High and Dry; Out and Back
Jun 7, 2012 | 1:12 am
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2004
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Posts: 2,406
High and Dry; Out and Back
Tour of Duty 29th May 2012 to 2nd June 2012
Ever since the end of last year work has been real slow. I was out for exactly one month then returned home on the 24th of March. When I was ready to hit the road again in early April nothing was available.
Finally then company had a trip for me to do from St. Joseph, MO to Winnipeg, MB. There were high hopes for more trips after that. Because of the Memorial Day weekend the company purchased me an air ticket leaving Tuesday morning bright and early.
Early Tuesday morning the 29th of May while it was still dark I got shuttle to SNA. I checked in and my bags weighed 49.4 and 44.2lbs. It took about 15 minutes to get through security and I opted out of the scanner machine so I received a pat down. My boot bag was swabbed and run through the x-ray machine again.
Note: Though flights are scheduled to leave earlier, there is a curfew at John Wayne Airport prohibiting commercial airliners from taking off and landing between the hours of 23h00 to 07h00. The earlier departure times are scheduled pushback from the gate to allow time to get in position to (hopefully) be at or near the head of the queue for when the curfew ends and it is the equivalent of "Gentlemen, start your engines!"
United #356 SNA-SFO B-757-200 Group 6
Seat 39A Cruising altitude unknown Estimated flying time 1:03, actual 0:59
Depart: Gate 12 Scheduled 06h45, actual 07h06 first pushback, return to gate at 07h10 then 07h13 for second pushback Taxi/hold: 10 minutes
Arrive: Gate 89 Scheduled 08h26, actual 08h27 Taxi: 4 minutes
We boarded via jetway and the plane was full or nearly full. Pushback was 21 minutes late then we pulled back into the gate 4 minutes later to load another bag then 3 minutes later we pushed back again for real. Takeoff was toward the ocean and I saw the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road, Newport Center and the Marine Layer at the coast resulting in clouds blocking the view for a little while. We made turn north over clouds and the Marine Layer thinned out.
At 0:10 I saw Catalina Island and Avalon Harbour. I saw the Channel Islands at 0:15. I felt we reached cruising altitude at 0:17. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:18 and it was announced weather at SFO was 52F and overcast. We made landfall over Santa Barbara and I saw SBA, Goleta, US1, Santa Barbara County coast, the Santa Ynez Mountains and Point Concepcion.
I got can of soda at 0:27 and saw Santa Maria area and Pismo Beach, the San Luis Obispo County coast as well as Morro Bay. Then I saw much of the Monterey County coast. Much of Monterey Bay itself was blocked by cloud cover. I felt descent begin at 0:36 over Monterey County. Seatbelt sign went on at 0:44 and we made landfall over Santa Cruz County then more clouds. We went into and under the clouds and over San Francisco Bay. We landed south to north and arrived at gate one minute late.
United Express #5481 SFO-MCI CRJ-700 Group 5
Seat 7A Economy Plus Cruise at 38,000 feet Estimated flying time 2:47, actual 2:49
Depart: Gate 77A Scheduled 10h25, actual 10h40 Taxi/hold: 13 minutes
Arrive: Gate 14 Scheduled 15h49, actual 15h47 Taxi: 5 minutes
Reclaim bags 18-20 minutes after arrival
We boarded via jetway. The plane was almost full. Most of the clouds cleared off at SFO by the time I boarded. It was announced it was clear and 26C/78F at MCI. Pushback was 15 minutes late and takeoff was to the east. I saw San Francisco partly blocked by clouds then across the Bay and Oakland again partly blocked by clouds then the north part of the East Bay and then the Carquinez Strait in the distance and Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch and Oakley then over the California Delta.
At 0:10 I saw Stockton and Interstate 5. At 0:16 I got cup of soda and at 0:17 I purchased a snack box then we went over the Sierra Nevada mountains and the view was a bit hazy. I thought I saw Lake Tahoe to the far distance.
Seatbelt sign went off at 0:27. I saw Walker Lake and Hawthorne, Nevada then various mountain ranges in central Nevada. I dozed off and when I woke I saw the San Rafael Swell in eastern Utah and Interstate 70 then Green River, Utah. I saw the junction with US6 then Green River itself.
