Tour of Duty 30th August 2010 to 29th October 2010
Part V: 18th October to 29th October

I was taken via company vehicle from Bolton, ON where I delivered the last truck to Mississagua, ON where I got the next vehicle.

Trip: Mississagua, ON to Clearwater, FL 1,366 paid miles Route: QEW to Peace Bridge to Interstate 190 to Interstate 90 to Interstate 79 to US19 to Interstate 77 to Interstate 26 to Interstate 95 to Interstate 4 to Interstate 275 Maximum elevation: 3,252 feet at Flat Top on Interstate 77 2 miles south of Ghent, WV
Highest fuel price: $3.299/gallon at Sunoco Angola, NY & Pilot Portersville, PA
Lowest fuel price: $2.889/gallon at Wilco/Hess Wytheville, VA
Permits needed: PA Trip permit

This vehicle was a Mercedes Sprinter Van with an automatic transmission. I got the vehicle and got started. There was some rain in PA and I shut down for the first night in Harborcreek (Erie), PA. Next day it rained again some but I saw fall colours in both Erie and also Grove City. When on US19 in WV I crossed the New River Gorge Bridge but saw nothing as it was night. I spent the night in Princeton, WV.

Next day I saw some fall colours in Princeton then it was through the tunnel and into VA and the fall colours suddenly looked very drab though there was a little more around Galax, VA. I headed into North Carolina and had dinner at Carolina BBQ in Statesville, NC. In North Carolina all the foilage was still green. Traffic was jammed around Mooresville but moving better through Charlotte. I spent the night in Savannah, GA.

Next day I kicked it into high gear after entering FL. Traffic in Orlando was heavy but moving and the speed limit on Interstate 4 went all the way down to 50mph.

Next day I made the delivery then hired a taxi to TPA. I checked in and when I checked my two bags I had a choice: Pay $60 to check my two bags or upgrade my second segment to First Class for $50 and be excused from paying the checked bag fees. Both bags weighed 49.5lbs. I chose the latter option then cleared security after a short queue with no secondary screening and no hand searches of carry ons.

US Airways #1638 TPA-CLT A-321 Seat 22F Exit Row Cruising altitude 37,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:19, actual 1:14
Depart F86 Scheduled 12h00, actual 11h58 Taxi: 8 minutes
Arrive C15 Scheduled 13h40, actual 13h31 Taxi: 7 minutes

My seat was an exit row seat behind door 3R and I had unlimited leg room. The window was misaligned. The middle seat in my row was empty. Announcement was made it was clear and 63F with winds out of the NE at CLT. Pushback was 2 minutes early and takeoff was to the north and I saw downtown Tampa during takeoff roll and immediately after takeoff. Visibility was limited some due to haze.

Seatbelt sign went off at 0:25. At 0:38 I saw what looked to be Interstate 16 and the Savannah, GA area to the distance. There was drink run and I got cup of soda at 0:43. At 0:47 I saw what looked to be Columbia, SC and at 0:48 I thought I felt descent begin. Descent was announced and seatbelt sign went on at 0:57. It was 65F at CLT. I saw Carowinds amusement park on final approach and we landed south to north and arrived at gate 9 minutes early.

I went to my connecting gate and asked if my First Class boarding pass entitled me admission to the lounge. The agent told me no so I went to Bojangles and got a lunch of chicken tenders during my relatively short layover.

US Airways #1990 CLT-IND A-319 Seat 1A First Class Cruising altitude 30,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:10, actual 1:09
Depart B8 Scheduled 14h50, actual 14h52 Taxi: 18 minutes
Arrive B6 Scheduled 16h30, actual 16h26 Taxi: 6 minutes
Reclaim bags 15-16 minutes after arrival

Plane was nearly full with 2 seats open in F. I actually had much more legroom in Y with the exit row seat on the A-321 as opposed to the bulkhead seat in F on the A-319. Pushback was 2 minutes late and I saw downtown Charlotte during taxi. Takeoff was to the west. I saw the junction of Interstate 77 and Interstate 485 immmediately after takeoff.

