NORTHEAST IS TOO TEMPTING

Last Saturday, I went to pick up a load in Davenport, Iowa, but it's availability was apparently miscommunicated. I had to leave their facility without my expected load. At least I got paid $150 for my trouble. So, when a load falls through like this, I have to open up my laptop computer and search for a new load. Last-minute pickings can be slim. There were a few mediocre options that would have kept me in the desirable Central Time Zone, and two loads that paid handsomely but would take me to New York. I chose to make the most money possible. 

   My trip East did like those adventures usually do: they keep me in the Northeast for a while. Westbound freight is either scarce, or the pay is too low to justify my trouble. My hours dwindled & I had to take a 34-hour restart in Epping, New Hampshire. 

   During my restart, I parked in a McDonald's parking lot, where there were 6 designated spaces for large vehicles.

    24 hours into my restart, I got visited by the police. They were there to see if I was okay. Truckers sometimes die inside of their rigs. The McDonalds manager hadn't observed me exiting or entering my truck. She tried knocking on my door to see if I was okay, but got no response. Unbeknownst to her,  I was on foot, a mile across town, watching the newest Hunger Games movie. After checking my CDL & inquiring about my itenerary, the police officer wished me a belated "happy birthday" & told me to enjoy the rest of my time off.

   Just before 5am, on the 11th, I went into the restaurant to order breakfast to-go. It was a 24-hour lobby, but I wanted to have a McMuffin in my hand while I was performing pre-trip inspection. My 34-hour restart was complete & I was anxious to run another 70-hour week.

   Steps from my truck, an employee merged to my path. He confronted me loudly about my truck. He emphatically & loudly declared that I wasn't allowed to park my truck there. He wasn't trying to be humorous. I pointed out that this McDonalds advertised truck parking on my iPhone app & that "RV & TRUCK PARKING" was plainly painted on the ground. I also recounted my badged visit the prior evening. His indignance & hatred made me marvel. 

   I'm in bed, at an Ohio turnpike travel plaza tonight. In 90 minutes, I'll be allowed to drive again. Sleep has been elusive this past hour. My current load takes me to Illinois, then I have loads going to Colorado, Arkansas, then to Missouri. If all works out, I'll spend my next 34-hour restart at home.