ROUTE: Clayton, IN to Mt. Crawford, VA: 569 miles (568 loaded + 1 deadhead)
Wednesday April 1st, I started my day at 10:00am after shutting down the previous night at 11:30pm which followed with a late shower. I should have fueled but I wanted to make sure I made delivery on time. I had enough fuel to get there as I was only 70 miles away. I had driven 1,000 miles since I last fueled and the capacity of 230 gallons normally gets me 1,400 miles. I made the delivery and proceeded to the shipper which is a couple of blocks from the consignee in the same industrial park. I arrived at the shipper at 12:30pm and left at 2:30pm. I was instructed to fuel at the same Flying J truck stop where I had spent the night and topped off the tanks with 141 gallons of diesel. I had a hearty brunch as I skipped breakfast earlier. I left the truck stop at 6:00pm and drove five hours to end my day at 11:00pm.
Thursday April 2nd, I started my day at 10:00am and drove four hours to the consignee arriving at 2:00pm. This assignment should have taken just under ten drive hours but traffic slowed me down to eleven-and-half hours. I left the consignee at 3:00pm.
I did not have my next assignment but fortunately there was a small mom-and-pop truck stop just down the street with a McDonalds, so I drove there and shut it down for the day. Some days we may push the fourteen-hour clock and other days we shut down early. It’s the nature of the beast.
BOOK REVIEW: Murder in the Caravan by Irina Shapiro (2021), MURDER MYSTERY – RATING (*****)
The fourth book in the Redmond/Haze series. Excellent. Suspenseful and entertaining with a dash of sentimentality as the author explores deeper into the main characters’ personal life.
Lord Redmond and Inspector Haze investigate the brutal murder of the daughter of the Magistrate. The story unfolds in the 1860s. The victim is known personally to both Redmond and Haze complicating this case even more. She had recently married into a wealthy family in the quaint town where both are protagonist live. Since the murder occurred at the camp of Gypsies they are the likely suspects but they were the ones to report it to the police instead of fleeing as they are known for. What was she doing there alone and who would want to kill her? On the same day of the murder another woman from the town has gone missing. Coincidence or is there another murder yet to be discovered?
Redmond and Haze again have to piece the few clues they have to solve the murder and find the missing woman. There’s a slew of side characters including the victim’s husband, in-laws, a mafioso type individual, the town folk and the missing girl’s uncle which holds a grudge with Haze for his past indiscretions with the law.
This series continues to deliver entertaining stories that can function as stand-alone reads but more enjoyable to follow in order.
