Tour of Duty 27th September 2013 to 18th October 2013
Part III: 14th October to 18th October

I slept in at Herndon, VA as I arrived late. Then I got shuttle to IAD and was picked up and taken to the yard where the truck was. I made the pickup and got rolling.

Trip: IAD Dulles, VA to EWR Newark, NJ 250 paid miles
Make: 1998 GMC
Model: De-icing vacuum truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Virginia 28 to Interstate 66 to Interstate 495 to Interstate 95 to Interstate 295 to Interstate 95 NJ Turnpike to US1-9
Maximum elevation: unknown
Diesel price highest USA: $3.939/gallon at Petro Bordentown, NJ
Diesel price lowest USA: $3.899/gallon at Flying J Carneys Point, NJ
Permits required: none

I headed down to Interstate 66 and headed east then north on Interstate 495 the Beltway around Washington, DC. Almost immediately after I got on the Beltway the truck lost power and I was able to do no more than 5mph. That was not acceptable so I pulled over when I saw a wider than usual section of the breakdown lane.

I shut the motor off and it wouldn't start again. I deployed the emergency triangles to warn motorists of the breakdown as required by law. I phoned the company and heard from a mechanic who instructed me to look for blown fuses. I found no blown fuses so a wrecker came and towed the truck back to the shipper. Someone from the shipper took me to hotel in Chantilly, VA where I spent the night.

Next morning I phoned the shipper and ended up being picked up at lunchtime and taken back to the truck. I found out the alternator went bad so it was replaced. I got rolling and was able to do no better than about 50mph. I made it as far as East Brunswick, NJ where I spent the night.

Next day I headed north and ended up delivering the truck at EWR. Afterward I was taken to the Hertz rental car area as the company booked me a rental car to IAD so I could get the truck going to Yellowknife. I headed south on the New Jersey Turnpike. I was making a pit stop at the Service Plaza in Mt. Laurel, NJ and got a call from dispatch telling me to reverse direction and change the dropoff location of the rental car to Parsippany, NJ. I was told the next trip would be out of Wharton, NJ going to Connecticut. I spent the night in Parsippany, NJ.

Next day I got a new briefcase and fuelled up the rental car. Then I dropped off the car and was picked up and taken to Wharton. The truck was not quite ready when I arrived at the shipper. While I waited for the truck to be ready I looked at the fall colours.

Trip: Wharton, NJ to New London, CT 160 paid miles
Make: 2007 Sterling
Model: Vacuum Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: New Jersey 15 to Interstate 80 to Interstate 287 to Interstate 95 to US1
Maximum elevation: unknown
Diesel price USA: $4.359/gallon at Pilot Milford, CT
Permits required: none

Once the truck was ready I phoned up the receiver to arrange for delivery as this was a "rush" job. I got rolling and saw nice fall colours in northern New Jersey and southern New York. I crossed the Hudson River using the Tappan Zee Bridge as I expected major delays if I used the George Washington Bridge not to mention higher tolls. I made a quick pit stop in Darien, CT at the first service plaza and soon thereafter traffic bogged down and was slow to very slow through New Haven but traffic improved after Branford. I took on fuel in Milford. I exited the Interstate and took US1 to a shopping centre in Waterford and waited for the customer to come and lead me to where the truck was to be dropped off. One reason for doing that was to avoid a low bridge. After the delivery the receiver took me to hotel but not before showing me a little of New London. I had dinner at Goldy's and enjoyed the seafood platter. I spent the night in New London, CT.

Next day I hired a taxi to the airport in Groton, CT where I got a rental car going to PVD. I took some pictures of fall colours and mailed some paperwork from previous trips. I saw some bright fall colours in eastern Connecticut and part of Rhode Island. I took pictures of Warwick, RI after filling the fuel tank and finally found my way to the rental car return for PVD. PVD TF Green Airport serving Providence, RI is actually in Warwick. I turned in the rental car and saw some good views from the rental car garage so I took some snapshots then used the walkway to get to the main part of the airport.

I checked in and was unable to get an upgrade. My bags weighed 46.5 and 45.5lbs and I paid the bag fees. I cleared security after being patted down as I opted out. I had just enough time to use the washroom and arrived at the gate as boarding commenced.

US Airways Express #3297 PVD-PHL E-175 Group 1
Seat 21F Cruising altitude 24,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:00, actual 1:02
Depart: Gate 5 Scheduled 13h35, actual 13h32 Taxi/hold: 23 minutes
Arrive: Gate C25 Scheduled 15h11, actual 15h02 Taxi: 4 minutes

We boarded via jetway. First class was configured 1-2 and coach was 2-2 and capacity was 8F/72Y for total capacity 80. There were 6 empty seats in coach (first class was full) Pushback was 3 minutes early and we held as there was an announcement that there is a 20 minute delay due to Air Traffic Control Flow. Weather was not a factor but there were gusty winds at the surface and we were tld there were gusty winds at PHL and it was in the low 60'sF there.

