FlyerTalk Forums - Icky and Sticky to High and Dry; A Trip to the Dirty Side

Tour of Duty 5th June 2019 to 9th July 2019
Part IV: 19th June to 28th June

I awoke on Wednesday 19th June in Corpus Christi, Texas. I learned of a trip from Midland, Texas to Henderson, Colorado so I contacted dispatch and I ended up getting locked into that trip after a rental car was arranged from Corpus Christi to Midland. It was icky and sticky in Corpus Christi with an air temperature of 93F and a Humidex of 110F, that is it felt like 110F with both the air temperature and the high humidity factored in. I was picked up and taken to the rental car company office where I got into the rental car. I took a few pictures of Corpus Christi then got on Interstate 37 to start the long trip toward Midland. There was not much fuel in the rental car so I stopped at a filling station in Corpus Christi and got unleaded for 2.159$ per gallon.

I stopped and had midday rations at Choke Camp BBQ in Whitsett, TX. Then I continued into the San Antonio area and traffic was not bad most of the way in San Antonio but there was considerable congestion as well as some construction leaving San Antonio on Interstate 10. I stopped in Boerne, TX and took some pictures. Then I stopped and took some pictures of Comfort, TX. I stopped in Kerrville, TX for evening rations at Burger King before continuing west and I saw some lightning to the distance while in the Hill Country. I exited Interstate 10 in Junction, TX and headed north on US83. There was some construction on US83. I caught US87 and I spent the night in San Angelo, TX.

Thursday it was hot and the rental car would not start. The rental car had a push button starter. When I tried to start it there was a message on the dash saying "Key ID incorrect." I phoned up the rental car company and was on hold and talked to someone who did some research and gave me instructions which I followed. The car started. I got started and went through Sterling City and Garden City before I came to Midland. When I arrived in Midland it felt a lot more comfortable than it was in Corpus Christi. The air temperature was 105 glorious degrees but the humidity was only 6 percent.

I turned in the car and was given ride to the shipper. I had to wait as the truck was not quite ready. When the truck was ready I loaded my gear and did the safety inspection and I found a marker light was out so I had the shipper replace that and then I was good to go.

Trip: Midland, TX to Henderson, CO diverted to Brighton, CO 662 paid miles
Make: 2016 Freightliner
Model: Vacuum Truck
Transmission: Automatic
Route: FM1788 to Texas 158 to US385 to US62/82 to Spur 327 to Loop 289 to Interstate 27 to US87 to US385 to US287 to US50 to Interstate 25 to Interstate 70 to Interstate 76 to US85
Maximum elevation: 7,352 feet Monument Hill north of Colorado Springs, CO
Highest diesel price USA: 2.939$ per gallon at Pilot Amarillo, TX and Flying J Aurora, CO
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.899$ per gallon at Pilot Lamar, CO

I got started. I navigated to US385 which was twinned but sections were pretty rough and rutted due to all the truck traffic in the Permian Basin area. I stopped in Andrews, TX and took some pictures of that city then I stopped at Western Grill Steak House for evening rations. I splurged a little and had a Ribeye Steak, Baked Potato with butter and Salad with Bleu Cheese Dressings and Croutons along with plenty of ice water. Afterward I continued through Seminole and Brownfield before reaching the Lubbock area. I spent the night in Lubbock, TX.

Friday I continued north on Interstate 27. I stopped and took pictures of Plainview, TX and Tulia, TX. I had midday rations at Smokehouse BBQ in Plainview, TX. I took some pictures of Dumas, TX and I had evening rations at Golden Chick. I ended up spending the night in Dalhart, TX.

Saturday I took some pictures of downtown Dalhart, TX and I got started and I said "so long" to Texas and entered the panhandle of Oklahoma. I stopped in Boise City before continuing into Colorado where I entered the Mountain Time Zone. I made a pit stop in Springfield, CO and the weather there was hot and clear. I stopped in Lamar, CO and took a walk and took some pictures of that city by the time I finished that clouds started rolling in. I took on fuel in Lamar, CO and learned of approaching thunderstorm activity. Rain started near Las Animas, CO and I stopped there during a heavy downpour. The rain let up and I continued. I stopped in Fowler, CO and made a pit stop and took some pictures and saw the sunset. I learned hotel prices were outrageous in Pueblo and high in Colorado Springs and Denver areas. There was a little bit of drizzle between Colorado Springs and Castle Rock. I got a hotel room with the least unreasonable price I could find in Denver and I spent the night in Denver, CO.