The terrain became more hilly as we progressed toward the Appalachians and I thought I saw some fall colours far down below. At 0:17 I got can of soda with plastic cup (same cup as in coach as far as I know). The windows at my row were very scratched which detracted from the view making it not worthwhile to take photos.

Seatbelt sign went off at 0:19. At 0:24 I saw some higher peaks of the Appalachians but I was unsure of the exact location. At 0:28 the F/A came through with the snack basket and I chose potato chips and nut mix. I felt descent begin at 0:38. At 0:47 I saw the Louisville, KY area and the highway system for same and the Ohio River. We made a more northerly turn as we crossed the Ohio River into Indiana.

At 0:49 descent was announced and seatbelt sign was turned on and it was 65F at IND. I saw Seymour, IN during descent. At 1:00 I saw traffic jam on northbound Interstate 65 and we overflew IND and I saw Interstate 465 and the Flying J and Pilot truckstops off Harding Road. At 1:04 I saw downtown Indianapolis. We landed east northeast to west southwest and arrived at gate 4 minutes early.

After I reclaimed my bags I rang dispatch and was told the shipper would leave the truck out and was told where to find the keys. I hired a taxi and got to the truck and alas the title was not in the truck so I rang dispatch and was told to get the truck and stay in Indianapolis overnight.

Trip: Indianapolis, IN to Welland, ON 560 miles Route: Interstate 465 to Interstate 69 to US224 to US30 to Interstate 71 to Interstate 480 to Interstate 271 to Interstate 90 to Interstate 290 to Interstate 190 to Ontario 405 to QEW to Ontario 406 Maximum elevation: unknown but over 1,000 feet in parts of Ohio
Highest fuel price: $3.099/gallon at Pilot Burbank, OH
Lowest fuel price: $2.979/gallon at Petro Gaston, IN
Permits required: PA Trip Permit

Saturday morning I rang dispatch and was told the where the title was left for me to get at the shippers property so I swung by and got it. Then I got rolling. This truck was a bucket truck with automatic transmission and was a used truck. The day was rather routine but I saw a nice sunset in Van Wert, OH. I got as far as Strongsville, OH where I spent the night.

Sunday I attended morning service at Cleveland Baptist Church. The message was on Treasure. I saw saw fall colours especially around the rest area on Interstate 90 in West Springfield, PA. I saw some sassafras leaves which turned yellow. There was no rain when I was driving but a rain shower after I shut down for the night in Amherst, NY.

Monday there was off and on rain as I crossed the border. The broker made a mistake on the paperwork which prolonged my stay at the border. The truck was searched but my personal belongings were not searched. Rain started again in St. Catharines. There were nice fall colours as I crossed the border at the Niagara River and more fall colours in Welland, ON. I made the delivery in a residential area then my ride came and took me to Burlington, ON where I spent the night. Late the next morning I was picked up and taken to the next shipper.

Trip: Toronto, ON to Monroe, MI Route: QEW to Ontario 403 to Ontario 401 to Ontario 3 to Ambassador Bridge to Interstate 75 Maximum elevation: unknown
Highest fuel price: $0.969CAD/litre at Pilot Tilbury, ON
Lowest fuel price: $2.759/gallon at Pilot Monroe, MI
This truck ran on unleaded fuel rather than diesel
Permits required: none

This truck was a straight Ford box truck that ran on unleaded fuel and had an automatic transmission. After I made the pickup I stopped by the yard in Burlington, ON to take care of some business and then I got rolling. Rain started around Brantford and there was some hard rain so I stopped at the Service Centre in Ingersoll where I had dinner and waited for the rain to let up as I heard this storm was going to be a bad storm. Well, the storm was not as bad where I was as opposed to many other areas so I got rolling after the rain let up and then the rain stopped altogether west of London. When I got fuel in Tilbury I was told that the winds blew some trucks over.