Takeoff was to the west then we made immediate turn to the south. I saw scenery and we were overwater at 0:04. We turned west and paralleled the coast. At 0:08 I got cup of soda. At 0:10 I saw what may have been Block Island. At 0:12 I saw what looked to be Groton/New London, CT and eastern Long Island, NY. Then I saw Long Island Sound and the distance slowly grew from the coast.

At 0:26 I saw JFK to the distance then at 0:28 I got a faint glimpse of New York skyscrapers. I saw the northern New Jersey coast at 0:30. I felt descent at 0:35 still over water but approaching the New Jersey shore. At 0:39 we made landfall and it was announced that it was 66F at PHL.

We crossed the Garden State Parkway at 0:41 and went over a rural area of New Jersey. We crossed the Atlantic City Expressway at 0:45 and seatbelt sign stayed on the entire flight. I saw a little bit of fall colour while on descent over New Jersey. At 0:52 I saw the Delaware River then downtown Philadelphia at 0:59. We landed north to south and arrived at gate 9 minutes early.

I ate at Chick Fil A while at PHL and while eating I got call from dispatch about a trip from Calexico, CA to Ontario, CA that needed to be done on Monday. I worked out some details about that trip then headed to gate for next flight.

US Airways #717 PHL-LAX A-321 Group 2
Seat 7F Cruising altitude not given Estimated flying time 5:29, actual 5:28
Depart: Gate B9 Scheduled 17h59, actual 18h02 Taxi/hold: 32 minutes
Arrive: Gate 10 Scheduled 20h53, actual 21h12 Taxi: 9 minutes
Reclaim bags 14 minutes after arrival at Baggage Service as bags came in on earlier flight

We boarded via jetway. I thought I lost my notepad that I use to take notes for these Trip Reports so I was in Panic Mode for awhile. I couldn't find the notepad and thought I lost it. First Class was full but coach was not totally full with an empty middle in my row.

Pushback was 3 minutes late and there was a long taxi and wait in queue and takeoff was to the south just after sunset then a turn northwest and west. At 0:27 it was announced we were running late due to headwinds and the delay at PHL. At 0:28 seatbelt sign went off. At 0:32 I got a cup of soda. Seatbelt sign went on at 0:38 and it was announced we were near Pittsburgh and to expect light turbulence. While the seatbelt sign was off I got up and opened my briefcase and found the notepad I thought I lost so I was very relieved.

At 0:49 I saw the lights of Youngstown,OH then I saw the lights of the greater Cleveland area and we were abreast of Cleveland at 0:55. At 1:06 I saw the lights of Toledo, OH and farther out the lights of the Detroit/Windsor areas.

I dozed off for 15-20 minutes then there was total darkness outside. Seatbelt sign went off at 1:57. I saw the lights of Omaha/Council Bluffs at 2:40 and seatbelt sign went on at 3:18. At 3:43 I saw the lights of some of the northern suburbs of Denver. At 3:45 we were over the Rocky Mountains and I saw the snowcapped peaks reflecting moonlight. At 3:55 I saw lights of Glenwood Springs, CO and seatbelt sign went off at 4:06.

At 4:36 I saw lights of St-George, UT. Seatbelt sign went on at 4:38 and I saw the lights of Mesquite, NV at 4:44. Seatbelt sign went off at 4:45. At 4:50 it was announced we were coming upon the Las Vegas area. At 4:54 I saw Jean, NV and at 4:55 I saw Primm,NV as we entered California airspace.

I saw the lights of Interstate 15 in California at 4:58. I saw Barstow and felt descent begin at 5:06. I saw Victorville. At 5:07 seatbelt sign went on. We made turn once over San Bernardino at 5:13. At 5:14 it was announced that it is 66F at LAX. At 5:15 I saw the Fontana motor speedway. We crossed the junction of Interstate 10 and California 57 and 71 and I saw Cal Poly Pomona.

I saw California 60 at 5:21 and traffic was moving well both directions. We crossed Interstate 605 at 5:22, crossed Interstate 5 at 5:23 while over Commerce. I saw downtown Los Angeles at 5:25 and we crossed Interstate 110 at 5:26 and Interstate 405 at 5:27. We landed east to west and arrived at gate 19 minutes late. After I reclaimed my checked bags I got a shuttle and headed home for the night.