The Truck Stop Shower

Day 2:

Up at 6:45 this morning. Neither one of us slept great. The first couple of times I rode along it was nice to snuggle up on the bottom bunk. Last night we lasted that way for approximately 30 minutes before he said, "This isn't comfortable. I'm moving to the top bunk."

I pretended to be disappointed ... in the dark he couldn't see me smiling when I said, "I packed an extra set of sheets."

The bottom bunk is bigger than a twin bed in both length and width, but twin sheets still fit it. The top bunk is just as long, but narrower by about 6 inches. And a more restful night was had by all.

Up this morning for the first Truck Stop Shower. Think of camping, without the outdoors. This Hook (or Flying J for us non-truckers) offered 15 shower rooms. Each room comes equipped with two well worn, but clean towels, a washcloth, paper bathmat and a liquid soap dispenser mounted on the wall.

To get a shower, you go to the driver-side checkout and ask. Each shower costs $10 (it was $6.50 the last time I went), and he says most other truckstops charge the same. The good news is that his company will reimburse him for one shower a day. Many companies do not. And owner-operators, of course, are on their own dime. The good news is that with the bigger truckstops, if you get 50 gallons of fuel, you qualify for a "free" shower.

The shower room includes a shower, toilet, sink and enough room to turn around. I personally think shower shoes are a must, just in case. The rooms get cleaned after every use. Somewhere in that building is a hell of a janitorial supply closet complete with commercial washer and dryer.

Technology has reached showering, too. To get in the room, you get a code on your receipt. You have to punch the code into the panel outside of the door to get in.

On our way to OK city. We'll stop in Joplin for brunch (just like the country club!) and then be set until dinner later.