July 21... here we sit

Finally got to sleep at about midnight... too hot, even in Seattle. Alarm went off at 06:00, but I said hell with it and slept for another hour. Shortly after I got started, I was wondering about the wisdom of that decision, but it turns out to have been the correct one. I arrived at the consignee's at 08:05 – 07:05 local time – 25 minutes early for my appointment. The downside is, have to back 100 meters through a parking lot and hit my door. No problem? Right – I thought Americold in Atlanta was a bitch – there's 13 feet from the nose of my truck to the fence opposite the dock. THIRTEEN. I measured. Twice.

At least it wasn't blind side.

Getting here was fun, too. Directions were dead-on accurate.. but this is the first time I can recall ever making 3 right turns and still not ending up even going back the way I came. Lovely place... to get here, you basically have to drive down TWO alleys with train tracks down the middle. Tracks are used, too, not abandoned or even little used.

Place is packed with trucks hauling flattened cars or containers.

To make life even MORE interesting, not only do you have to back 100 meters down that narrow parking lot, you have to back around a corner to get INTO the parking lot.

Got in, got my door assignment – spent 20 minutes getting lined up right... damn, trailer bed is way low -gotta slide the tandems. Did that and spent ANOTHER 10 minutes getting back to the door. And realized I'd forgotten to open the damn trailer doors.

Some days it just doesn't pay to get up from breakfast.

On the good side, everybody here is pleasant, cheerful, and as helpful as they can be.

Got my first look at 22 tons of sugar. 22 pallets, each with one bag – yes, ONE bag, of sugar. Gonna be a hell of a cake, is all I can say.

Once I hit the door for the last time, it took the sole loader about 15 minutes to start unloading. It's gotta be interesting, cuz even though I shoved the tandems all the way back, the trailer deck is still a good 6 inches lower than the warehouse floor. Man, I can feel it when that forklift hits the trailer, too – whole truck shakes like Godzilla just grabbed it.

I just wonder why the doorbell by dock 12 is marked “Start”

Waited 5 hours for my next load. Load in Portland tomorrow, haul to Medford for delivery Wednesday morning. Bah. Only 450 miles in two days. I hope this isn't a trend.

Headed down to Portland. Nice drive, of course. Refueled in Troutdale, but no place to park – either at the TA or the Flying J. Even tried the Jubitz lot. Nada. Ended up in the Jubitz drop yard. Not bad, really. About a mile walk to the Jubitz store and showers. Weather very cooperative.