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