Sunday I wanted to go to a church in Northglenn, CO but those plans fell by the wayside due to arriving in Denver so late and I knew that church service would be over or nearly over by the time I arrived once I took my compulsory break of no less than ten hours plus my post trip and pre-trip safety inspections. So I had to rethink where to go to church and I settled on Messiah Baptist Church which was just under a mile from the hotel. I was unable to get a hold of the pastor so I navigated my way there and I hoped for the best. I found safe and legal street parking and went in after the morning service started. The message was a topical message on Relationship with God. Afterward I met the pastor who is a Bootwearer Preacher with a Beard. I headed to Aurora where I took on fuel and then I headed to Brighton where I attended evening service at Elmwood Baptist Church. There were some testimonials from young people who went to a Youth Conference then a message about investing in the next generation. I spent the night in Brighton, CO.

Monday I saw a yellow icon illuminated on the dash so I notified dispatch and was told to take the truck to a shop in Brighton, CO and I learned it would be at least the next day before the truck would be looked at so I dropped off the truck there. I waited a few hours in the Driver's Lounge and got word that a truck came available at the very same location going to Winchester, Indiana. That saved me having to travel and I went to another building where I got the keys for the truck then I pulled the truck closer to the building where my gear was. I loaded my gear and did the safety inspection and was good to go.

Trip: Brighton, CO to Winchester, IN 1,181 paid miles
Make: 2015 Peterbilt
Model: Vacuum Truck Mud Dog
Transmission: Standard 18-speed
Governed Speed: 70mph/112kph
Route: Interstate 76 to Local Roads to Interstate 70 to Missouri 370 to Interstate 270 to Interstate 70 to Interstate 465 to Interstate 70 to US35 to Local Roads to US27 to Indiana 32
Maximum elevation: unknown but Watkins, CO on Interstate 70 was listed at 5,525 feet
Highest diesel price USA: 2.939$ per gallon Flying J Aurora, CO
Lowest diesel price USA: 2.799$ per gallon at Kum & Go Brighton, CO and Mr. Fuel Foristell, MO

I immediately headed for the nearest filling station that had diesel which was basically across Bromley Lane at the interchange with Interstate 76. I took on some fuel then parked the truck and had a bite to eat during my compulsory break of no less than 30 minutes due to a DOT regulation prohibiting commercial drivers from driving once on duty (including driving and on duty not driving) for 8 consecutive hours until the driver goes off duty for at least 30 minutes. Afterward I proceeded to Aurora, CO where I filled the fuel tank then I started my run east on Interstate 70. This truck had a very bad turning radius so I had some fun and games making some turns and it was a challenge to park when I shut down and spent the night in Burlington, CO.

Tuesday I had a late start. I entered Kansas and had midday rations at Quizno's at the Petro in Colby, KS. I stopped in WaKeeney, KS. Then I stopped in Salina, KS for late evening rations at Popeye's at the Petro. I hoped to make it to Junction City or Topeka but that did not happen as almost as soon as I got in the truck after my meal, a major thunderstorm hit with torrential rain and possibly some small hail. There was no damage to the truck from the hail. The rain was hard enough and the visibility was bad enough I did not feel it was safe to drive so I stayed put until the rain let up. I ended up getting a hotel room and spending the night in Salina, KS.

Wednesday I took on fuel in Salina before I continued east. The weather was warm and muggy. I stopped at the Service Plaza in Lawrence, KS and had late midday rations at McDonald's. Then I continued east and entered Missouri and I stopped at a truck stop and walked to a BBQ place across the street where I had evening rations. That took longer as the server made a mistake and gave my order to another person so I waited and waited until I spoke up. I ended up spending the night in Kingdom City, MO.

Thursday it was warm and muggy but no precipitation or storms. I took on fuel and had midday rations at Mr. Fuel in Foristell, MO. I continued east through the St-Louis area and crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. I was officially on the "Dirty Side" a term truck drivers sometimes use to denote that part of the USA that is East of the Mississippi River. I stopped in Effingham, IL at the TA and had a slice of Pepperoni Pizza and some Stromboli for evening rations. Afterward I continued east and crossed into Indiana and the Eastern Time Zone. I took the Interstate 465 ring road around central Indianapolis and I spent the night on the south side of Indianapolis, IN.

Friday I continued east and rejoined Interstate 70. I made pit stop in Richmond, IN and got locked into the next trip and a rental car was set up from Muncie, IN to Joliet, IL. I exited the Interstate and continued on two-lane roads into Winchester, IN and I arrived at the receiver for execution of delivery and conclusion of this trip. It was warm and muggy. I completed delivery and someone from the receiver gave me a lift to Muncie, IN. I was told that Muncie is a very corrupt city and was known as "Little Chicago."

I arrived at the car rental place in Muncie, IN and the only car they had for me was a black Cadillac. This was my first time driving a Cadillac. I took some pictures of downtown Muncie before leaving town. I stopped in Lebanon, IN where I took more pictures at dusk. Then I headed north on Interstate 65 and there were some traffic delays in Lafayette, IN. I ended up spending the night in South Holland, IL