Well. Starting day 2 in Brownsville in a bit.  Turns out there will be no empty trailers coming across the border today. It's 2022 and it's also Sunday. Meaning? They can't get trucks across the border because they have to have a sticker that allows border crossings.  I dunno if these stickers are available before hand, one would think so. Whatever the case, they have to wait until tomorrow morning to get them and be able to bring the empties across.  

This was news to both the dispatcher - of course - and to the man that runs transportation in Alta Mira.  Ok?  George runs the Brownsville operation, whatever he says, you can rest assured it's the actual truth contrasted to whatever everyone else is saying.  It's his trucks that bring these empties across the border, of course he will know if they are coming or not.  Just that George isn't always available.  Or even there. But, of all days, Sunday, not only was he there, he was changing out tires on a trailer!  Imagine that, the owner's son, who happens to run the place, humble enough to do whatever it takes to keep the operation running.  

I don't encounter too many people like that anymore.  Most would call someone out of their day off to deal with it.  It's pretty cool, really.  

When I found this out, I immediately looked on the phone for hotels... and namely the one I'm at now.  Marriott Residence Inn.  It was listed at $127, but I called them and they said they had a room for $109.  Yes!  My dispatcher wasn't on board.  I didn't say anything about the hotel, she just can't believe this dude in Alta Mira wasn't giving her correct info.  

Whatever!  She came on board when I explained about trucks not being able to cross the border until a decal inspection can be done, and that won't happen until tomorrow morning!  I don't care, I will gladly spend the night in my beautiful, comfortable, serene, peaceful hotel room, take the money and run.  When the yard boss says the trailers will be here in the morning, believe they will be here - some time - in the morning.  Anytime before noon means I'm home tomorrow night, hopefully off the next day and try to get this tree saving business done and over with.  

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Day 3, 10:00 am, was just informed trailers are being inspected and allowed to cross the border, so allegedly any time now. But, when they say "soon", that could be many, many hours.  Especially if there is a backlog of trucks waiting to get their decals inspected/authorized.  I would like to get out of here soon, tho so I can make it home tonight.  Unfortunately, there is another driver that is ahead of me, so whatever comes in first, he gets.  

I frankly wish I were at the house, I am motivated right now and could easily spend the day out there measuring and marking the rest of the trees.  

I read in these RV parks for sale groups of people that buy existing RV parks and they are "killing it" - everything is already done, set up for them, they just have to get the financing.  Of course, they are spending a million plus dollars on it, but still, I'm a wee bit jealous lol.  All this stuff I am going through just to even get the beginning phases of construction going!  Just calm down, Ben , patience and keep the vision alive.  Yes, the vision.  Retirement is "just around the corner" and the end of trucking as we know it isn't that far off, either.  That's what motivates me more than anything.

Honestly, running a park would BE like retirement for me.  No more dealing with nanny-state trucking companies. No more dealing with endless idiots on the road with no more common sense than a dead cow.  No more dealing with invasive and ridiculous DOT rules and regulations. No more electronic logs, getting up at 3:45 am to load, etc etc etc.  

And since I'm - hopefully - going to have far more money than I originally anticipated, I'm going to ask the contractor to please give me a quote for more lots.  Like 20 instead of 14.  That's 6 extra lots, probably add 20 grand, it is what it is.  It would be a better start with more lots and potentially more income.  It's just a thought that entered my mind - but - there is a lot of other stuff I have to pay for beyond lots so I'll just have to wait and see how this all pans out.

Wait, the contractor said the week of the 10th or the 17th. If I can just get a full day off, I can hopefully get all the rest of that done and over with!  I just asked for a day off if it can be slipped in somewhere, I usually get one anyway without asking, but I really need to make sure it happens.  If it doesn't I'm going to have to ask the contractor to please not come until the 17th.

Good grief. I could have sat in the hotel room if I had known they weren't going to show up until late, lol.

G'day