On to day 2...

28 August 2014

Sunset over the truck stop on our second night

My view from the front row.

            Sleep was not our friend last night as both of us were quite restless and awake by 3:30 am. Between trying to stay cool (yes there is ac but it's still warm in the cab), the noise from the refer on the trailer keeping the hazmat load cool, and other trucks rumbling throughout the night it takes a bit of getting used to. Trying to go back to sleep didn't work so we put on a movie, The Fault in Our Stars. Talk about a tear jerker! After the movie, we got up, dressed, and headed to Denny's for breakfast. A new thing for me, freshening up in the ladies restroom using baby wipes to make myself feel fresh and clean. Hmmm, not sure about this no showering thing! After getting cleaned up we headed off down the road leaving Corning, the olive capitol.

     

Trucks must go 55 in Oregon and California, they don't like it either. 

       Life on the road today was fairly uneventful. No major traffic issues, the scenery was a tad bleak at best. There is a horrible draught happening in California, it's so sad to see orchard upon orchard dried up with nothing but dead trees or fields of dirt with only tumbleweeds growing. There are signs everywhere calling this "The Dust Bowl that Congress Created". Driving through this area makes me quite thankful for the rain that we have in the Pacific Northwest. I know it's probably been said far too often however... I love that it is so green!

         

   A road trip in a truck is a little different than your typical road trip. For starters you can't just go down any road you want to and with this load that we have we have to stay on specific routes because of it being a hazmat load. If you see cool restaurants or shops that you might want to stop at, can't do that either. You are very much at the mercy of whatever is at a truck stop for all of your shopping and eating needs. Oh, and going to the restroom.... This one just about got me today. We passed several rest stops and truck stops when suddenly my bladder told me that I needed to go and go NOW. I was outta luck because the next stop was over 75 miles away. I learned my lesson!

         

Crazy gas prices

   Inside the truck there is a messaging unit called Qualcomm. This is how the drivers receive important messages like where their next load is located, directions, and any communication from the head office. As we were heading down the road late in the afternoon a message came in for our next load, unfortunately he had to turn it down because the logistics of getting across town, delivery of the current load, picking up the new load and deliver of the next was impossible do to by 3:00 am Saturday. Shortly after that though we got a new message, so now after we deliver tomorrow we will head to Ontario, CA for deliver in Elk Grove, CA.

         

   The best part about this day, In-N-Out. YUM! We went in to get our burgers and I asked how much a cup of ice would be, something like $2.50. Me being cheap, decided that was to much to pay for a cup of ice. One of the employees offered to get me some ice, about 5 minutes later she came back with a medium size garbage bag full of ice. Far more than I needed for my small cooler, but very nice of her none the less.