Great way to come off hometime

[Malaki86]

Well - won't even make it as far as Flagstaff today. 40 is shut down in Winslow because of the storm. I'm gonna to to make it as far as the Hopi in Holbrook.

As far as them running me into Cali empty, I forgot that when they sent me to Fontana the 1st of the year, I was on empty when I delivered there as well. They sent me straight to the T/A for a fill-up. Those computers are great for planning, aren't they?

[golfhobo]

I thought I heard the Hopi burned down..... or was it JUST the jewelry store inside that burned?

If they closed 40 at Winslow, you probably won't get any parking in Holbrook. Good luck!

[Malaki86]

Sitting at the Hopi now - def not burned down. Holbrook is filling up fast - glad I didn't continue to Winslow.

[ronjon619]

snow levels down to 1500 feet on this storm.

[golfhobo]

Sitting at the Hopi now - def not burned down. Holbrook is filling up fast - glad I didn't continue to Winslow.

Ask company to let you fuel NOW at Hopi! A FULL tank would still get you to drop and AT LEAST back to Kingman or Flag! (Assuming they won't send you to Yuma or Salinas. Do you pull a reefer? I don't know if Celadon is into that stuff.

You could drop your trailer in your spot.... bobtail to the fuel island and fill up... re-attach and have a free shower at the Hopi. Um... I don't know if you have to pay extra, but they have these really nice "sounding" showers with jacuzzi tubs and stuff for "couples." They'll let you have one if they arent' "booked," and you ask them nicely.

Maybe while you're "snowed in" you might weigh in on a few of the more political threads. I'd really like to know where you stand on some of them. I think, IIRC, that you lean somewhat to the right which is fine, but you've always seemed to be rational and a bit centrist.

If you get stuck there for any length of time, and THEY can get open, you can bobtail down to the Dinosaur Museum at that exit. I never made it, but I hear it is a good experience. Do you realize that EVERYTHING south of the interstate you were on.... for MILES east and west..... was once UNDER WATER? The "Great Inland Sea" I believe they called it! JUST west of you is the Petrified Natural Forest National Park!

The only thing more beautiful and thought provoking than the desert and mountains around you... and on your way up and over Flag, and all the way to the unfortunate decay of the L.A. Basin.... is such a trip after a freak SNOWSTORM! If there is a God, THIS is his exclamation point!

You are facing a challenge AND a blessing that MANY truckers never get to experience. Once they clear those roads, (and I wouldn't expect much clear blacktop on the way down from Flag that I discussed earlier,) the truckers will go wild, and you can just poke along in your 62 mph? truck and enjoy the view!

Anyway.... be careful and enjoy the ride!

[Malaki86]

Appreciate all the suggestions, even though I didn't see them until I was getting ready to leave this morning. The petrified log sections they have sitting in the gift shop here are amazing - $2,500 & 3,500 each!!! They're 2' long and over 750lbs each. That stuff is amazing. Especially that this was all under water. Like I said, I love the natural history stuff, even though I drive the wife nuts at times with it.

They must've opened 40 up yesterday after I parked. Once we were shut down, I closed up the curtains and put in a 2 1/2hr movie. When the movie was done and we were going inside for dinner, this place was empty - maybe 4 or 5 trucks sitting here. We stopped at the Pilot in Jamestown along the way to grab a shower since I wasn't sure what we'd find over here.

The only thing I've seen so far in the southwest that didn't amaze me was the desert between Pheonix and LA. I know there was a stretch at least 60 miles long that I didn't so much as have to make a minor steering move to go around a slight bend on. LOONG drive, in other words. The natural landscape along 40 is amazing. Not quite as amazing as coming up the Columbia River Gorge in OR & WA, but still amazing.

[Orangetxguy]

Have any suggestions on places to stop for the jewelry, preferrably close to the NM line or westward?

Sorry I missed this Mal! I had a long weekend away from the puter.

I think that the best deals for Navajo jewelry can be found next to the Loves west of Gallup. But you should be able to find decent prices all the way across NM and AZ anytime you want to look.

If you are into Natural History, then you need to take a drive thru Utah! Brice / Zions National Park, The Escalante Staircase, Reef National Park, (the entire area within 100 miles of Moab UT is spectacular as far as I am concerned.....I never get tired of that area)... and then there is the northeast corner around Vernal UT...and the drive north into Wyoming over Flaming Gorge. Flaming Gorge is best appreciated in a gas fired Paystar5000. Nothing better than being able to examine the layers of our world's construction at 3 mph!!



You would also like the drive south from Winslow AZ thru Show Low into the Salt River basin and the Mogollon Rim area. Once you reach Globe AZ and see the desert stretching out towards Tuscon and Phoenix.....you want to turn around and go back to Show Low.........just to re-enjoy the views!! It is a lot of shifting while crossing the Salt River region in a loaded truck....but the scenery is far and away better than the Grand Canyon............... and less touristy.........in my opinion.

[Malaki86]

Appreciate the info.

Got to Ontario with no problems this morning. Unloaded and set my PTA with 2hrs remaining on the day. My dispatch said freight was slow here, so I'd probably be here overnight. No problem - heading to the T/A. Well, that *WAS* the plan. I made it about 300ft out of the consignee and I got a preplan. Load is 1/2 mile away, picks up today and has 2 deliveries - 1 in el paso on wednesday morning, the 2nd stop in dallas on friday morning.

That's ok - as long as I can get out of here, I'm more than happy.

[Orangetxguy]

Appreciate the info.

Got to Ontario with no problems this morning. Unloaded and set my PTA with 2hrs remaining on the day. My dispatch said freight was slow here, so I'd probably be here overnight. No problem - heading to the T/A. Well, that *WAS* the plan. I made it about 300ft out of the consignee and I got a preplan. Load is 1/2 mile away, picks up today and has 2 deliveries - 1 in el paso on wednesday morning, the 2nd stop in dallas on friday morning.

That's ok - as long as I can get out of here, I'm more than happy.

LOL! Looks like God watching over your shoulder there Mal! Or not. El Paso by Wednesday morning might be tough to do if you are already out of hours today!!

[Malaki86]

1st delivery is actually an open del 8am-5pm. I'm figuring on being there 8-9am mountain time, which is very doable.

I would've gotten out of Ontario today, but when I came in to pick up my preloaded trailer, it's, well, partially preloaded. 2hr wait for them to finish it (1hr to go now). heading straight back to the t/a.

Oh - fuel - I got to Ontario with between 1/4 & 3/8 tank. Guess where they had me fuel? T/A East, Ontario - 175 gallons. Next fuel stop is Midland, TX at the Pilot for a fill-up.

Works for me though - no cost to park & a shower if I'm not too tired to climb in it tonight. If not, I'll get a shower at the t/a in Willcox tomorrow where I plan on getting to.

The drive across the desert today on I-40 was breathtaking - at first, anyway. Then it became just painful to look at any more, especially at 57mph after getting up @ 2am local time to drive a lot of hours in the dark.

[Orangetxguy]

1st delivery is actually an open del 8am-5pm. I'm figuring on being there 8-9am mountain time, which is very doable.

I would've gotten out of Ontario today, but when I came in to pick up my preloaded trailer, it's, well, partially preloaded. 2hr wait for them to finish it (1hr to go now). heading straight back to the t/a.

Oh - fuel - I got to Ontario with between 1/4 & 3/8 tank. Guess where they had me fuel? T/A East, Ontario - 175 gallons. Next fuel stop is Midland, TX at the Pilot for a fill-up.

Works for me though - no cost to park & a shower if I'm not too tired to climb in it tonight. If not, I'll get a shower at the t/a in Willcox tomorrow where I plan on getting to.

The drive across the desert today on I-40 was breathtaking - at first, anyway. Then it became just painful to look at any more, especially at 57mph after getting up @ 2am local time to drive a lot of hours in the dark.

See....that is where your "inexperience" with Kalifornia and the CHP fell into play. Once you cleared Needles.......You could have set your cruise at 59 and sailed on into Barstow. I have never had any problems with that. My last trip across that stretch was last Aug...and I did 62 from 5 miles west of Needles, to 5 miles east of the Military complex just before Barstow. CHP isn't all "Tyrant" driven. They just hammer on the nail heads that stick up. Like the guys who have multiple lights out...and doing 65+. Once you get in close to Barstow...then the sheriff's dept comes into play..............and they have a few "Grabbers" in that outfit.

[bentstrider]

See....that is where your "inexperience" with Kalifornia and the CHP fell into play. Once you cleared Needles.......You could have set your cruise at 59 and sailed on into Barstow. I have never had any problems with that. My last trip across that stretch was last Aug...and I did 62 from 5 miles west of Needles, to 5 miles east of the Military complex just before Barstow. CHP isn't all "Tyrant" driven. They just hammer on the nail heads that stick up. Like the guys who have multiple lights out...and doing 65+. Once you get in close to Barstow...then the sheriff's dept comes into play..............and they have a few "Grabbers" in that outfit.

CHP I never really had any problems with, but San Bernardino Co Sheriff is like that with everybody.
And why does everyone insist on calling it Cali?
Never hear it quite that much from older folks, but the younger heads I run into that have ambitions of making it out here from the mountain states like to use that.

Crowdedfornia or the "Missing Bear State" are my terms.

[ronjon619]

You would also like the drive south from Winslow AZ thru Show Low into the Salt River basin and the Mogollon Rim area. Once you reach Globe AZ and see the desert stretching out towards Tuscon and Phoenix.....you want to turn around and go back to Show Low.........just to re-enjoy the views!! It is a lot of shifting while crossing the Salt River region in a loaded truck....but the scenery is far and away better than the Grand Canyon............... and less touristy.........in my opinion.

that's a very TOUGH ride in a truck. I never go that way anymore.

[Orangetxguy]

that's a very TOUGH ride in a truck. I never go that way anymore.

Now.....You did see where I said;

It is a lot of shifting while crossing the Salt River region in a loaded truck....but

......Right??



I only go that way, when I have a delivery in Globe that is coming out of PA and the rate is as cheap as what I have been seeing lately. Twice in the last 3 years. Before that....not since 1984. It is still a beautiful drive...regardless.

[Orangetxguy]

And why does everyone insist on calling it Cali?

I don't know about "everyone" else.........But.........I have been saying "Cali"..........for about 40 years. I am gonna be 54 in May. Most everyone understands that I am headed to California if I say................."I'm headed to Cali".

[Roadhog]

I've always heard it called the "Land of Fruitz'n'Nuts" (too conservative?)

[bentstrider]

I've always heard it called the "Land of Fruitz'n'Nuts" (too conservative?)

You could find fruit just about anywhere now, but anyone that's too afraid to step out of the "Coastal Box" is fair game.
As for OrangeTX, never knew that the term was swung around that long.
I'm only 27 myself, but never really became ingrained with any of the beach or city-culture that dominates the media.

But since the eastern half of CA has more in common with AZ or NV, then that's pretty much the reason right there.

Anywho, start my 2-3 weeks out again tomorrow and am looking forward for some more trips up the 15-70-25 corridor.

[ironeagle_2006]

When I was driving I always would say going out to the Idiot Coast and people knew I was going to California.