At 1:24 I saw Grand Junction, CO and vicinity. At 1:40 I got water. At 1:45 I saw Interstate 25 and the north side of the Colorado Springs area then I dozed off and woke up at 2:05 and the seatbelt sign was on.
I felt descent begin at 2:25 just past Topeka, KS. Descent was announced at 2:36 and it was 82F at MCI. I saw the Kansas Turnpike and the Lawrence area during descent and we crossed the Missouri River and landed south to north. We arrived at gate 2 minutes early.
After reclaiming my bags I got a shuttle made it to St. Joseph where I did an after-hours pickup.
Trip: St. Joseph, MO to Winnipeg, MB 771 paid miles
Route: US36 to Interstate 29 to Manitoba 75 to Manitoba 100/Trans Canada Highway/Perimeter Highway to Manitoba 59 to Manitoba 115
Maximum elevation: unknown
Border: Pembina, ND/Emerson, MB
Make: International
Model: Utility Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Diesel price (Canada): $1.129CAD/litre at Flying J Cardlock Winnipeg, MB
Highest USA diesel price: $3.879/gallon at Flying J Grand Forks, ND
Lowest USA diesel price: $3.609/gallon at Sinclair St-Joseph, MO
As I did not have much sleep the night before I got the truck, did the safety inspection, got fuel and got something to eat before getting to Mound City, MO where I spent the first night.
Wednesday I continued north and stopped in Rock Port, MO where I purchased a set of emergency triangles. Then I had my mid-day rations at the Black Iron Steakhouse (also in Rock Port, MO) where I had 8 ounce Top Sirloin Steak, French Fries and Broccoli for $7.99 plus tax or $8.65 all in. I had to take on fuel more frequently as the fuel tank was smaller than usual for this type of truck. Rain started as I left the fuel stop in Council Bluffs, IA and continued off and on until I shut down for the night in Brookings, SD.
Thursday the weather was clear but in the 50'sF in Brookings, SD. I took some pictures of downtown Brookings before proceeding then I took pictures of Summit, SD before crossing into North Dakota. I had dinner at KFC in Fargo, ND with the all you can eat buffet and that may have been a mistake. I took some pictures of Fargo then headed north and shut down for the night in Grand Forks, ND
I was up most of Thursday night sick to my stomach so I did not get much sleep. However I did check out of my room on time and made it up to the border where I stopped at US Customs to get the title cleared then I crossed the border and saw the broker and Customs then I was cleared. Rain started at the border and continued off and on up to Winnipeg. I topped off the fuel in Winnipeg to deliver the truck full of fuel and I made the delivery.
I rang dispatch and was told no more trips were available so they got me an air ticket home. I was told to rush to the airport so I took a taxi and upon arriving at YWG I rang dispatch again and got flight information and confirmation code and learned I would be having a twelve hour layover in Calgary before continuing on to Orange County. The rain quit by the time I arrived at YWG.
I checked in and bags weighed 48.6 and 46.8lbs. I paid the fee for the second bag and was told I would have to reclaim my bags in Calgary and recheck them there to Orange County so the agent in Winnipeg wrote a note on the receipt asking the agent in Calgary to please honour the fee for the connection as both flights were on the same air ticket. Then I cleared security after a short queue and there was no additional screening.
West Jet #299 YWG-YYC B-737-700
Seat 3F Cruise at 40,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:52, actual 1:47
Depart: Gate 6 Scheduled 20h10, actual 20h35 Taxi: 11 minutes
Arrive: Gate 34 Scheduled 21h12, actual 21h42 Taxi: 8 minutes
Reclaim bags 15 minutes after arrival
The plane was late arriving from Toronto. We boarded via jetway. Plane was only about half full and I had entire row to myself. It was announced it was 21C, partly cloudy with winds 40km/h from the west at YYC with possible bumps on descent.
Pushback was 25 minutes late. Takeoff was to the west northwest then we turned more west. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:10. It was mostly cloudy and hazy outside and the window was scratched so I did not have a great view the entire flight. I did see Lake Manitoba but the clouds blocked the view down below. I got cup of soda and Bits & Bites at 0:21.