I crossed the Ambassador Bridge and must have sounded suspicious as there was some stuff in the back of the truck and the truck was to be dropped off at a hotel in Monroe, MI. As a result I was sent to x-ray and there were 6 trucks ahead of me and it took better than an hour to go through x-ray as the person working that must have either gone on break or there was shift change or both.

After I got through x-ray I was directed to back the truck into door 11 at the docks and wait in the drivers waiting room. Drivers were required to ask permission to leave the waiting room or use the washroom and were not allowed to use cell phones and there were no pay phones! After a considerable wait I was cleared to go. At the exit booth I asked for the paper that had the customs stamp on it but the lady said absolutely not because the stamp could be counterfeited. I proceeded and it was 04h30 by the time I completed the drop off in Monroe, MI and I checked into motel and I was told I had until noon the following day and it was about 06h00 before I was able to get any shut eye and I did not sleep too well.

I took the required ten hours or more off then got ride to the rental car place and hopped into a rental car to DAY. It was quite windy but it got up to about 70F. I stopped in Lima, OH to attend the midweek prayer meeting at Immanuel Baptist. I spent the night in Dayton, OH.

Next day I dropped off the car and got the shuttle to Springfield, OH where I got the cab and chassis.

Trip: Springfield, OH to Brampton, ON Route: US68 to Interstate 70 to Interstate 75 to Ambassador Bridge to Ontario 3 to Ontario 401 to Ontario 403 to Ontario 410 Maximum elevation: unknown
Fuel price (USA): $2.999/gallon at Prime Fuel Springfield, OH
Fuel price (Canada): $0.989CAD/litre at Flying J London, ON
Permits required: none

I got started and there was a little rain starting north of Findlay, OH and the heaviest rain was just after I entered Michigan. I crossed the Ambassador Bridge and the invoice was scanned and I proceeded and spent the night in Dorchester, ON.

Next day there was some rain at times. I stopped in Woodstock to get coolant as the coolant level needed topped up. Then I stopped by the yard in Burlington and dropped off some paperwork. Then I headed to Brampton and made the delivery. After delivery I hired a taxi and was taken to YYZ terminal 3 for the flight.

Upon arrival at YYZ I went to the Virgin America counter and checked in and checked my bags. My first bag was free but it was $25 to check the second bag and I requested and got a window seat. I precleared US Customs after a queue then I cleared security after another short but slow moving queue. I was patted down rather extensively as was everyone but nothing like the enhanced patdowns I've been reading about. This whole process took about 45 minutes then I headed to the gate.

Virgin America #233 YYZ-LAX A-320 Seat 17F Boarding Group C Cruising altitude not announced but monitor said 36,000 feet at first and later 38,000 feet. Estimated flying time 5:13, actual 5:11
Depart B16 Scheduled 17h00, actual 17h00 Taxi: 9 minutes
Arrive 35 Scheduled 19h25, actual 19h24 Taxi: 4 minutes
Reclaim bags 29 minutes after arrival

This was my very first time on Virgin America. I've been wanting to try Virgin America since its inception and now was the time! The A-320 had a configuration of 8F/141Y for a total capacity of 149 but there were only 89 passengers on board and there was an empty middle seat next to me which allowed for more room. The mood lighting was two shades of purple. There were seatback TV monitors ala Jet Blue but these seemed a little bigger and the IFE system was called RED. I would say VX IFE system provides more choices than Jet Blue except there is no Weather Channel and no XM satellite radio. And I definitely think VX has a more extensive IFE system than AC. The TV channels were free but there were some movies available for a price. You are also able to order food and using the seatback TV and pay by swiping your credit card at the TV. However if you don't have plastic you are out of luck.

Pushback was right on time and takeoff was to the north then a turn to southwest. I saw traffic congested on the westbound 401 and the interchange with the 401, 403 and 410. I saw some showers in the area. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:04 and I saw more clouds as we headed west. There was inflight map option and I was able to track the progress of the flight as well as monitor the speed and altitude.

