DG:  Up at 5:30.  Not because I had to be anywhere, just couldn’t lay there anymore.  

Stopped at a place called Harris Ranch. Apparently they are purveyors of premium beef products. Next to the truck stop is a restaurant and Inn. I’m debating with myself whether or not to have breakfast at the restaurant.  They are a bit pricey but I’ll bet it’s good. 

Besides the regular gas and diesel pumps they have a Tesla charging station as well as a battery exchange. Neat. 

  
Cows.  Every state has cows. 

So, I decided against breakfast at the main restaurant and instead got a steak, egg and cheese sandwich at Subway.  Well, whattaya gonna do?  

Oh, I forgot to mention, this place also has its own airport. 

  
Behind me where I took this photo is sign to inform those who fly in to use call box for shuttle to the Inn. 

I mentioned earlier that they have a Tesla charging station and battery exchange garage. In the garage were two Teslas and this one was parked out back. 

   
 
As I was driving out this morning, past the restaurant, there too were several Tesla charging stations and three cars parked there and charging.  

My drive to the shipper was down a two lane road through farmland. Not sure what they are growing but they’re growing a lot of it. 

Well, my appointment was for 12:30 local time and not wanting to start my clock until necessary I called around 09:30 and was told it was ready. Great, I was 15 minutes away and told them I would be right there.  So I arrive around 09:55, go to check in and they are out of check in forms.  The girl, who speaks broken English, and I think she is the one I spoke with this morning, tells me someone, somewhere is printing her some more and they should be here shortly.  I go back to my truck and wait. One of the dock workers comes to my truck, after about half an hour, and asks for my sign in papers.  I tell him she was out and getting more and he tells me she now has them and so I need to go fill one out so they can get me loaded. So I go to the window again, fill out said form and then I’m told the produce I am supposed to be taking to Illinois is not even here yet. Well while I appreciate their desire to ship the freshest product possible, I’m assuming it’s coming straight from the field, I question why they would previously tell me it was here when in fact it was not. Oh well, nothing I can do about it so I drive back across the parking lot, park and get in the bunk. 

2:06 I am awakened by the phone ringing.  Oh, I was sleeping so well. Okay, now they are ready.  Back into dock 4.

Loaded and heading for Arizona.  Uh oh, right front tire going flat. Had it checked, but nothing found. No leaks. Just about out of time now so stopping in Lost Hills, CA.  Maybe I have some family here?

God bless. 

DG:  Fudge bars delivered.  All of California just breathed a sigh of relief. 

Left Fernley around 1:00am and arrived before sunrise so my California journey thus far was in the dark. 

Crossing over Donner Pass I was reminded of the family and the circumstances for which that area is named. So tragic. 

A sign that got my attention said downgrade next 40 miles. That’s a long downhill slide. I saw other signs that said snow tubing. Not sure what that was. 40 miles would be a long way to tube. Haha. 

Annie – Alex had his first trip to Walmart today.   We have avoided taking him there to keep him out of the germs but time for Med refills so had to go.    

I can’t believe how big he is getting.   He had his two month check up yesterday and is now over 11 pounds.   

Here are some pics from today.  Such a big smile.   

He loves his big sisters and they him.   So sweet.   
 

That’s about as sweet as it gets huh?

Well, my pictures are not near as beautiful.

Californians like their rivers in concrete.

 So that’s where I am so far. Picking up fresh veggies tomorrow and taking them to Illinois.

God bless all. 

Melissa was working the last 3 days which means we were using bottles for Alex.   Sadie was so excited she got to feed him for the first time.   She sang to him while she fed him.  So sweet.  
   

Taking Sadie to the dentist. He says she needs a crown. On a six year old. Don’t get me started. Anyway, she’s a trooper and doesn’t get nervous at all.  

Looks comfy. 

Well, my windows are clean, inside and out. Now for the rest of the cab. 

  Yea, it’s cold. 

  Companies are desperate for drivers. 

  It says zero emissions vehicle on the side. I guess so when you’re being hailed by a truck. 

  My sweetie made sure I would stay warm.   

DG: Woke up to a rocking truck. High winds. Turned on the weather channel and there is a wind advisory for the area. No kidding. 

Some more on the Truckers Lounge. I gotta  give it to Nevada, they have the hospitality thing down to a T.  Went in to use the bathroom and saw an ice machine with a sign “Ice for Truckers Only”.  Free ice, so I got a bag.  And free coffee, 12 oz, but hey, it’s free. 

Okay, don’t think the wind is going to let up for a while so guess I’ll mosey on.  Don’t know if you can see it or not but to the right of the Truckers Lounge is an American flag on a pole. At the time the picture was taken there was no wind so it’s just hanging there. When I got up this morning it was straight out. After I sat there a while listening to weather reports and trying to decide whether or not to go I looked up and it was gone. I went inside to use the restroom, one more time, and asked the guy in there if he took it down because of the wind. He said no. So it’s Gone With The Wind. True story. 

Stopped in West Fernley, NV. Going to be here at least until tomorrow midnight. Yea, governmental time regulations again. 

