Waitin' In the Dock All The Day (Seemingly)

DATELINE: WALCOTT, IA, 8:00 p.m CST

Miles Today: 463

Ya' know how yesterday I wrote that my pickup this morning would probably be a drop-and-hook and I'd quickly be on my way to Iowa? Yeah, right! So much for me predicting the future! Turns out that this time my pickup at that place was a live load. And because of the type of load it is, they needed to wait for an inspector to OK it before they could put it in my trailer.

Notice the word "wait" in that last sentence? I use that a lot lately, don't I? Well, this time I was at that site for 4 *&%**%ing hours, eating up valuable driving time (and potential free time at this end). By the time I was cleared to leave, I had only 9 hours of time left to drive before my 14-hour window for the day would expire. So I'm about 100 miles short of where I should have reached today. Therefore I'll have to get up and drive an extra 2 hours early in the morning to get to the Des Moines delivery on time.

On the other hand, the driving was clear all the way and I had just enough time today to get to one of my favorite truck stops, the Iowa 80 TA, a.k.a. "The World's Largest Truck Stop", here in Walcott. They gots a Taco Bell in their food court, so dinner was cheap tonight. (Other options: Pizza Hut Express, DQ, & Wendy's, along with their regular restaurant.) Whenever you get the chance to travel out this way (I-80 about 25 miles east of the IA/IL border), stop in for a look-see.

Well, like I mentioned, I'll have to arise early in the mornin' and today was a long one, so it's time to wrap this report up and set off for the land o' nod. Thanks for pointing your browser this way today. Keep them cards 'n letters--er, comments and questions--coming, and keep on truckin'.