Where's Everyone @?

Green River UT.
Started my day yesterday early again, dropped my loaded trailer at the receiver in North Platte NE, grabbed an empty and was on the yard early enough to get a PM done at the shop. Two hrs later I left again with my trailer for L.A., made it to Gothenburg NE where I ran out of hrs. Had a long sleep last night, i was so tired from the days before. I hate it to wake up short after midnight and run so early.
Finished day 28 today since I'm out with 13346 miles.

Will stay out a bit longer, still waiting for the call from the bank that we can close, it's a bit delayed. I want to move in the new house asap when I get the keys and will take an extended time off, min 1.5 weeks.
Dispatch is aware of the situation and as soon as I get the call they will get me home asap.
Hope this will be within the next two weeks, I'm getting grumpy when I don't see my wife such a long time

Took I-70 again as the weather forecast was better than WY, had some heavy snow at Eisenhower but thanks to CO DOT the roads were clear. Running on recaps now, will be an interesting week

 

North Bend TA. Made it but safety is not going to be happy with my eLogs tomorrow. They shut down I-90 between East of Summit and Cle Elum both directions for about 2 hours. Then it reopened but the top was icy and traffic was stop/slow and go between Cle Elum and North Bend. I blew off chaining because of the massive cluster ##. Almost regretted it. It got slick near the top and stopped a few dozen times but always managed to get rolling ok.

What a trip. Would have made it fine with my hours but for the weather and closure and massive traffic jam, and chaining over Lookout. I almost stayed at Ryegrass Rest Area but looking at the weather, I was pretty sure they would close 90 overnight at some point for probably the rest of the night and into the morning, and missing the 5:30 appt. Will look at it in the morning and see if I was right.

 

There are days when YOU have to make decisions.
I was lucky so far this winter, it's not winter it's fall
Last year I chained up at Donner in October the first time.

 

Donner kicked my arse last year. I spent more time chaining on that pass than I did the prior 5 winters total for anywhere.

 

Donner will ever be something special for me. It was in January 2010 when I had to chain up there for the first time. And it was the first time ever that I chained up a truck on the road (only once in the army off road).
It was my first trip to Cali, was empty in Reno and picked up a load of onions in Stockton for Cambridge Ontario.
Empty over Donner in a massive winter storm
Picked up the next morning and back to Donner, this was the second time I chained up, still winter storm.
I never chained up in Europe, I was always lucky or it was so bad that they closed the roads over the Alps.

 

I inadvertently ran over a chain today over Lookout, I guess I saw something but it did not register as a thrown chain. I heard a racket and I thought I must have thrown a chain, looked back and sure enough I then see a chain on the snow pack. Not sure what caused all the noise, maybe just dragging under the lower side fairing extensions but it sounded like it went around my one of my tires once or twice. My chains were in good shape and quiet as a mouse so it freaked me out when all the sudden it sounded like one slung off. Was afraid it might have damaged something but could not see anything damaged

 

Lucky you!
I had a chain link stuck in a trailer tire last year at Donner, brand new trailer, brand new tire
Took four hrs till the tire guy showed up!

 

Once I’m all chained up, there’s something nice and peaceful about listening to your tires and the road when it’s snowing. Then someone passes you with chains flailing and it ruins the peace.

 

Turns out I would have been okay to hold up at Rye Grass Rest Area and roll over this early morning and could have avoided hos violations and made the appt. Oh well. I was wrong this time but that doesn't happen often.

 

Ontario CA.
Made it with 9 minutes left on my 70. Uneventful ride down here, no snow, no rain.
Just the usual stupid drivers in Cali. Will be interesting tomorrow, my first drop is at 6 AM, second 9-12.30 and dispatch planned a load for me, two picks, one in the afternoon and the other at 6 PM. Will see how this works
Planned delivery in Denver Friday 5 AM. Not sure if I will have the hrs to get there, only 3.25 for Wednesday and 3.09 for Thursday. Tomorrow I have 10.12, but it's L.A., I hate running on recaps.