Running With Watkins & Shepard

Well, another day, a little more rubber ground off the tires. I'm sitting in Pilot # 308 off I 80 in WY now. Another 731 miles today. 1412 total so far.

I'm really getting hammered by construction and scales on this trip. Yesterday I averaged a measly 56 MPH and today wasn't much better at 60....LOL

So far I've passed only two closed scales out of 9, had to pull in every one and the last one here in WY pulled me in for truck paperwork. I really wish I had my old pre-pass back instead of this new fangled combo unit (Pre-Pass/Easypass) in one. At least my old one was "Activated". This one is not! I got it 4 days ago. They said 72 hours and it will be up and running. I guess I'll never get the hang of this "new" math....LOL

Construction on 80 was a bit of mess as well. Many miles of 45 MPH and less. I did everything I could to push along including coasting down hills (yes Mike, I DO listen brother..... But going down I'd get maybe a mile of 69 - 73 and then back up it's 3 miles of 50!! LOL Even had to hit NINTH a time or two.....

The upside? I was going so darn slow up those hills I had the time to get some REALLY nice pictures! LOL (I'll probably have to buy more time to post them). I'm actually thinking of biting the bullet for 20 bucks and a month access...Hmmmm...

Anyway, I enjoyed a simply BEAUTIFUL day!! It rained for about 80 miles or so out of MO into IA but then a really SWEET sunrise in my mirrors was my wake up call to a nice, 68 degree sunny ride the whole way here. No floods or twisters in sight...WHEW! I did have a realitively stiff cross wind most of the way. Yep, front hugging the zipper, trailer keeping a CLOSE eye on the fog line....LOL

The truck seems a little slugish today though. Or perhaps it's just the hills and the first time I've pulled this weight with it. That's probably the case actually. What I love about this long run is it gives me time to plan out my logs and timing. This is really the first time since I started I could do that.

I only got a little sleep last night (bout an hour or two) but felt really good today after getting going. Seeing that sunrise behind me really put the wind in "my" sails. Too bad old bettsy didn't appreciate it as much....

I was pretty bummed that I forgot out here my phone gets like NO signal. I have none right here either. (Sorry Mike although you probably enjoyed the BREAK)....lol

I'm sure Sallie didn't though. I called her and she was busy. Said she'd call back but two miles down the road? KAPUTZ! Figures since the minutes are free on weekends...LOL

I'm wondering if I have a chance to get this load there Monday morning now I'll need some really smooth sailing form here to make up for the knot I'll likely face in Portland.

 

Well, I'm gonna get some much needed sleep now. I roll at 01:00 again. Till next time everyone.

 

Almost forgot. You're quite welcome sir and I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Posting here is "almost" as much fun as driving....