At 1:21 it was announced we were about to start descent and I felt descent at 1:23. Seatbelt sign went on at 1:33 and we landed west northwest and arrived at gate 30 minutes late.
This time of the year the days are long and sunset was 21h42 in Calgary. Since the layover was so long I got a room for the night the took shuttle back to YYC where I rechecked my bags. I precleared US Customs after a queue of about 15 minutes then cleared security and an agent took a closer look at my briefcase.
West Jet #1542 YYC-SNA B-737-700
Seat 4A Cruising altitude 42,000 feet Estimated flying time 2:57, actual 2:57
Depart: Gate C26 Scheduled 09h30, actual 09h39 Taxi: 9 minutes
Arrive: Gate 2 Scheduled 11h43, actual 11h51 Taxi: 4 minutes
Reclaim bags 18 minutes after arrival
We boarded via jetway and the plane was mostly but not totally full though my row was completely full. Takeoff was to the south and I saw the east side of Calgary including the Trans Canada Highway and the Road King Travel Centre. Then we went into the clouds. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:18. At 0:36 there was a drink run and I got cup of soda but declined the free snacks.
Clouds broke for a short time over southeast Oregon then more clouds until somewhere over Nevada. At 1:59 I got water. I saw Mono Lake and the Sierra Nevada mountains then at 2:14 I saw California 99 and Visalia followed by Tulare. At 2:20 we crossed Interstate 5 and I saw Bakersfield in the distance.
Descent began at 2:23 over the south San Joquain Valley and I saw the Interstate 5/California 99 split and the Grapevine. Descent was announced at 2:26 and it was 18C and partly cloudy at SNA. At 2:33 I saw Simi Valley and the San Fernando Valley then I saw clouds up to the Santa Monica Mountains.
The view was blocked by extensive cloud cover for most of the approach while we went over water then made landfall before the clouds broke at 2:50 and I got a glimpse of Disneyland before we turned and lined up with the runway. I saw the Santa Ana Mountains then the old US Marine Corps Helicopter Base in Tustin before landing toward the ocean. We arrived at the gate 8 minutes late and I reclaimed my bags and took a shuttle home.
Ever since the end of last year work has been real slow. I was out for exactly one month then returned home on the 24th of March. When I was ready to hit the road again in early April nothing was available.
Finally then company had a trip for me to do from St. Joseph, MO to Winnipeg, MB. There were high hopes for more trips after that. Because of the Memorial Day weekend the company purchased me an air ticket leaving Tuesday morning bright and early.
Early Tuesday morning the 29th of May while it was still dark I got shuttle to SNA. I checked in and my bags weighed 49.4 and 44.2lbs. It took about 15 minutes to get through security and I opted out of the scanner machine so I received a pat down. My boot bag was swabbed and run through the x-ray machine again.
Note: Though flights are scheduled to leave earlier, there is a curfew at John Wayne Airport prohibiting commercial airliners from taking off and landing between the hours of 23h00 to 07h00. The earlier departure times are scheduled pushback from the gate to allow time to get in position to (hopefully) be at or near the head of the queue for when the curfew ends and it is the equivalent of "Gentlemen, start your engines!"
United #356 SNA-SFO B-757-200 Group 6
Seat 39A Cruising altitude unknown Estimated flying time 1:03, actual 0:59
Depart: Gate 12 Scheduled 06h45, actual 07h06 first pushback, return to gate at 07h10 then 07h13 for second pushback Taxi/hold: 10 minutes
Arrive: Gate 89 Scheduled 08h26, actual 08h27 Taxi: 4 minutes
We boarded via jetway and the plane was full or nearly full. Pushback was 21 minutes late then we pulled back into the gate 4 minutes later to load another bag then 3 minutes later we pushed back again for real. Takeoff was toward the ocean and I saw the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road, Newport Center and the Marine Layer at the coast resulting in clouds blocking the view for a little while. We made turn north over clouds and the Marine Layer thinned out.
At 0:10 I saw Catalina Island and Avalon Harbour. I saw the Channel Islands at 0:15. I felt we reached cruising altitude at 0:17. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:18 and it was announced weather at SFO was 52F and overcast. We made landfall over Santa Barbara and I saw SBA, Goleta, US1, Santa Barbara County coast, the Santa Ynez Mountains and Point Concepcion.
