Calex Express....My New Home!

Wasn't me Larry. I was sleeping in Bakersfield Ca. On my way back to Pa. Outside of your typical BS everything is going fine. Good to hear from you. I'll look for you next week on my way home.

 

I'm empty in Milton. Checked in at 6am and was the first of 6 Calex trucks to get empty. Too bad the load didn't go on like it came off.

 

I left Bakersfield Friday morning after I finally finished loading Thursday night. I spent a good hour Thursday night figuring out my fuel stops across the country. I had to stop for fuel a total of 8 times coming across the country. I was on the road around 5am local time Friday morning. The scale on top of Tehachapi was closed so I new that I would be ok with the Arizona P.O.E. because of my Prepass. I stopped for fuel in Kingman and put just enough in to get me to Gallup. I put enough in at Gallup to get me to Joplin. I made it to Milan NM to call it a night.

As I was pulling in I noticed my trailer lights were not working. I had stop, turn and 4 ways but nothing else. After parking I noticed that my pigtail must have gotten snagged on my deck plate and had ripped apart. I think what happen was that when I slid my fifth wheel up, the stretched out pigtail was hanging down too much and got caught. It shorted out and blew out the fuse. The next morning I woke up early, put the truck into the shop and had a new pigtail, fuse and holder put on the truck and all was good.

I then stopped in Amarillo for fuel, shower and a steak at the Big Texan. After that I made it to Tulsa and called it a night. Even though I knew my weight was ok I decided to go around the open Joplin scales. I had a bad deal at those scales many years ago and to this day even though I'm completely legal I go around those scales. I put enough fuel in at Joplin to get me to Brazil In. I then made it to the rest area at the 108 mm in Indiana and called it a night. I woke up Monday morning, got the green light on my Prepass in Ohio then carried on to Milton. The only scale I came even close to crossing was in PA at the 56mm. When I got there they closed them because the ramp was full of trucks. I then went to Lamar, filled the empty reefer tank, and put enough fuel in the truck to get me back to Pittston.

I spent the night at the truck stop 4 miles from my delivery. I got there at 5am, was checked in and assigned a door at 6:15 and was empty and on m way back to Pittston at 8:30. I stopped and had breakfast before going into the yard. On my way in Louie called and told me my Florida load would be ready at noon tomorrow, which is good because I have to wait to pick up hours to make it home Thursday night. I deliver in Orlando Monday morning and will reload Wednesday to come back out.

Even with loosing a day getting loaded last week my California turn was very good. 6600 miles in 12 days with a reset thrown in. If you add everything up since I left the house it will come to 9200 miles in 16 days. I'm happy with that. One other thing, I had $300 put on my fuel card when I left Pittston, I still have $300 on it, I took no advance money, spent a total of $27 on scale and other minor truck purchases and only spent $60 dollars of my own money from what I took with me when I left the house. Oh, the $545 I won in Reno is still in the envelope I put it in when I won it last week. Time to go home and enjoy the wife, family and dogs.

One last thing, this is the sign that always makes me take a breath and say thanks to the good Lord for giving me the ability to make the right choices to get me back home safely.

 

Steve, I tried taking a picture of the Florida welcome sign but I was in a different situation then the welcome to Pennsylvania sign. I was dodging cars so picture taking was out.


Ah, good to be home! I now get to snuggle with the two neediest Labs on earth and pet the wife. I deliver Monday at 5 am in Orlando so I'll leave Sunday night then be back home around noon Monday. I'm scheduled to reload next Wednesday. Happy Easter and Passover everyone. I get to celebrate both. Be safe, God bless.