Tour of Duty 27th May 2015 to 27th June 2015
Part III: 11th June to 15th June

Thursday morning I took shuttle to YUL. I checked in and checked bags and the fees were 60$USD or 74.45$CAD. I cleared security after a short queue and there was no scanner machine, just a metal detector. I precleared US Customs and there was an automated procedure. The time from beginning of check-in to clear of security and Customs was 31 minutes.

US Airways Express #3819 YUL-PHL CRJ-200 Zone 3
Seat 9A Cruising altitude 28,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:10, actual 1:06
Depart: Gate C78 Scheduled 09h49, actual 09h35 Taxi: 13 minutes
Arrive: Gate F31 Scheduled 11h26, actual 11h01 Taxi: 6 minutes

We boarded via jetway. I found the seat next to me was blocked. It was announced that it was overcast above 8000 feet and 23C/74F at PHL. Pushback was 14 minutes early followed by takeoff to the west. I saw YUL, Quebec 20 and the St-Lawrence River then we went into the clouds within 57sec. We went over the clouds at 1min39sec. Clouds started to break at 0:05 and seatbelt sign went off at 0:08.

At 0:19 I got cup of soda and I saw Schroon Lake and Lake Champlain further out. At 0:26 we crossed Interstate 90 New York State Thruway and at 0:28 I saw Interstate 88. I thought I felt descent at 0:32 and clouds increased. Seatbelt sign went on and descent was announced at 0:42 and it was 80F at PHL.

I felt bumps at 0:50 and at 0:51 I saw ABE Lehigh Valley International Airport Allentown, PA as well as US22 and Bethlehem, PA and Interstate 78. We crossed the Pennsylvania Turnpike at 0:58 and crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey airspace at 1:00 and I got a glimpse of downtown Philadelphia to the right. We headed south over southern New Jersey and I saw Interstate 295 at 1:02. We turned west and south and landed to the south and arrived at gate 25 minutes early and deplaned via jetway. I had midday rations at Chickie's & Pete's and had a Philly Cheesesteak.


US Airways #1847 PHL-MSP E-190 Zone 3
Seat 25A Cruising altitude 30,000 feet Estimated flying time 2:16, actual 2:18
Depart: Gate C31 Scheduled 13h45, actual 13h42 Taxi: 12 minutes
Arrive: Gate E12 Scheduled 15h34, actual 15h17 Taxi: 4 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 20-21 minutes after arrival

We boarded via jetway and it was announced it was 64F and light rain at MSP. The plane was almost full but there was an empty seat next to me. Takeoff was to the saouth then we turned west. I saw Harrisburg, PA at 0:11. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:22 upon reaching cruise and it was announced we may get to MSP early.

We crossed Interstate 99 and I saw Altoona, PA at 0:26. At 0:38 I got cup of soda as we crossed what looked to be Interstate 79. Seatbelt sign went on at 0:53 due to light chop. I saw clouds below. I felt descent at 1:58 while in clouds. Descent was announced at 2:00 and it was 63F and still some light rain showers at MSP. We broke through clouds at 2:15 and it looked wet and we landed on wet runway though I was unsure of the direction. We arrived at gate 17 minutes early and and it was raining. We deplaned via jetway. After I got my bags I went to where the taxis were and hired a taxi to go to the shipper where I got the truck.

Trip: South St-Paul, MN to Shelby, NC 1,130 paid miles
Make: 2016 Hino
Model: Cab/Chassis
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Interstate 494 to US52 to Interstate 90 to Interstate 39 to Interstate 74 to Interstate 465 back to Interstate 74 to Interstate 75 to Interstate 640 to Interstate 40 to Interstate 26 to US74
Maximum elevation: 2,130 feet at Eastern Continental Divide Interstate 26 5 miles west of Saluda, NC
Highest diesel USA: $2.799/gallon at Kwik Trip Zumbrota, MN
Lowest diesel USA: $2.519/gallon at Mr. Fuel Indianapolis, IN

This truck was a Cab and Chassis and I was glad to see that the temporary mudflaps were secured very well unlike past Cab and Chassis I've picked up from Springfield, OH. The ride in MN was rough and it took some getting used to. It was raining and the weather was like winter in Los Angeles. I ended up stopping and spending night in Rochester, MN.

Friday I got underway and crossed the Mississippi into Wisconsin. From the time I landed at MSP to the time I entered Wisconsin was the only time I was west of the Mississippi this tour of duty. The speed limit in Wisconsin was still 65mph and I was wondering when that would change and little did I know that change was coming soon. I made my way through Wisconsin into Illinois southbound on Interstate 39. North of Bloomington I saw lightning to the distance. In Bloomington I switched to Interstate 74 east and on the east side of Bloomington I encountered a thunderstorm which continued to at least Le Roy, IL. I got out of the rain but there was the threat of more and it was late and I was going to change time zones when entering Indiana so I stopped and spent the night in Champaign, IL.

Saturday I continued into Indiana and stopped in Covington, IN to eat then Indianapolis to take on fuel. I continued into Cincinnati, OH where Interstate 74 ended and I started my run south on Interstate 75. It was not long before I crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky and Dixie. I did some phoning and opted to stop and spend the night in Lexington, KY.

Sunday I drove to Bryan Station Baptist Church to attend the morning service. Though I had to cut through the woods and the church was in a rural area it was still considered to be Lexington, Kentucky. The text was Romans 8:18-25 and the message was on suffering and hope. After the service I went into downtown Lexington and looked around and took some pictures. It was warm and muggy and as soon as I got back in the truck rain started falling. I continued south on Interstate 75 and stopped for evening rations at Sonny's in Corbin, KY. Soon thereafter I entered Tennessee and took Interstate 640 around Knoxville and started my run east on Interstate 40. Large areas around Knoxville have a speed limit of 65 for cars and 55 for trucks. I entered North Carolina and stopped and spent the night in Asheville, NC.

Monday I drove and parked in downtown Asheville to look around and take pictures. It was warm and forecast to get up to the low 90's F in Asheville which is over 2,000 feet in elevation. After I finished with the pictures, I started east on Interstate 26. There were a couple of steep downgrades and I headed east on US74 for the home stretch on this trip. The speed limit went up to 70 for a brief time on US74 as I was out of the mountains and in the Piedmont. I entered Shelby, NC and found the receiver and delivered the truck. I talked to dispatch and was given choice of early or late morning itinerary and I chose the latter. I hired a taxi and saw Kings Mountain on my way to Charlotte. It was hot and sticky in Charlotte and I felt some discomfort as I learned later it got up to the upper 90's F in Charlotte. I checked into hotel then had evening rations at Cracker Barrel. I spent the night in Charlotte, NC.