I got can of soda at 0:27 and saw Santa Maria area and Pismo Beach, the San Luis Obispo County coast as well as Morro Bay. Then I saw much of the Monterey County coast. Much of Monterey Bay itself was blocked by cloud cover. I felt descent begin at 0:36 over Monterey County. Seatbelt sign went on at 0:44 and we made landfall over Santa Cruz County then more clouds. We went into and under the clouds and over San Francisco Bay. We landed south to north and arrived at gate one minute late.
United Express #5481 SFO-MCI CRJ-700 Group 5
Seat 7A Economy Plus Cruise at 38,000 feet Estimated flying time 2:47, actual 2:49
Depart: Gate 77A Scheduled 10h25, actual 10h40 Taxi/hold: 13 minutes
Arrive: Gate 14 Scheduled 15h49, actual 15h47 Taxi: 5 minutes
Reclaim bags 18-20 minutes after arrival
We boarded via jetway. The plane was almost full. Most of the clouds cleared off at SFO by the time I boarded. It was announced it was clear and 26C/78F at MCI. Pushback was 15 minutes late and takeoff was to the east. I saw San Francisco partly blocked by clouds then across the Bay and Oakland again partly blocked by clouds then the north part of the East Bay and then the Carquinez Strait in the distance and Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch and Oakley then over the California Delta.
At 0:10 I saw Stockton and Interstate 5. At 0:16 I got cup of soda and at 0:17 I purchased a snack box then we went over the Sierra Nevada mountains and the view was a bit hazy. I thought I saw Lake Tahoe to the far distance.
Seatbelt sign went off at 0:27. I saw Walker Lake and Hawthorne, Nevada then various mountain ranges in central Nevada. I dozed off and when I woke I saw the San Rafael Swell in eastern Utah and Interstate 70 then Green River, Utah. I saw the junction with US6 then Green River itself.
At 1:24 I saw Grand Junction, CO and vicinity. At 1:40 I got water. At 1:45 I saw Interstate 25 and the north side of the Colorado Springs area then I dozed off and woke up at 2:05 and the seatbelt sign was on.
I felt descent begin at 2:25 just past Topeka, KS. Descent was announced at 2:36 and it was 82F at MCI. I saw the Kansas Turnpike and the Lawrence area during descent and we crossed the Missouri River and landed south to north. We arrived at gate 2 minutes early.
After reclaiming my bags I got a shuttle made it to St. Joseph where I did an after-hours pickup.
Trip: St. Joseph, MO to Winnipeg, MB 771 paid miles
Route: US36 to Interstate 29 to Manitoba 75 to Manitoba 100/Trans Canada Highway/Perimeter Highway to Manitoba 59 to Manitoba 115
Maximum elevation: unknown
Border: Pembina, ND/Emerson, MB
Make: International
Model: Utility Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Diesel price (Canada): $1.129CAD/litre at Flying J Cardlock Winnipeg, MB
Highest USA diesel price: $3.879/gallon at Flying J Grand Forks, ND
Lowest USA diesel price: $3.609/gallon at Sinclair St-Joseph, MO
As I did not have much sleep the night before I got the truck, did the safety inspection, got fuel and got something to eat before getting to Mound City, MO where I spent the first night.
Wednesday I continued north and stopped in Rock Port, MO where I purchased a set of emergency triangles. Then I had my mid-day rations at the Black Iron Steakhouse (also in Rock Port, MO) where I had 8 ounce Top Sirloin Steak, French Fries and Broccoli for $7.99 plus tax or $8.65 all in. I had to take on fuel more frequently as the fuel tank was smaller than usual for this type of truck. Rain started as I left the fuel stop in Council Bluffs, IA and continued off and on until I shut down for the night in Brookings, SD.
