th, we delivered our trucks to Cascadia International in Tacoma, Washington. The dealership shop lot was crammed and jammed full when we arrived. There was a lot of maneuvering being done to get to the "undecking" area before we could begin the unhooking process.

Once finished we drove about 15 miles to Interstate Distributors where six of the ten trucks were. The Port of Everett, Washington was about 68 miles away so we decided to take three of the trucks and come back for the other three the next day.

We got to the Everett Port at 2:30 pm local time and got unhooked and signed out by 4 pm. This is a quiet port. There was no long line, like Baltimore, and we had plenty of space to work in.

We spent the night at Days Inn of Tacoma then went back to Interstate Distributors for the last set of three trucks. We got to the Everett Port at 12:30 local time and had to wait - lunch from 1130 am to 1 pm. While waiting we took everything off that was not necessary to drive around the port: Fairing boards and straps, brake fitting attachment, the straps on the rear wheels of the pickup. We left the lightbar on for signals and braking. Once lunch was over we got in and out, making our delivery and getting on the road to Troutdale, Oregon and the Travelodge. The Travelodge incates they have truck parking - across the street at Walmart.

Friday, October 10th, we got our trucks from Interstate Distributors and went back up north on I-5 to the Everett Port. We delivered at 3 pm. All 10 trucks are now delivered.

Friday night we stayed at King Oscar Motel in Tacoma, Washington. Today we are heading for Sacramento where we have been told to be for Monday morning. We don't know what work is next. It will either be 10 trucks in Sacramento, California going to Salt Lake City, Utah or 12 trucks in Fontana, California going to Las Vegas, Nevada.
-- Post From My iPhone

Phoenix to Tacoma

Saturday, October 4th, we deadheaded from Yuma, AZ to Phoenix and checked in at the Extended Stay Motel. A short visit with our daughter and son in law that afternoon and evening was fun. We took them to Benihana for the dinner show. There were eight at our "table" - two other couples and our group of four.

What a treat. Our daughter and son in law had not had the entire grill show and I enjoyed sharing this with my husband and children. Of course, I had the video camera to document the chef's antics.

After dinner we went back to their place for a game of Skipbo. Joe had not played this card game before and we all had fun keeping him somewhat within the rules. At midnight, our time 10 local, we bid goodnight with hugs and kisses then left for the hotel.

Sunday morning, October 5th, we got our trucks hooked up and left Phoenix.

I-10 west all the way past Ontario, California and north on California 57 where we picked up I-210 west to pick up I-5 and head north to the Grapevine. Sunday night we stayed at the Best Rest Inn at Frasier Park/Lebec, California. We got into the room at 12:30 our time, 10:30 local. I was beat.

Monday morning, October 6th, we left Lebec and went downhill - 3,000 feet - the backside of the Grapevine.

In Santa Nella, California we stopped at Pea Soup Andersen's for food and pea soup. Joe can't quite decide if he likes pea soup or not. He still hasn't decided after a huge bowl if the soup. Crazy guy. He got so excited in Oklahoma before we left home heading to Laredo. "Pea Soup Andersen's, here we come" he exuberently called out. Not sure what to think about him at times.

Our day ended at 1:30 am our time, 11:30 local in Yreka, California at the Super 8. By the time we got there I was drop down tired. That was the loooongest 538 mile day I've had in a long time.

This morning, October 7th, we left Yreka and are on the final 487 miles to Tacoma, Washington. Our plans to be there this evening have vanished. We were doing good until Joe got pulled over at the Ashland Weigh Station in Ashland, Oregon. He got a ticket for overweight on an axle. $833.00 and over an hour making adjustments to his hookup. During the adjustment process I lost my Jawbone wireless earpiece somewhere. Only found out after we were 40 miles past the scale. Now I have to buy another one. This trip is going to eat our lunch.

-- Post From My iPhone

Laundry Day

Well, since my last entry we have made progress - steady by jerks.

Wednesday, October 1st, we got loaded in Laredo, Texas and fueled. Heading down the road on I-35 to connect with US 83 and off to Del Rio, Texas and the La Quinta where we spent the night. In our Corporate Lodging book there is a "Yes" under the heading of "Truck Parking". The truck parking is at the curb, where ever you can find it, around the hotel. We had to "Firetruck", Joe's expression, the trucks around the building. This entails Joe driving the truck while I am in the back truck and turning the steering wheel to keep the back truck next to the curb. There was not enough room around the driveway to do this any other way. The open mouthed stares I get while I'm in the back truck at the steering wheel while he is driving is unnerving at best. Oh well, we get the job done and the trucks parked safely, and heading in the correct direction to get out of this tiny space. Bobtail trucks or dump trucks would have no problem in this parking lot.

