Tour of Duty 26th March 2019 to 5th April 2019
Part I: 26th March to 28th March

I got word from dispatch that the same truck I dropped off in before going home was available and ready to go to Petaluma, California. I accepted the trip and looked ahead to what trips might be available and saw a fair amount of activity both in the Kansas City area and Independence, Kansas. So I booked a flight on Southwest leaving the evening of Thursday 28th of March from SJC going to MCI with a stop (no plane change) at SAN. I figured that if plans change the money could be used for another flight if I had to cancel. I also transferred my clothing and hygiene articles into another bag as the bag I used for that purpose was coming apart. That bag was used as a spare stopgap bag and I ordered a new bag online.

The evening of Tuesday 26th March I got transport to the same lot where I dropped the truck. I was given the space number and proceeded to that space and at twilight's last gleaming I located the key, loaded my gear into the truck and did the inspection and mounted my placards and transporter tag. I waited until that time in the evening to do the pickup to allow for the evening commute period traffic to die down.

Trip: Santa Ana (Irvine), CA to Petaluma, CA 444 paid miles
Make: 2017 Chevrolet
Model: Box truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: California 55 to Interstate 5 to California 12 to Interstate 80 to California 37 to US101
Highest elevation: 4,144 feet at Tejon Pass Interstate 5 one mile south of the Los Angeles/Kern County line or 2 miles north of Gorman, CA and one mile south of Frazier Park, CA
Highest unleaded price USA: 3.619$ per gallon at North Petaluma Petaluma, CA
Lowest unleaded price USA: 3.059$ per gallon at ARCO Buttonwillow, CA

Traffic moved well for the most part and I made first pit stop and fuel stop in Castaic, CA where I topped off the fuel tank. Then I booked a room in Buttonwillow before ascending the Grapevine. Since the truck was only two axle the 55mph California truck speed limit did not apply. I climbed and then descended the Grapevine. I checked into my room in Buttonwillow and made two trips to get the gear I wanted into the room from the truck. The first trip was uneventful but the key or lock malfunctioned on the second trip and I needed the assistance of the front desk to get in my room! I asked for and was granted a noon checkout as a result. I spent the night in Buttonwillow, CA.

Wednesday I took on fuel before leaving Buttonwillow then headed north and got off at the Harris Ranch exit (California 198) and had midday rations at Harris Ranch Express before continuing north. I stopped in Santa Nella and there were some rain showers there and I saw a rainbow. I took on fuel in Lodi then headed west on California 12, Interstate 80 and California 37 before connecting with northbound US101 and I headed to Rohnert Park where I had late evening rations and I spent what turned out to be a rainy night in Rohnert Park, CA.

Thursday it started out dry. I opted to put on a little fuel in Petaluma to ensure the fuel level was right for delivery then I proceeded to the receiver and it was dry when I arrived at the receiver in Petaluma. However rain started to fall while delivery was in progress. My gear was safely under cover before the rain started. It was raining pretty good while I was in the office. I talked to dispatch and learned there were no trucks available in the Bay Area or California but there were several trucks available in Independence, Kansas. I ordered an Uber to go to SJC and that was a long trip. Air tickets out of OAK and SFO were a lot more expensive going to MCI.

En route to SJC on the Uber the rain stopped at about San Rafael and we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco proper. We took some streets and connected with Interstate 280 to leave the city and then took Interstate 380 to connect with southbound US101 near SFO. Traffic was heavy in spots but I arrived at SJC with more than enough time to catch my flight.

I checked in and checked my bags which weighed 40.5 and 47.5lbs. I took some time before I cleared security and I had TSA Precheck on my Boarding Pass so I cleared security and did not have to opt out and there was no additional screening for my carry on's. I goofed the previous day and forgot to check in at T-24 and it was 4 hours 15 minutes later before I remembered so I checked in and got B58. Because I took my time between check in and clearing security I did not measure how long it took.

