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Jan 2, 2018 | 2:03 am

Loose Cannon

Join Date: Aug 2004

Location: Let me check my Logbook

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Posts: 2,406

Bayou to Prairie; Rolling Bomb to Houston

Tour of Duty 19th September 2017 to 14th October 2017
Part IV: 4th October to 12th October

I awoke on Wednesday the 4th of October in Alexandria, Louisiana. I stopped for rental car fuel and unleaded was only 2.119$ per gallon in Opelousas, Louisiana. I took US190 as an alternate to Interstate 10 across the Atchafalaya Basin and rejoined Interstate 10 in Port Allen. I crossed the Mississippi River over to the "dirty side" and headed to Saint-Gabriel where I arrived at the shipper. The shipper was able to start the truck without any trouble which was a pleasant surprise as it seemed the truck was sitting at the shipper forever. I loaded my gear and did the inspection then headed to Prairieville to turn in the rental car and afterward I got transport back to the truck.

Trip: Saint-Gabriel, LA to Rozel, KS diverted to Great Bend, KS 910 miles
Make: 2012 Peterbilt
Model: Water Truck (Tank)
Transmission: Standard 18-speed
Route: Louisiana 30 to Interstate 10 to Interstate 49 to Louisiana 3132 to Interstate 20 to US80 to Interstate 635 to Interstate 35E to Interstate 35 to Interstate 135 to US56
Maximum elevation: unknown but Great Bend, KS is listed at 1,850 feet
Highest diesel price USA: 2.659$ per gallon at Flying J Greenwood, LA
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.599$ per gallon at Pilot Breaux Bridge, LA and Tonkawa, OK

I had evening rations at the truckstop and it was after sunset before I actually got underway. I drove past LSU on Louisiana 30 before hooking up with Interstate 10 and I then crossed the Mississippi. I stopped in Breaux Bridge for fuel in order to see how the fuel economy would be. That was a mistake as a semi was parked illegally and causing traffic gridlock in the truckstop. The police were present and eventually the offending semi left. Perhaps that semi was equipped with an ELD and the driver was out of hours. I finally got the fuel and left and did not go much farther before I shut down and spent the night in Lafayette, LA.

Thursday it was warm and humid. I stopped shy of Shreveport to have evening rations which consisted of two chicken tenders and one piece of catfish. The westbound scale on Interstate 20 in Louisiana was closed so I motored on into Texas and I spent the night in Longview, TX.

Friday it was warm. I had midday rations at Soulman's BBQ in Van, TX then I stopped and held short in Terrell, TX and held short to allow time for traffic to die down in the DFW Metroplex. Then I headed west into the Metroplex and traffic moved well at first but there was a traffic jam on Interstate 635. The speed limit on that part of Interstate 635 was 70mph in regular lanes and 75mph in the new Toll Lanes. Then I got on northbound Interstate 35E. This was the first time in a long time that I took the 35E due to major construction. Almost all the construction was done except for some in and around Denton. However I still don't like Interstate 35E due to narrower lanes due to the new High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. I made it to Ardmore, OK where I spent the night.

Saturday was fair and warm and I continued north on Interstate 35. I stopped in Pauls Valley, OK for midday rations then got caught in traffic between Norman and Oklahoma City as a college football game in Norman let out. I made a pit stop in Guthrie then took on fuel in Tonkawa, OK. I made it to Wichita, KS where I spent the night.

Sunday morning I attended service at Lincoln Baptist Church in Wichita, KS. This was the first time I went to any church in Wichita. Then I got rolling and stopped for midday rations in Newton before exiting the Interstate in McPherson and I started my run west on US56. The weather was nice and it got up to at least 80F. I entered Great Bend and proceeded to hotel where I checked in and offloaded almost all my gear. Then I took the truck to where the customer told me to drop it and did an after hours drop as the sun set. I walked back to the hotel then I walked to Pizza Hut where I had evening rations. I spent the night in Great Bend, KS.

On Monday I awoke to a cloudy and windy day and the temperature only got up into the 50sF. I accepted a trip out of Kansas City so I got in a rental car. The rental car was very low on fuel so I got fuel in Great Bend which cost 2.199$ per gallon for unleaded. I took some pictures of Great Bend then proceeded to Hoisington, Claflin, Lindsborg and Salina, KS and took some pictures of those cities. I had early evening rations at Freddy's Steakburger in Salina, KS which was similar to Steak & Shake except prices were higher. Afterward I got on Interstate 70 and headed east. I spent the night in Kansas City, KS.

Tuesday I headed to the shipper and I was going to load my gear into the truck but there was an issue and there was a question whether I would be able to take the truck due to a technical issue. I had to turn in the rental car so I headed to where I was told to and was sent to another location closer to the shipper. While waiting for ride back to shipper it started to rain. I finally was taken back to shipper and I completed the pickup in the rain.

Trip: Kansas City, KS to Houston, TX 746 miles
Make: 2018 Peterbilt
Model: Tank Truck Placarded UN1203
Transmission: Automatic
Route: Kansas 32 to Interstate 635 to Interstate 35 to Interstate 35W to Texas 114 to Loop 12 to Spur 408 to Interstate 20 to Interstate 45 to Interstate 610
Maximum elevation: unknown but Wichita, KS on Interstate 35 is listed at 1,300 feet
Highest diesel price USA: 2.699$ per gallon at Pilot Kansas City, KS
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.539$ per gallon at Pilot Buffalo, TX

I headed to truckstop to take on fuel and the rain diminished. It quit raining by the time I got out of the Kansas City area. I made various pit stops and ended up in Blackwell, OK where I spent the night.

Wednesday I took on fuel in Tonkawa, OK and Ardmore, OK. I had midday rations in Edmond, OK at Sonic. I made it to Corsicana, TX and spent the night there.

Thursday it was warm. I took on fuel in Buffalo, TX. The lights for the weigh scale in Centerville, TX were flashing indicating that the scale was open. I saw numerous semi trucks parked on the breakdown lane. I guess the drivers were afraid of being inspected. The lights quit flashing just before I reached the ramp for the weigh scale so I breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded as planned. I made a pit stop and ate in Huntsville, TX before continuing south toward Houston. There was a wreck and lane blockage on Interstate 45 near the Hardy Toll Road that caused congestion. It was slow to the 610 ring road around Houston but wide open once I got on the 610. I was able to make delivery minutes before the receiver closed for the day.I got transportation to a hotel on the other side of Houston as closer hotels were booked full. I had evening rations at a Hibachi buffet and thought I got my moneys worth. I spent the night in Houston, TX.