More pics of the trip. 

   
    
 
God’s pretty good huh?  God bless. 

DG:  3:00 am, hit snooze, 3:10, up, cold, 51 degrees in the truck. Brrrrrr!! Coffee. Mmmmm…..

Well, the coffee didn’t come for a few hours. But when it did it was good. 

Long drive today.  666 miles. Across Wyoming and Utah to just over the line of Nevada. 

I forgot to mention a couple of days ago that I hit a turkey.  There was a flock of them, probably a dozen or more, by the side of the road and they decided to fly just as I was too close to avoid them or slow down to miss them. One hit on the top driver side corner of the grill and all I saw was a big explosion of feathers. It literally looked as if it desentigrated. There was no need to stop and I was on a two lane road so that wouldn’t have been safe to do even if there was anything that could be done for the turkey, which there wasn’t. I checked my grill at my next stop and there was a small crack, plastic truck, on the corner where it hit. I didn’t think to look anywhere else and then today as I was walking back to the truck after fueling I saw a feather hanging on the bumper on the passenger side. And holy smokes, it’s cracked. Big time. LOOK!

  
Oh well, whattaya do?  

More pics of trip. 

  
  
And my stop for the night. 

  
It’s not Vegas, but pretty neat.  

I don’t know how else to describe this, the parking lot for two of the casinos has a building labeled “Truckers Lounge” and in there you will find snacks and personal items for sale, free showers, three TVs with tables and very comfortable chairs and very reasonably priced laundry facilities. Oh and one free cup of coffee.

A real food dinner at Primo, the main restaurant at the rainbow casino. And now a cookie and off to bed. 

God bless

The girls ended up in bed with me again.   Precious is totally put out that Sadie is on her pillow.   Once I got out of bed Sadie rolled over to my side and layer down on my towel.  

   
 No school today so we are doing science and math in the form of baking again.  We made cookies with royal icing.  We started out trying to do a pattern but that was quickly done away with.  Haha 

DG:  Here’s my pictures.  

 
South Dakota sunrise. 

  
Long straight highway, South Dakota.

  
A lake in Nebraska.

  
That says it all. 

Took a walk after dinner and found this. 

  
Looks good on inside too. 

Annie – Today was Alex’s first day of formula as Melissa had to go back to work today.   He slept really good after eating buy threw up a couple of times.   Hope his tummy handles it ok.  

DG:  Tomorrow I am headed for California. All the times we begged our dispatcher for a trip there it happens to be the second trip after dropping Annie at Gregory’s. I miss my navigator. It’s going to be a long trip. 

Well, I’m in Minnesota and it’s cold. Probably unseasonably warm for the locals as I would suspect it is normally a lot colder here this time of year. 

Drive through the town of Marshall on my way west and found it to be a place I would like to return to and spend more time. Google Earth it. Worth a look. 

I delivered a truck load of resin from which these are made.   
  
Another blade on its way to capture the wind. 

Annie – This has been my day.   So beautiful. 

Woke up at 2:30.   Sadie – “Mammie, can I get in bed with you?”   Sure, come on.   About 4 o’clock.    Maddi – “Mammie is Sadie in bed with you?”   Yes.  “Can I get in bed with you too?”   Sure.    10 minutes later – stop kicking me Sadie, move your legs Maddie.    Shhhh go to sleep girls!  

6:30 – Gregory comes in and wakes Sadie up for school.   “Come on Mammie”.  Guess I’m up too.  

7:15.  Taking Sadie to school.  

Came back and waited until 9 to go take Maddi to school and then pick her up at 12:30.   Sadie stays at school until 4 today because they have arts and crafts on Thursday.  How cool.

DG: 3:00 am, alarm goes off. “Get up Greg”.  “Ugh”. 3:25 am; make a wrong turn trying to get out of the parking lot, end up in a dead end back lot with no room to turn around.  Attempt to back out.  Too dark.  Two empty slots on right hand side.  Blind side back into one and drive out.  Moral of story, make sure your awake before driving.  I made a note of it.  

Made it to Cedar Rapids, IA.  625 miles. Sleepy.  I miss George Jones.  And Johnny Cash, and the rest that have gone on.  

Off to bed.  God bless

DG:  Went up to the driving school to see one of my instructors and got a ride on his new swamp buggy. See video below.

Back on the road tomorrow. More later. 

Kids were out of school today for Veterans Day.   We have played all day.   

We painted some this morning. 

And baked some bread and cinnamon rolls this afternoon.    The girls also played with the spilled flour after we were done.  They had a whole flour village at one point.  Of course clean up was fun.   It involved several wet paper towels and a sweeper and immediate baths.   They even put flour in their hair so it looked grey like Mammies.   Guess it’s time to hit the Miss Clairol.   

  
    
 
While we were doing that Greg was on his way to South Dakota.   Sure glad I missed the long lines at the fuel stops and Nashville!  

   
    
 
I’m turning in.   Everybody is down for the night.   Goodnight y’all!