Tour of Duty 13th April 2016 to 28th May 2016
Part II: 23rd April to 5th May

On the 23rd of April I awoke to a rainy Saturday in Essington, PA. I got ready then checked out of hotel and hired a taxi to PHL. I checked in and checked bags which weighed 43 and 44lbs. I cleared security after opting out and being patted down.

American #1994 PHL-ORD E-190 Group 3
Seat 7A Cruising altitude 36,000 feet Estimated flying time not announced, actual 1:46
Depart: Gate B3 Scheduled 13h30, actual 13h30 Taxi: 18 minutes
Arrive: Gate H14 Scheduled 14h50, actual 14h49 Taxi: 14 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 19-20 minutes after arrival

We boarded via jetway. The rain quit and it was starting to clear by takeoff. The plane was almost full. Pushback was on time and takeoff was to the south. I saw the Delaware River and the Delaware River Memorial Bridge within a minute of takeoff. At 0:10 I saw what looked to be York, PA and Interstate 83. At 0:15 I saw the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interstate 17 and the Susquehanna River to the distance. At 0:18 we crossed the Susquehanna River north of Harrisburg, PA.

At 0:26 I saw Interstate 99 and Altoona, PA. I got pretzels at 0:27 and a can of soda at 0:28. We crossed US219 at Johnstown, PA at 0:33 and seatbelt sign went off at 0:36. It was announced it was 54F and scattered clouds at ORD.

I felt descent begin at 1:14 and descent was announced and seatbelt sign went on at 1:23 and it was 57F at ORD. I saw Interstates 65 and 80 at 1:30 and Gary, IN at 1:31 and we went over Lake Michigan at the same time. I saw the Chicago Skyway at 1:33 and saw MDW and US Cellular Field at 1:34 and made landfall at the same time. I did not see the tall buildings of downtown but I saw Interstate 290 and the Chicago River. We overflew ORD at 1:38 and I saw Interstate 90. We swung out west then turned south and east and landed west to east and we arrived at gate one minute early. We deplaned via jetway and I got my bags and my ride came and picked me up and after a stop at Potbelly's I arrived in Streator, IL to get the next truck.

Trip: Streator, IL to Innisfil, ON 624 paid miles
Make: 2016 Western Star
Model: Vacuum Truck
Transmission: Standard 18-speed
Route: Illinois 23 to Interstate 80 to Interstate 294 to Interstate 94 to Interstate 69 to Blue Water Bridge to Ontario 402 to Ontario 401 to Ontario 400
Maximum elevation: unknown
Diesel price USA: 2.299$ per gallon at Pilot Battle Creek, MI
Diesel price Canada: 0.999$CAD/litre at Flying J Ayr, ON
Border Crossing: Port Huron, MI/Sarnia, ON

I got the truck and got underway. I made it as far as Portage, IN where I spent the night.

Sunday I got up too late to make it to morning church but I had a chat with another driver before I got rolling. I stopped in Battle Creek, MI to take on fuel then pulled in the driveway and once in had no problem parking and attended Sunday evening service at Calvary Baptist Church in Lansing, MI. It was a bit of a challenge to make the left turn into the entrance but I made it. I had an easier time turning out of the exit as that driveway was a little wider. I stopped in Imlay City, MI but Bob's Big Boy there was closed. I ended up going to their location in Marysville, MI for late evening rations and I spent the night in Marysville, MI.

Monday I had to wait for some papers that I needed to cross the border to be faxed to me. Afterward I crossed the border and Customs sent me back upstairs to the broker for a minor problem to be fixed then I was allowed to proceed. The rest of this trip was relatively uneventful but there was some rain starting in Guelph then rain off and on for the rest of the trip. I made an after hours delivery then hired a taxi and spent the night in Barrie, ON.

Tuesday I caught the Simcoe County Airport Transportation to YYZ and at the last minute the driver went to another hotel to pick up another driver from the same company. We were dropped off at YYZ then got in a rental car to MDW. That was a rather long trip. The crossing into the USA at Port Huron, MI could not have gone better and it was a cold spring day with temperatures in the 40'sF. The other driver went to his home in the Chicago area then I took custody of the vehicle and got to an expensive hotel near MDW and spent the night in Bedford Park, IL

Wednesday I got up bright and early and turned in the rental car and got the shuttle to the terminal at MDW. I checked in and the weight was OK on the bags and I cleared security and decided not to opt out in the interest of time but my boot bag was given additional screening.

Delta Connection #4473 MDW-MSP CRJ-900 Zone 1
Seat 12A Exit Row Cruising altitude not announced. Estimated flying time not announced, actual 0:58
Depart: Gate A7 Scheduled 09h11, actual 09h08 Taxi/hold: 23 minutes
Arrive: Gate C13 Scheduled 10h44, actual 10h31 Taxi: 2 minutes
My bags beat me to baggage reclaim

We boarded via jetway and the plane was mostly but not totally full. Pushback was 3 minutes early. Takeoff was to the east and seatbelt sign went off at 0:08. At 0:24 I got Biscoff and at 0:25 I got cup of soda. I felt descent begin at 0:34 and descent was announced at 0:40. There were gusty winds and it was 46F at MSP. Seatbelt sign went on at 0:42. We overflew MSP and I saw the Mississippi River. I saw downtown Minneapolis heading northwest then we turned left and landed northwest to southeast. We arrived at gate 13 minutes early and deplaned via jetway.

