Tour of Duty 7th September 2019 to 8th October 2019
Part VI: 21st September to 30th September

I awoke Saturday 21st September in Dallas, Texas. I got transport to the shipper in Irving and found the location was huge which is fitting since this was Texas. I had trouble locating someone who knew about the truck and was sent to Dispatch. From Dispatch I was sent to a garage a considerable distance away. I talked to a guy who made a phone call and I was finally given the key and I finally loaded my gear and did inspection.

Trip: Irving, TX to Richland, WA 1,898 paid miles/2,050 actual miles
Make: 2014 Volvo
Model: Road Tractor
Transmission: Standard straight 10-speed
Governed Speed: 68mph
Route: Loop 12 to Texas 183 to Interstate 820 to Interstate 35W to US287 to Interstate 40 to US287 to Interstate 70 to Interstate 270 to Interstate 25 to Interstate 80 to Utah 201 to Interstate 215 to Interstate 15 to Interstate 84 to Interstate 82 to US395 to Interstate 182 to Washington 240
Highest elevation: 8,640 feet Sherman Summit Interstate 80 about 10 miles east of Laramie, WY
Highest diesel price USA: 3.359$ per gallon Flying J Snowville, UT
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.859$ per gallon Pilot Fort Worth, TX
Permits Required: WY, ID, OR and WA Trip Permits

I got started and stopped in Fort Worth to take on fuel and then I had to do what is known as a "Parked Regeneration" before proceeding. I stopped at a nearby Schlotzsky's Deli for evening rations. I looked up hotel rooms and I was planning on booking a room in Decatur, TX but the last non-smoking room at the place I planned to stay disappeared on me before I was actually able to make the booking. So I had to rethink my options and ended up booking a room and spending the night in Fort Worth, TX.

Sunday morning I got started earlier than usual and made it to Decatur, TX (on US287) and attended morning service at Eagle Drive Baptist Church. The message was on First Thessalonians 5:16-18. The message was especially about giving thanks in (not necessarily for) everything. After the church service I went into downtown Decatur and took some pictures. Afterward I proceeded to Henrietta, TX where there was a rain shower. I had midday rations in Henrietta before proceeding. I made it to Childress, TX and attended evening service at Parkland Baptist Church. The message was on First Peter about the believer's relationship with God. I made it to Amarillo where I had evening rations at McDonald's then I got hotel and spent the night in Amarillo, TX.

Monday I proceeded and stopped in Dumas, TX to get some supplies and have midday rations. Then I made pit stops in Boise City, OK, Springfield, CO and Lamar, CO. As I approached my exit in Limon, CO I saw a "Low Coolant" alert illuminate on the dash. That alert went out before I actually exited and I made a mental note to check the coolant in the morning. I spent the night in Limon, CO.

Tuesday when I did safety inspection I checked the coolant and saw it was way low though there was still some. I went to the TA across the street and got two gallons of red coolant. I used all of one gallon and part of the next gallon to bring the coolant level up to maximum. Then I proceeded. I made pit stop in Bennett, CO where I had midday rations. There was congestion on Interstates 70, 270 and 25 in the Denver metro area. I stopped at truckstop in Johnstown, CO and topped up the coolant and I decided to get another gallon as there are considerable distances between cities in Wyoming as well as other Western States. I took on DEF in Cheyenne and added more coolant. I stopped in Laramie, WY for evening rations then I spent the night in Laramie, WY.

Wednesday I topped up the coolant and notified Dispatch about the issue. I stopped at the TA in Rawlins, WY and Dispatch told me to put the truck in the shop there. The shop found an air leak in the firewall which was not a quick fix and was unable to find the source of the coolant leak. The shop was unable to fix anything but was happy to get paid for looking at the truck. I was told to proceed toward Salt Lake City. There was roadworks east of Rock Springs. I made a pit stop in Rock Springs then stopped briefly in Green River. I saw elk in Green River, WY. I continued west and spent the night in Evanston, WY.

Thursday I saw some fall colours in Utah. I altered my route to divert to Salt Lake City. Had I not been diverted I would have taken Interstate 84 toward Ogden. Instead I stayed on the 80 and made a pit stop in Park City, UT then I topped Parley's Summit before descending into the Salt Lake Valley. I went to another branch of the same company of the shipper in Salt Lake City and spent one minute shy of five hours there while repairs were made. There was a question as to whether or not the trip would end or if repairs would be made quick enough so I could proceed. The latter happened and I proceeded and ended up spending the night in Tremonton, UT.

Friday I took some pictures of Tremonton, UT and then headed to Snowville, UT and took on some fuel and had midday rations while waiting for the Idaho Trip Permit to be sent to me. I finally got the Permit and entered Idaho. I also got Trip Permits for Oregon and Washington sent to me. I stopped in Burley, UT and took pictures of that city. Then I saw the sunset in Eden, ID. I had evening rations in Jerome, ID. I ended up spending the night in Boise, ID.

Saturday it was raining lightly when I woke up but it quit raining by the time I was ready to leave. I entered Oregon and I took on fuel in Ontario, OR. I proceeded to Baker City, OR where I took some pictures of that city. It was windy at times. It clouded up as I approached La Grande, OR. I made pit stop in La Grande then I continued west and gained elevation as I transited the Blue Mountains. The summit at Meacham was 4,193 feet and I saw what looked like snowflakes though the snow did not stick. I heard there was snow in Spokane, WA and other locations. I encountered thick fog and ended up slowing to about 20mph due to poor visibility. I started down the grade toward Pendleton called Cabbage Hill and got out of the fog. I stopped in Pendleton and checked into hotel. Then I took a walk and had evening rations at Hamley Steakhouse and Saloon. Then I took some nighttime pictures of Pendleton, OR. I spent the night in Pendleton, OR.

Sunday I attended morning service at Compass Baptist Church in Pendleton, OR. Attendance was light with the Preacher, his wife, one other woman and myself. In other words, us four and no more. The message was on Malachi 3:16-18. The preacher was a fellow bootwearer. I took some pictures of downtown Pendleton before proceeding. I switched to Interstate 82 and crossed the Columbia River into Washington. I proceeded to Pasco, WA where I took some pictures of that city. Then I headed to Kennewick and checked into hotel. I had evening rations at a seafood restaurant and I spent the night in Kennewick, WA.

Monday I got ready and got locked into my next trip and a rental car was set up going from Richland, WA to SEA. I headed to the receiver for execution of delivery and conclusion of the trip. Once delivery was complete I phoned up the rental car company and after a wait I was picked up and taken to the rental car office in Richland where I officially got into the car. I took some pictures of downtown Richland before proceeding to Prosser, WA where I took pictures of that city. Then I continued to Yakima, WA where I took pictures of downtown Yakima then I went to a Laundromat where I did some much needed laundry. Then I proceeded to Ellensburg where I had evening rations at Buzz Inn which consisted of Fish and Chips. Then I proceeded over the Cascades and stopped briefly in Issaquah where I took a few nighttime pictures of that city. Then I proceeded to hotel where I checked in and I spent the night in SeaTac, WA.

Decatur, Texas

Decatur, Texas

Clarendon, Texas

Green River, Wyoming

Park City, Utah Fall Colours 26th September 2019

Park City, Utah Fall Colours 26th September 2019

Tremonton, Utah

Eden, Idaho sunset 27th September 2019

Issaquah, Washington

Issaquah, Washington