ROUTE: McElhattan, PA to Wixom, MI: 540 miles (433 loaded + 107 deadhead)
This trip was somewhat derailed with the problem encountered in York, PA with the rim of the trailer that needed repair. The pickup was supposed to be on 10/15 late at night but the delivery was scheduled for Friday 10/17 morning so it would be manageable with a pickup on Thursday 10/16 in the morning. I’ve been to that shipper before and know their setup well. The lot where the empties are dropped off is poorly lit and not paved with lines. It’s difficult to park in the daylight, in the dark it would be a haunting experience. Also the temperature dropped 20 degrees and I did not want to deal with it.
On Wednesday 10/15 I slept at the Sheetz in Buckhorn, PA. It’s a small truck stop but since most truckers prefer the name-brand stops it usually has parking availability even late at night and it has 24 hour food service. I was so tired and cold that I skipped dinner.
Started my day with a coffee and a bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich and drove about an hour to the shipper. Afterwards drove about five hours to one of the Ohio Travel Plazas for a break and a scheduled 19:00 called with a consultant helping with my book. I considered shutting it down for the night but I was still three hours away from the consignee, so in order to make the 09:00 scheduled delivery appointment then I would need to start the balance of the trip at 06:00. I don’t like early wake ups unless necessary. I decided to drive another hour-and-a-half to the Petro in Perrysburg, OH. That would leave only a 90 minute drive the next day and more importantly their in-house diner closes at 23:00. I had steak and eggs for dinner. It’s not unusual to have breakfast for dinner. Truckers eat what they can, when they can.
The next day, 10/17, I started at 08:00 as I arrived at the Petro at 22:00 and needed to comply with the 10 hour DOT break. I had a coffee and a blueberry muffin and arrived at the consignee at 09:30.
BOOK REVIEW: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (2024), FICTION – RATING (****)
At first I was getting frustrated with the story. I wasn’t sure where it was going and it was taking forever to get there. Regardless I stayed with it as it caught my curiosity and was well written.
Half way through I was still frustrated but more curious of where it was going and how it would it end. Clever writing and situations created.
It was hard to relate with the main character as everything about her was a lie. The most interesting character was Devon, though he’s got a minimal role at least he’s honest throughout.
The ending was disappointing. After all the well thought out situations and the smart untangling of an impossible predicament the uncovering of the mastermind was improbable. The Hollywood happy ending was predictable.
Regardless it held my attention until the end and therefore the rating.