After I got my bags I headed over to the rental car area after stopping at ground transportation to find out what might be available for future reference. I got in a rental car and headed to Alexandria, MN. I stopped to eat in Clearwater, MN. I turned in the car in Alexandria, MN and thought I might be stuck as I was given the wrong address. I was able to drop off the car and hired a taxi to take me to the next truck in Morris, MN.

Trip: Morris, MN to Bowler, WI 400 paid miles
Make: 2016 Freightliner
Model: Tank Truck Placarded UN1075 Propane
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Minnesota 28 to Interstate 94 to Interstate 694 to Interstate 94 to Wisconsin 29 to County Road Q to County Road A
Maximum elevation: unknown
Highest LPG price: 1.75$ per gallon at Cenex Cadott, WI
Lowest LPG price 1.00$ per gallon at Petro Clearwater, MN

I made an after hours pickup and this truck ran on LPG instead of Diesel. Just after I got started it started to rain. It stopped raining in Sauk Centre and I spent the night in Melrose, MN.

Thursday it started raining around St-Cloud, MN. I stopped in Clearwater, MN to see if I could get LPG as the burn rate was greater than expected. I was able to get LPG at the Petro then I had midday rations. There was a lot of congestion on Interstate 694 in the Twin Cities area. I entered Wisconsin then exited the Interstate in Eau Claire and started east on Wisconsin 29. I spent the night in Cadott, WI.

Friday morning I got LPG after a wait then I continued toward my destination. I ended up delivering the truck to the Mohican Indian reservation just outside of Bowler, WI. After a short wait the taxi came and took me to CWA in Mosinee, WI where I got into a rental car bound for MSP. I stopped in Wausau, WI and took some pictures of the city then had evening rations at Dickeys Pit BBQ before heading toward the Twin Cities. Due to lack of rooms at a reasonable price on the Minnesota side I spent the night in Hudson, WI.

Saturday I crossed into Minnesota then crossed the Mississippi. I swung by the shipper and located the truck and loaded my gear and did safety inspection. Then I headed into Minneapolis and snuck in a little more sightseeing. I saw the famous Spoon at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden then I had midday rations in Potbelly's before heading to a filling station then turning in the car at MSP. Afterward I hired a taxi to get back to the truck.

Trip: South St-Paul, MN to Burlington, ON 925 miles
Make: 2016 Peterbilt
Model: Cab and Chassis
Transmission: Standard Straight 10-speed
Route: Interstate 94 to Interstate 90 to Interstate 39 to Interstate 80 to Interstate 294 to Interstate 94 to Interstate 69 to Blue Water Bridge to Ontario 402 to Ontario 401 to Ontario 403
Maximum elevation: unknown
Highest diesel price USA: 2.39$ per gallon at Flying J Roberts, WI
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.289$ per gallon at Mr. Fuel Lake Station, IN
Diesel price Canada: 0.999$CAD/litre at Flying J London, ON
Border Crossing: Port Huron, MI to Sarnia, ON

I got started on the trip and it was not long before I crossed the Mississippi. I headed into Wisconsin and encountered some rain showers around Osseo. I spent the night in Tomah, WI.

Sunday I attended Tomah Baptist Church in Tomah, WI and after the service a friend took me to Culver's for midday rations. There was a traffic jam west of Madison and I had to follow a detour the authorities set up. I entered Illinois and there was some fairly heavy rain in Rochelle, IL. I made it to Morris, IL where I spent the night.

Monday it was clear to start in Illinois but cool. There was a traffic jam in Joliet, IL due to an accident that resulted in a lane closure. I stopped in Lake Station, IN to take on fuel and it clouded up and was overcast in Michigan. I spent the night in Imlay City, MI.

Tuesday had to wait to get papers needed to cross the border but the crossing went smoothly once I got the required papers. I talked to the receiver to make arrangements for delivery. I went down Plains Road in Burlington for the first time in a long time and found that the Bell Motel no longer exists. When I was with another company I stayed at the Bell Motel numerous times but now it is gone and I imagine condos are going to be built in its place. I swung by motel, checked in and offloaded nearly all my gear then I proceeded to make a late night delivery. I hired a taxi back to the motel then had late evening rations at Pizza Pizza. I spent the night in Burlington, ON.

Wednesday I hired a taxi which came and took me to Bolton, ON where I got the next truck.

Trip: Bolton, ON to Northville, MI 264 miles
Make: 2016 Peterbilt
Model: Vacuum Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Ontario 50 to Ontario 7 to Ontario 427 to Ontario 401 to Ontario 402 to Blue Water Bridge to Interstate 69 to Interstate 94 to Interstate 275 to Interstate 96
Maximum elevation: unknown
Diesel price Canada: 0.989$ CAD/litre at Flying J Mississauga, ON
Diesel price USA: 2.359$ per gallon at Pilot Kimball, MI
Border Crossing: Sarnia, ON/Port Huron, MI

I got the truck and had a short wait for paperwork needed to re-enter the USA. I had the normal traffic congestion in the GTA. There is a bottleneck in Mississauga where the 401 narrows from 9 lanes to 3 lanes rather quickly. I ate at the Service Centre in Cambridge, ON and made a pit stop in London. the border crossing was problem free but due to hours of service constraints I could not legally reach Northville, MI. I spent the night in Roseville, MI.

Thursday the 5th of May, I continued to my destination after learning of a long term closure due to construction so I figured out an alternate route. I learned that there was a truck in Northville for me to pick up to take to La Porte, TX. I arrived in Northville where I switched my gear to the other truck and I completed delivery.