Southwest #1951 SJC-SAN B-737-700 Boarding Pass B58
Seat 17F Cruising altitude 37,000 feet Estimated flying time 0:58, actual 1:00
Depart: Gate 19 Scheduled 17h00, actual 17h01 Taxi: 8 minutes
Arrive: Gate 9 Scheduled 18h20, actual 18h15 Taxi: 6 minutes

We boarded via jetway. The plane was almost full. It was announced there were scattered clouds and it was 68F at SAN. Pushback was one minute late and takeoff was to the north. At 0:01 we made a reverse "U" turn to head south at the very south tip of the San Francisco Bay. While headed south I saw SJC and downtown San Jose. I saw Monterey Bay at 0:10. I saw the Monterey Peninsula at 0:11. Drink orders were taken at 0:13. Seatbelt sign went off and cruise was announced at 0:18 and I saw the coastline to the distance. It was announced our estimated arrival at SAN is 10 minutes early. I got pretzels at 0:21. I got cup of soda at 0:23. At 0:25 I saw yellow down below from flowers that were blooming. I saw Point Conception to the distance at 0:30. I saw what looked to be Ojai at 0:32 and I saw the Ventura County coastline at 0:34 including Point Magu. We were over Thousand Oaks at 0:35. I saw Malibu at 0:37 as we went overwater. I felt descent begin at 0:38 and seatbelt sign went on and descent was announced at the same time. At 0:39 we went over the Palos Verdes Peninsula and at 0:40 I saw San Pedro and went overwater once more. I saw Santa Catalina Island at 0:41. We made landfall at 0:51 and I saw La Jolla. I saw Mission Bay at 0:52 and I saw Qualcomm Stadium at 0:53. We made left turn then turned right to line up with the runway and I saw Balboa Park on final approach. We landed east to west and arrived at gate 5 minutes early. After the thru passenger count I changed seats and used the washroom.

Southwest # 1951 SAN-MCI B-737-700 Thru Passenger
Seat 3F Cruising altitude 39,000 feet Estimated flying time 2:29, actual 2:29
Depart: Gate 9 Scheduled 19h10, actual 19h11 Taxi: 9 minutes
Arrive: Gate 34 Scheduled 00h15 +1, actual 23h56 Taxi: 6 minutes
Reclaim checked bags 26-27 minutes after arrival

I was a thru passenger and stayed on board. The plane was was mostly but not totally full and my row had an empty middle seat. It was announced it was 56F, overcast with light rain, drizzle and mist forecast for arrival at MCI. Pushback was one minute late and takeoff was to the west and I saw Mission Bay and Sea World immediately after takeoff. We went overwater at 0:01 and turned left and I saw the aftermath of the sunset. We turned left again and made landfall at 0:05 over Imperial Beach. I saw the Border Field Park and the Mexican Border and Tijuana to the south. I saw the San Ysidro Port of Entry and the south confluence/split of Interstates 5 and 805. At 0:06 I saw the Otay Mesa border crossing. At 0:08 I saw Tecate, CA and Tecate, BJ. At 0:15 I saw Calexico, CA/Mexicali, BJ. At 0:20 I saw Yuma, AZ. At 0:21 seatbelt sign went off. I got Ritz "Plane Crackers" at 0:28. At 0:34 I got cup of soda. At 0:36 I saw the lights of the Phoenix metro area. At 1:01 I got second cup of soda. At 1:07 I saw the lights of the Albuquerque area. Seatbelt sign went on at 2:01. I felt descent begin at 2:02. I did not understand much of the Captain's announcement but I heard it was overcast. We went into the clouds and i was unsure of the direction of landing on a wet runway. We arrived at gate 19 minutes early and we deplaned via jetway.

I had a wait to reclaim my checked bags then another wait as I was unable to immediately contact the hotel where I booked a room to summon the airport shuttle. No one answered for awhile. Finally I did get a hold of the hotel after sitting down and plugging my phone in to give it some juice. There was more wait for the shuttle but the shuttle came and I checked into hotel and spent the night in Kansas City, MO.

NOTE: No pictures are available due to a catastrophic event on my old Smartphone where all the pictures that I took were erased and due to the fact I have not yet gotten a new Digital Camera.