Thursday the weather was clear but in the 50'sF in Brookings, SD. I took some pictures of downtown Brookings before proceeding then I took pictures of Summit, SD before crossing into North Dakota. I had dinner at KFC in Fargo, ND with the all you can eat buffet and that may have been a mistake. I took some pictures of Fargo then headed north and shut down for the night in Grand Forks, ND
I was up most of Thursday night sick to my stomach so I did not get much sleep. However I did check out of my room on time and made it up to the border where I stopped at US Customs to get the title cleared then I crossed the border and saw the broker and Customs then I was cleared. Rain started at the border and continued off and on up to Winnipeg. I topped off the fuel in Winnipeg to deliver the truck full of fuel and I made the delivery.
I rang dispatch and was told no more trips were available so they got me an air ticket home. I was told to rush to the airport so I took a taxi and upon arriving at YWG I rang dispatch again and got flight information and confirmation code and learned I would be having a twelve hour layover in Calgary before continuing on to Orange County. The rain quit by the time I arrived at YWG.
I checked in and bags weighed 48.6 and 46.8lbs. I paid the fee for the second bag and was told I would have to reclaim my bags in Calgary and recheck them there to Orange County so the agent in Winnipeg wrote a note on the receipt asking the agent in Calgary to please honour the fee for the connection as both flights were on the same air ticket. Then I cleared security after a short queue and there was no additional screening.
West Jet #299 YWG-YYC B-737-700
Seat 3F Cruise at 40,000 feet Estimated flying time 1:52, actual 1:47
Depart: Gate 6 Scheduled 20h10, actual 20h35 Taxi: 11 minutes
Arrive: Gate 34 Scheduled 21h12, actual 21h42 Taxi: 8 minutes
Reclaim bags 15 minutes after arrival
The plane was late arriving from Toronto. We boarded via jetway. Plane was only about half full and I had entire row to myself. It was announced it was 21C, partly cloudy with winds 40km/h from the west at YYC with possible bumps on descent.
Pushback was 25 minutes late. Takeoff was to the west northwest then we turned more west. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:10. It was mostly cloudy and hazy outside and the window was scratched so I did not have a great view the entire flight. I did see Lake Manitoba but the clouds blocked the view down below. I got cup of soda and Bits & Bites at 0:21.
At 1:21 it was announced we were about to start descent and I felt descent at 1:23. Seatbelt sign went on at 1:33 and we landed west northwest and arrived at gate 30 minutes late.
This time of the year the days are long and sunset was 21h42 in Calgary. Since the layover was so long I got a room for the night the took shuttle back to YYC where I rechecked my bags. I precleared US Customs after a queue of about 15 minutes then cleared security and an agent took a closer look at my briefcase.
West Jet #1542 YYC-SNA B-737-700
Seat 4A Cruising altitude 42,000 feet Estimated flying time 2:57, actual 2:57
Depart: Gate C26 Scheduled 09h30, actual 09h39 Taxi: 9 minutes
Arrive: Gate 2 Scheduled 11h43, actual 11h51 Taxi: 4 minutes
Reclaim bags 18 minutes after arrival
We boarded via jetway and the plane was mostly but not totally full though my row was completely full. Takeoff was to the south and I saw the east side of Calgary including the Trans Canada Highway and the Road King Travel Centre. Then we went into the clouds. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:18. At 0:36 there was a drink run and I got cup of soda but declined the free snacks.
Clouds broke for a short time over southeast Oregon then more clouds until somewhere over Nevada. At 1:59 I got water. I saw Mono Lake and the Sierra Nevada mountains then at 2:14 I saw California 99 and Visalia followed by Tulare. At 2:20 we crossed Interstate 5 and I saw Bakersfield in the distance.
Descent began at 2:23 over the south San Joquain Valley and I saw the Interstate 5/California 99 split and the Grapevine. Descent was announced at 2:26 and it was 18C and partly cloudy at SNA. At 2:33 I saw Simi Valley and the San Fernando Valley then I saw clouds up to the Santa Monica Mountains.
The view was blocked by extensive cloud cover for most of the approach while we went over water then made landfall before the clouds broke at 2:50 and I got a glimpse of Disneyland before we turned and lined up with the runway. I saw the Santa Ana Mountains then the old US Marine Corps Helicopter Base in Tustin before landing toward the ocean. We arrived at the gate 8 minutes late and I reclaimed my bags and took a shuttle home.
