Tour of Duty 11th September 2020 to 8th October 2020
Part IV: 25th September to 28th September

I awoke on Friday 25th September in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I got ready and checked out and summoned an Uber ride to Lake Charles, Louisiana. This was a very expensive Uber at 173$ and some change for a ride of about 132 miles. I had a chat with the driver and found that he was from Lake Charles and he rode out the hurricane there and the roof of his house caved in and everything got wet and his house was uninhabitable. I phoned up the shipper and was told to go to a filling station not far from the truck was and the shipper would take me the rest of the way to the truck. I did see some evidence of hurricane damage in and near Lake Charles. I found the truck and loaded my gear and got started.

Trip: Lake Charles, LA to Decatur, GA 657 paid miles
Make: 2017 Freightliner
Model: Bucket Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Governed Speed: 69mph
Route: Interstate 210 to Interstate 10 to US167 to Louisiana 328 to Louisiana 347 to Interstate 10 to Interstate 12 to Interstate 10 to Interstate 65 to Interstate 85 to Interstate 285
Highest elevation: unknown
Highest Diesel Price USA: 2.429$ per gallon at Love's Evergreen, AL
Lowest Diesel Price USA: 2.239$ per gallon at Pilot Denham Springs, LA

I got started and made pit stop at Love's in Iowa, LA just east of Lake Charles. I opted not to get soda there as they did not appear to be cooled and the only facilities available to be used were port a potties outside as running water had not yet been restored to the building. I continued east and stopped in Rayne, LA and was disappointed to find the restaurant at the truckstop was permanantly closed, no doubt a casualty of fear of the C19 cooties. I stopped in Lafayette, LA where I was able to use the regular facilities at the TA and I got evening rations from Boston Market just before they closed. I stopped in Denham Springs to take on fuel and ended up spending the night in Hammond, LA.

Saturday I had a late start. I had midday rations at McDonald's in Gulfport, MS then I stopped to take on fuel in Moss Point, MS before entering Alabama. I made a pit stop in Greenville, AL and had to detour to get back on the northbound 65 due to construction. I spent the night in Greenville, AL.

Sunday I did not go to morning church as I had too late of a start. I proceeded and was delayed due to a truck getting in a wreck south of Montgomery, AL. In Montgomery I started my run on the northbound 85 and took on fuel and made pit stop in Shorter, AL. I made it into Georgia and stopped at the Welcome Centre and phoned up Friendship Baptist Church in LaGrange, GA and found they were not having evening service. I drove by Living Waters Baptist Church and found that due to narrow driveway I would have difficulty making the turn but the place was empty anyway and I found another location to turn around and I headed to Old Pathway Baptist Church in LaGrange, GA and found another empty car park. I ended up taking some pictures of downtown LaGrange, GA and I had evening rations at Country's Barbecue before getting a room and spending the night in LaGrange, GA.

Monday I learned about a trip from LaFayette, GA to Rochester, NY. I headed into Decatur and made delivery. I learned the truck in LaFayette, GA was a different type than I anticipated and I learned of a trip from Texas to California that seemed to be more suitable for me. I asked for that trip and was dispatched on it. I got Uber to hotel and after I settled in I did some much needed laundry then got evening rations at Ruby Tuesday. I spent the night in College Park, GA.


My ride from Lake Charles, Louisiana to Decatur, Georgia

Hammond, Louisiana