Leaving the La Quinta Thursday morning we got on US 90 out of Del Rio and headed for Van Horn, Texas where we connected with I-10. Taking I-10 the rest of the way across Texas and into New Mexico where we had to buy a permit at the Weigh Station for New Mexico and continue on I-10 into Arizona where we did not have to buy Arizona permits this time since we had Transporter Plates for Arizona.

We got a call from our dispatch office asking if we could pick up trucks on Saturday. We called Vehicare in Phoenix to see if we could, in fact, pick up on Saturday. No. Plans will have to be adjusted. So much for a good long weekend for rest and laundry.

Thursday night we stayed at the Days Inn in Willcox, Arizona. Adjacent to the hotel is a Safeway grocery store. We stocked up on Tylenol Sinus and more Dial bath soap, along with other items we needed - like batteries for the little two way radios we use. The temperature changes and climate changes wreck havoc with our sinuses and we have to keep the Tylenol Sinus on hand at all times.

Friday moring, October 3rd, we got on the road and headed to Phoenix. Once in Tucson we called Vehicare in Phoenix to see if the trucks were ready to be picked up and if we could get them later in the day. Yes, and yes.

We arrived in Phoenix, 130 miles out of route by the time everything is done, and left the Calexico trucks in the Vehicare lot while we checked out the four going to Tacoma, Washington. Texas Red has a "Taxi" service specific for our industry. His fares are only truck drivers doing what we do. Thank God he was still in business. It has been about three years since we last dealt with him. We shuttled two trucks at a time about 5 miles away and Texas Red toted us back to the Vehicare lot for the last two and then back to Vehicare to get our Calexico trucks. One and a half hours later we were ready to finish our trip to Calexico, California.

We arrived in Calexico just before dark to get our trucks delivered. We did finish in the dark. This is not something I encourage because so many things can be left behind because you can't see what you are doing. Hopefully we got everything.

We traveled back to Yuma, Arizona and the Ramada Inn where we spent the night. Now, Saturday morning, I am doing laundry. Last load is going to be out of the washer and put in the dryer.

Delays, Aggrivation, and Funny Money

Laredo, Texas and French Ellison Truck Center. It has been nearly a month since we were last here. We arrive at 8 am CDT and within 20 minutes our trucks began arriving at the lot designated for hooking up. By 8:45 all four trucks were near us and I had one last truck to inspect.

We were going to get out early today, before noon. Maybe we could even make Van Horn, Texas by tonight - about 430 miles. We could get delivered in Calexico, California on Friday during their normal business hours instead of long afterwards like the last two times.

Noon rolled around and we were about three quarters done. We needed to get cash for fuel and find a place for lunch. With the pickup still down we went to IBC Bank and used the ATM machine. It would not dispense all the money available to us at one time so we went to another bank, LNB (Laredo National Bank) and their ATM. We still couldn't get all available money but we were able to get most of it.

This trip is going to cost us a minimum of $600 for fuel and we needed as much money as we could get right away. I went into LNB and converted all the $20.00 bills dispensed from the two ATMs into hundreds.

Off to lunch we went. The Golden Corral in Laredo.

After lunch we went back to finish the hook up and head out. By now it is 1:30 pm and we are losing time quickly. All finished and heading to a Speedy Stop about three blocks away, instead of 12 miles to the Flying J. We went inside to get the pump turned on. To my horror my driver license was missing. The only place I could have left it was at the Days Inn last night. A call to them confirmed what I had feared. I made arrangements for someone to come to the Speedy Stop from the Days Inn to bring my license. We had to putz around the Speedy Stop; getting fuel, Gatorade, and water; while I awaited the delivery of my license.

Paying for the Gatorade and water I had only a hundred dollar bill, I had given my only $5 to the Days Inn person. The clerk marked up the $100 bill with the counterfit pen and informed me I had given her a fake. By this time my nerves are jangling and I'm about to blow a gasket. We have to go back to LNB and I have to get this taken care of. The bank teller was really great. She checked the bill with her machine and said it was, in fact, good. She traded me another bill for the questionable one.

I forgot, after all the hubub at the Speedy Stop we had to back out of the fuel island because other truck drivers had pulled in too far and stuck out too much for us to make the corner.

We did get out of the Speedy Stop without a wreck, I did get the $100 bill changed, and we were finally on the road at 3:30 pm. Van Horn, Texas was not going to be our stopping place tonight. Del Rio, Texas and the LaQuinta instead if the Days Inn. We are here now and ready to go to bed. We will get an early start tomorrow morning and get this trip going.


-- Post From My iPhone