Well, out layover in Fontana is over and done with and we are headed to New York! We had a really nice time while we were there. Of course we were stuck at the OC the entire time, but as I mentioned before, we met Justin and Melissa. While J was sleeping I was talking to a driver that was an "Old Timer" and we exchanged stories. I learned some stuff from him which was nice. He also pointed out some alternate routes on the map that aren't bad and are very scenic so we may have to take those some time. Also ran into Brandon while we were there. Didn't see him until right before we left but we got to say hi. Also saw Randi, she works at the Cafe there and we got to meet her husband Robert when he came in to see her. He was hit by a semi while he was on his motorcycle. YIKES! He is spending time recovering and still has some recovery to go. But it was good to see him and great to know that he even made it out of that alive. And the truck was at fault so he should have all his medical covered which is awesome since he has already has several surgeries on his eye. He is wearing a patch at the moment, which I'm sure sucks for him, but the kids think it is super cool. :)
So now that we are all rested up, we are heading out. This load has to be in New York by midnight on the 7th or 2359 hrs on the 7th. Which ever way you want to look at it. We should make it on time, and if not, it will only be a few hours late. It really depends on how much ground we can cover each shift. If we can cover more than we are planning on, then we can make it on time.
We didn't make it to the Volvo dealership, but maybe we can make it when we take time off next time.
I guess that is all for today.
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2 comments:
We see that you are heading to New York, our stomping ground. Is there any way to get you our contact information without posting it on the blog?
We'd love to meet you and ask you more questions.
We figure you won't have time on this trip east, since you just had a re-start. But, as you say, one never knows where the loads will take you.
We have applied to the Big Pumpkin, but it seems no positions are open from our area at this time and may not be until early in the New Year.
We're loving your blog - read it first thing every morning. Can you talk a little about your typical driving day? Do you find you spend time together awake during the day? Are you having any trouble finding overnight parking when you need it?
Since you're on a 3 to 3 schedule, how do you handle crossing time zones? And what do you do on your TAH to stay relatively close to your 3 to 3
schedule but still enjoy your time off?
Safe travels,
City Mouse
City, you are on pumpkindriver.com, right? Send me a PM and we can exchange information that way.
Let's see if I can answer your questions! On a "typical" day, I get up and try to be on the road by 0500. That gives me plenty of time to get in 500-550 miles by 1500 hours. Some days I get up and start driving at 0300, it really depends on the load. This load we are on right now to NY has to be there by midnight tonight. Since we took a restart in Fontana, we figured we would be running late so the last two days I have been up at 0230 and on the road by 0300. And I have driven 10.5 hours each day before stopping for the day. That takes into account 1.5 hours for bathroom stops, fueling, making a sandwich for lunch, etc.
Usually we spend time together when we switch shifts in the afternoon. J usually gets up around 1400 hrs and I don't go to bed till around 1900 hours so we get those 5 hours together during the day. I will usually snack on something when I get up and start driving, and he will eat something small at night, but we try to have our main meal during the afternoon when we are both up.
Sometimes finding parking can be hard. It ALL depends on where you are. Back east, the parking spots are at a premium. WAY more trucks than parking spaces. But we haven't parked on any ramp yet. We can usually find a place. Granted, it may not technically be a parking spot at the truck stop, but who cares as long as we aren't blocking anyone in and people can get around us. It is really just the luck of the draw sometimes.
We run off of Central Time, so no matter where we go, we go off of what the clock in the truck radio says. We can't go off of our cell phones, because they change time when we change time zones. So when I start at 0300, I finish at 1500 accourind to the truck clock, even if we are in CA and it is only 1300 their time. The hardest thing about the time zones, to me, isn't logging, it is making sure you are delivering on time. Because your delivery time will be according to the time zone you are delivering in. This load to NY had to be there by midnight local time. So that means, we have to have it there by 2300 hours Central Time, since I am watching the time on the truck. Make sense? OH! And another thing that is hard is to set the alarm clock on the phones to the right time. If I need to be up at 0230 Central Time, but am in California on Pacific Time then I would need to set my phone for 0030. That would be the correct time for Central Time. WHEW! Clear as mud? LOL!!
As far as our TAH goes, we usually go back to a normal schedule when we are at home. I told J that since we spend weeks out at a time and don't get to actually "sleep" in the same bed at the same time, then we WILL go to bed together when we are at home. You will learn to miss the little things like that. Just knowing he is in bed with me makes me sleep so much better.
Anyway, PM me through pumpkindriver.com and we can get in touch that way! We'd love to meet up if at all possible! If you read this in the morning, send a msg and I will check it ASAP tomorrow incase we are still in the area.
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