Tour of Duty 11th February 2020 to 9th March 2020
Part III: 18th February to 24th February
On Tuesday 18th February I awoke in Hammond, Louisiana. I was in rental car from Sulphur, Louisiana to Gulfport, Mississippi. I stopped in Slidell, Louisiana to take some pictures of that city. Then I continued into Mississippi and I stopped by the shipper and checked in and loaded my gear into truck and did inspection before I headed to drop off the rental car. I was directed to another location. By the way I got unleaded for the rental car at 1.999$ per gallon. I dropped off the rental car and got a lift back to the truck and got some papers signed then I commenced the trip.
Trip: Gulfport, MS to Longview, TX 437 paid miles
Make: 2019 Peterbilt
Model: Vacuum Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Governed Speed: 68mph
Route: US49 to Interstate 10 to Interstate 12 to Interstate 10 to Interstate 110 to US190 to Interstate 49 to Louisiana 3132 to Interstate 20 to Texas 31
Maximum elevation: unknown but not very high
Highest diesel price: 2.599$ per gallon at Flying J Gulfport, MS and Pilot Hammond, LA
Lowest diesel price: 2.569$ per gallon at Circle K Gulfport, MS
I got started and stopped at one location to get the fuel level to a quarter then another location where I filled the tank. I had evening rations at Wendys. There was fog so I opted to shut down early and I spent the night in Diamondhead, MS.
Wednesday the fog lifted. There were a few drops of rain soon after I entered Louisiana. I stopped to take on fuel in Hammond, LA. There was some congestion in Baton Rouge. I had evening rations at Subway in Port Barre, LA. There was light rain on Interstate 49 around Alexandria, LA. Heavier rain fell farther north. I spent a rainy night in Natchitoches, LA.
Thursday the rain ended and the road dried out by the time I reached Shreveport. I entered Texas and delivered truck. I got locked into trip from Geismar, LA to Corpus Christi, TX. I got ride to rental car location and got rental car and got underway. I stopped in Marshall, TX to take pictures then stopped in Waskom, TX to have evening rations at a BBQ location. Then I stopped in Shreveport, LA to take pictures before starting my southbound run on Interstate 49. I stopped and spent the night in Alexandria, LA.
Friday I continued south then east on US190 as my smartphone warned me of problems on Interstate 10. I still got some congestion in the Baton Rouge area. I made it to the shipper and checked in and loaded gear and did the safety inspection and paperwork was signed then I went and dropped off rental car in nearby Prairieville, LA then got transport back to the shipper and I commenced the trip.
Trip: Geismar, LA to Corpus Christi, TX 496 paid miles
Make: 2019 Peterbilt
Model: Vacuum Truck
Transmission: Standard straight 10-speed
Governed Speed: 75mph
Route: Louisiana 30 to Interstate 10 to Louisiana 347 to Louisiana 328 to Louisiana 94 to Local Streets back to Interstate 10 to US59 (future Interstate 69) to US77 to Interstate 37
Maximum elevation: unknown but very low
Highest diesel price USA: 2.599$ per gallon at Flying J Baytown, TX
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.529$ per gallon at Loves Sinton, TX
I got rolling and stopped at a truckstop in St-Gabriel, LA for a compulsory 30 minute break to stay on the right side of the law regarding Hours of Service. Then I took Louisiana 30 and avoided some traffic problems that way and finally got on Interstate 10 and I crossed the Mississippi. After I crossed the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge I detoured via Louisiana 347, Louisiana 328 and Louisiana 94 into Lafayette to avoid construction and traffic problems. I spent the night in Lafayette, LA.
Saturday I had a late start. I had midday rations of fried crawfish tails at Frog City Truckstop in Rayne, LA. Then I continued west on Interstate 10. There was about an eight mile backup and traffic was at a virtual standstill adding several hours to my trip. I exited the last Louisiana in Toomey, LA to take a break then got back on the Interstate and crawled along. Finally I crossed the Sabine River into Texas and I made pit stop at the Rest Area in Orange, TX. At that time I saw construction workers collecting cones thereby ending a lane closure and traffic improved. I stopped in Baytown, TX to take on fuel then headed through Houston and got caught in traffic jams late at night and I finally cleared Houston proper and I spent night in Stafford, TX.
Sunday I got started too late to make morning service anywhere. It was cloudy. There was a 28 mile construction zone that I navigated but it did not seem as bad as a previous time a few months ago. I stopped in Wharton, TX to take some pictures then I stopped in El Campo, TX to have midday rations. Afterward I stopped in Edna, TX to take more pictures then I stopped in Victoria, TX and attended evening service at Northside Baptist Church. Afterward I continued south and I stopped to take on fuel in Sinton, TX then I continued on and spent the night in Corpus Christi, TX.
Monday was my 58th Birthday. I drove the few miles to finish the trip and arrived at receiver for execution of delivery and conclusion of this trip. Last time I delivered at this location was my mother's 91st Birthday but the weather was much better this time. I requested but did not get a trip from Independence, KS to Meridian, ID and I thought I might be stuck in Corpus Christi but I saw a trip from La Porte, TX to Rahway, NJ pop up and I was dispatched on that trip. I saw I would be racing the clock to try to get the last flight that evening to Houston so I booked an air ticket for the next day. A friend of mine came and picked me up and took me to hotel where I reserved a room. After I checked in I went to
Bar B Q Man to get some evening rations. I spent the night in Corpus Christi, TX.
My ride from Gulfport, Mississippi to Longview, Texas
My ride from Geismar, Louisiana to Corpus Christi, Texas
Geismar, Louisiana sunset 21st February 2020
Geismar, Louisiana
Corpus Christi, Texas sunset 24th February 2020
Corpus Christi, Texas