At 0:18 we reached Lake Huron and at 0:23 we made landfall on the Michigan side. We passed over Flint, MI at 0:33. At 0:35 I saw Durand Michigan and at 0:39 I saw US127 just north of Interstate 69. At 0:40 the F/A came through with the service cart and there was a drink run and I got cup of soda and I saw the junction of Interstates 69 and 96 at Grand Ledge, MI.

At 0:47 we crossed US131 and I saw GRR and Grand Rapids, MI and it got a bit hazy. At 0:51 I saw the shore of Lake Michigan just north of South Haven, MI. AT 1:03 we made landfall over Waukegan, IL and I got a brief look at Interstate 94 before the clouds thickened.

At 1:09 I saw Interstate 90 near Hampshire, IL. It was hazy enough with thin clouds making it not ideal to take pictures. At 1:12 we crossed Interstate 39 and I saw RFD and Rockford, IL to the distance through the thin clouds. At 1:15 I saw Interstate 88 and Dixon, IL. At 1:21 I saw the junction of Interstates 80 and 88 in IL and we went parallel to the Mississippi River briefly and I saw the Quad Cities and the Rock River intersecting with the Mississippi.

At 1:26 I felt some bumps and saw Muscatine, IA. At 1:28 we actually crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa then flew over southern Iowa, northern Missouri and crossed over into northeast Kansas. At 2:18 I saw US81 near Minneapolis, KS and at 2:28 we crossed Interstate 70 and I saw Russell, KS. AT 2:31 I saw Hays, KS and at 2:49 I saw Tribune, KS. At about 2:53 we crossed into Colorado north of Holly. Clouds started to thicken.

I used the washroom and when I returned to my seat I saw the Rocky Mountains in the gathering darkness and at 3:15 I saw the Sangre de Cristo range. At 3:17 I saw the San Luis sand dunes. I ordered the Hearty Meal snack box for $7 and that had BBQ Pop Chips, Dried Apricots, Late July Organic Crackers, Salami slices, Cheese spread, Cashews and Chocolate Chip Cookies. For the price I thought the portions were a bit small.

At 3:29 I ordered ginger ale (free) from my seatback and the F/A came with cup about a minute or so later. At 3:36 we went into the northwest part of New Mexico near Farmington and at 3:45 I saw the lights of Shiprock, NM in the gathering darkness. The ground speed was between 432 and 451mph during cruise on this flight. We entered northeast Arizona by 3:50.

At 4:00 we were in northeast Arizona a little east of Tuba City with 477 miles to go. At 4:15 I ordered another ginger ale from my seatback and it was delivered at 4:21. At 4:32 I saw the lights of the Las Vegas area to the distance.

I felt descent begin at 4:39 with 194 miles to go over the High Desert a little north of Essex, CA. Descent was announced at 4:41. We crossed Interstate 40 and continued southwest. At 4:50 I saw the lights of Victorville/Apple Valley and other High Desert towns. We flew over the San Bernardino Mountains and the seatbelt sign went on at 4:55 over Highland, CA.

At 4:57 I saw the San Bernardino railyard and Interstate 215. I saw the junction of Interstate 10 and 215 at 4:58 and we were over Fontana and I saw Interstate 10 at 4:59. I also saw the junction of Interstates 10 and 15 at 4:59 and we were over Ontario, CA at 5:00. I saw Montclair Plaza at 5:01 and crossed California 71 at 5:02 and less than a minute later I saw the Interchange of Interstate 10, California 57 and California 71.

I saw California 60 and there was heavy traffic moving well at 5:04 and we crossed Interstate 605 in Whittier at 5:05. I saw Interstate 5 at 5:06 and southbound traffic was slow but northbound was moving well. We crossed Interstate 710 at 5:06 and I saw downtown LA at 5:07.

Gear went down at 5:08 as we crossed Interstate 110 and we crossed the 405 at 5:09. We landed east to west and arrived at the gate 1 minute early. After I reclaimed my bags I took a shuttle home. Thus ends my 61 days on the road.

END OF POST

Alright, another Loose Cannon TR! ^

Trip Report is now complete

Thanks for all the work. A nice set of reports as always.