Tour of Duty 11th September 2020 to 8th October 2020
Part I: 11th September to 16th September

I planned to stay home longer but I saw a trip that was too good to pass up. I accepted the dispatch for a trip from Fontana, California to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I took care of some things at the house and got ready and ordered transportation to Fontana where the truck was staged outside for me. I loaded my gear and did the inspection for an after hours pickup and headed to nearby truckstop to take on fuel.

Trip: Fontana, CA to Oklahoma City, OK 1,291 paid miles
Make: 2019 Freightliner
Model: Boom/Bucket Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Governed Speed: 64mph
Route: Interstate 10 to Interstate 215 to Interstate 15 to Interstate 40 to Interstate 44
Highest elevation: 7,335 feet Arizona Divide Interstate 40 5 miles west of Flagstaff, AZ
Highest diesel price: 3.259$ per gallon at Flying J Barstow, CA
Lowest diesel price: 2.359$ per gallon at Love's Conway/Claude, TX

I took on just enough fuel in Fontana to ensure that I could get to the High Desert without worrying about running out or running so low that the fuel would go on. I ended up taking the 10 east to the 215 north to avoid some congestion on the 15 north before the north split/merge with the 215 in Devore. I still got some congestion going up Cajon Pass. I stopped at the Pilot in Hesperia but did not take on fuel; I got evening rations from Wendy's. I proceeded to the Flying J where I topped up the fuel tank which was only a 50 gallon tank. I got a room and spent the night in Barstow, CA.

Saturday I headed east across Interstate 40 and upon entering Arizona I saw the Port of Entry was closed. I stopped in Kingman for fuel and for evening rations. I saw that rooms in Flagstaff and Williams were very expensive. I ended up getting a room in Ash Fork for 34.20$ all in which was a great price but it was a rare "no points" stay. I spent the night in Ash Fork, AZ.

Sunday morning I went to the service at the Church of Christ in Ash Fork as there were no Baptist Churches in that city and my schedule would not have permitted me to make most if not all church services in Williams and Flagstaff. Including myself there were a total of 6 people present. There was a discussion on Psalm 67 and then there was Communion. For midday rations I had take out at McDonald's in Bellemont, AZ. I stopped in Winslow, AZ to take pictures and take on fuel. I stopped at the Port of Entry (which was open) near Gallup, NM to get Trip Permit and then I parked to look up hotels and before I left I was instructed to circle around to a bay for a DOT Inspection. The Truck passed the DOT Inspection with no violations. Afterward I encountered construction from Gallup to Jamestown, NM. I crossed the Continental Divide and spent the night in Jamestown, NM.

Monday I made an unscheduled stop at a Costco location in Albuquerque to get new luggage to replace luggage that wore out. While inside the store I saw some Christmas items...in September! I could hardly believe that Christmas items would be on display while it was still technically summer. After I got what I was looking for I continued east. I stopped in Moriarty and was going to get midday rations from Blake's Lotaburger but I saw that they blocked off the restroom so I decided to take my business elsewhere and I went to the TA and ordered from Burger King. I continued east to Santa Rosa, NM where I took on fuel and photographed the sunset. Afterward I stopped in Tucumcari where I got Chicken Tenders for evening rations then I continued into Texas and I spent the night in Amarillo, TX.

Tuesday I stopped in Conway, TX (but the receipt said Claude, TX so I adjusted my log entry accordingly) then I stopped in McLean, TX and had late afternoon rations at Red River Steakhouse where I got a reasonably priced (in my opinion) sirloin steak meal. I took some pictures of McLean then continued east and took pictures of Texola, OK before getting back on the Interstate and clearing the Oklahoma Port of Entry.I took some pictures of the sunset in Elk City, OK then stopped in Hinton, OK for late evening rations. I experienced a brief rain shower around El Reno, OK, the only precipitation this trip. The rain quit by the time I reached Yukon, OK. I ended up spending the night in Oklahoma City, OK.

Wednesday I accepted a dispatch for the next trip which originated at another location in Oklahoma City. I continued to the receiver where I completed delivery and I scanned in the paperwork. Then I ordered Uber to head to the next shipper.


My ride from Fontana, California to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma