Sitting in Salt Lake City with 916 miles (14hr 36mins) remaining. Total available on the 70 after I pick hours up tomorrow night: 15hrs 50 mins. Still have 2 pretrips, 1 post trip, 1 fuelstop and 2 customs stops. Heh

Gee......You didn't get slowed down at all today did ya!! To bad you couldn't have made it to Tremonton.

I hit a little bit of snow this morning just as I crossed from CO to UT. Roads were covered until I dropped below 5,500 feet in elevation. Other than that, smooth running.

I could've went a little further, but then that'd just mean that tomorrow I could've only drove something like 5hrs. Would rather split the days to spread out the wealth.

Change of plan. Swapping loads out with another driver tomorrow in WA. They'll take my load to the consignee and I'll take theirs to Los Angeles. I really don't want to drive that long in CA, but I'll get to see I-5 between Portland and Bakersfield finally.

That should be a nice drive. You going over the grapevine first time?

Bakersfield isn't on I-5. Where are you going? Bakersfield or L.A.?

If you've never been down I-5 from Oregon, it WILL be a nice drive. Some beautiful scenery.

You're right.......Bakersfield isn't on I-5.........But......I always found 99 a better drive....lot's smoother than I-5. Of course I haven't been that route in a few years...maybe they smoothed I-5 out.

I probably have the name of the town in CA wrong (I was - checked the map - I meant Barstow on I-15). I've only been through there a couple of times. And, yes, 1st trip down the grapevine. Where's that located? I've always heard about it - just never done it. Any other passes through there I should be wary about? I have no idea what kind of weight/freight I'll be dragging along behind me, so I'll expect the 80k top-heavy freight - lol

It's strange - almost 12 years out here and just over the past 4 days and the next 4 more I'll have traveled almost all new areas/roads that I've never experienced.

Can not think of the Name but the grade coming South on 5 Between Medford and the CA line is fun. Grapevine Whatever you do DO NOT speed down it or Pass anyone. Also make dang sure you stop and Flag a Brakecheck at the top of it or they will nail you the next time. Lastly on CA on I-5 get ready to watchout for all the IDIOTS just when you think you have sen them all around Sacramento here comes LA.

LOL! Barstow is where you are headed??

If so, then once you get down to Sacramento, you definitely want to jump on 99 for the drive south from there. If the meatheads do route you through LA ask them why.

If you are meeting in the Seattle area to do the swap...I feel for you!

The drive south on I-5, your going to have the "Lollipops" in Oregon. After Roseburg OR there are several hard pulls and down grades that will catch you sleeping if you are loaded heavy and not paying attention. They aren't really that long of grades, but they can make you smoke brakes if you don't pay attention. The pull over the Siskiyous is the longest pull you have, and that is a lot like the pull through Flagstaff, so it isn't that bad. You will have to watch yourself dropping down through Lake Shasta. Lot's of speed-ballers tend to lose it down in the corners. If your brakes are hot when you take the exit for the scales at Dunsmir they will pull you into the inspection shed.

If you are going to Barstow, I can't see them routing you through LA....but meatheads do weird things. You should drop down 99 into Bakersfield, then hop 58 south out of Bakersfield to Barstow. The "grapevine" is the pull between Wheeler Ridge and LA. Tehachapi is the pull on 58 between Bakersfield and Mojave.