BAD Roads, Diesel Splash, Cursed at by a Trucker, All it had at 30MPH
Day 1 started with a final push, and sometimes shove, at 5AM, with a final load of the last pieces of furniture and a final clean up of the house.
Rowdy’s Mom came by to wave goodbye and pitched in helping us to clean up. We loaded “Percy” onto the car carrier and took off for Flagstaff environs. 10 hours later, three pit-stops for us and the dog, we made it.
Stopping to fuel up in AZ, I experienced an obstinate fuel pump. In and out I went to deal with the clerk. This pissed off the trucker behind me, who demonstrated zero patience with me, even after witnessing me splash diesel all over myself – once the thing turned on. He honked his horn and called me some choice names. I turned and looked at him, then turned back and continued inside where I searched out a sink to wash my hands. I returned, and got out of his way.
Driving a loaded-to-the-gills 22′ Penske Truck towing a car carrier is a different experience than my last drive through here, whipping up these same hills with an Escort Redline radar detector at… let’s say 90 MPH to nothing. No Redline needed when the truck is giving it all at 30MPH.
The I40 from CA through to Flagstaff, well, is awful. Ridiculous potholes and trenches that go on and on. I was thrilled that Percy had hung on through all of the jouncing. There may be some hope as there were also several stretches of construction zones.
The last few miles dragged on forever as we crawled up the final stretch into the Best Western parking lot. Tucked in for the evening, we’re hopeful that all will be well when we arise and tackle Day 2, which should take us into Tecumcari.
If you’re looking for us in the map, click the button on the home page. You should see our “check-in” points along the way. I will periodically check-in as ok. This point will appear on the map.
Key learnings:
1. There’s a whole etiquette to using truck stops. Pull forward after pumping if you can, be prepared to say “Private” at the counter vs. waiting for the clerk to ask for company and truck ID number.
2. Get gloves just for fueling up, it’s unnecessarily messy.
