2005 Story Set
| Date: September 8, 2005 OH MY LORD Long drive (480 miles each way) back from San Diego to Fremont (5 almost all the way). Very Tired On the way down to San Diego from Fremont ----- Wed --- I was riding along at 70-75 MPH because the speed limit is 70-75, and I was in the left lane because I was passing a slow truck or two, since I normally am in the right lane when not following a slow truck. The left lane is for impatient people traveling at 80-90 MPH and who get annoyed if you turn your left turn signal on to pull out from behind a slow truck (Freeway 5 needs three lanes each way - not two). They get so annoyed they either speed up and tailgate the car you are waiting to pass you so you can't pull out (merge), or, if you successfully signal and move over, they will pass on the right and cut back in front and slam on their brakes and laugh. At 80 MPH. Next time, I call 911. I now own a cell phone (UGH). So anyway, along I go, passing the truck caravan, and then pull forward enough to fit back in. But as I am pulling forward, I discover a convoy of little red fire trucks. The California firefighters. In their yellow outfits. Some in seats. Some sprawled in the back. At least on in the back had his hat off. Very nice. I could go for one of those. CDF - California Department of Forestry Service I think it was. Little red trucks (as opposed to big long hook and ladders) - and shepherded by a big white pick up truck with lights and stripes. Actually, I kept running into them because at one point I stopped for gas and they did not. So I passed them all again. Yep, him too. On the way back, today, I was on 580 and passed, yep, a little red fire truck with guys sitting in the back in their yellow suits. Cute guys. I took a look. At 70-75 MPH that's a short glance. I can look fast. So, a fat old lady (300+) was towing a BIG honking motor home and flipped it right across three lanes in the middle of 580. That means three lanes (because there was a feeding lane too) go into one so everybody STOPS. And I do mean STOPS. FAST! And gawk. The other three lanes went into one on the other side. So the guys in the little red truck, cute guys all, slipped across the lanes into the far left, turned on their lights and beeped their siren. BAD BOYS!!!! This got them thru the mess quicker. There was no fire, just the very large woman standing and talking to at least two highway patrol guys. I didn't get a good look at them because I was trying not to get hit and not be hit when I went by. I think they were probably cute too. The wreck was not. BIG roll-over. Big sign truck sending people scattering in two directions (75 tp zero is a pretty arresting event.). A couple of CHIP cars were marking the ends of the wreck. So, getting by this mess, and 580 is 5 lanes with feeders that can get up to 95MPH through the high wind canyons (in high wind, high speed is required), and toddling along, at 65 MPH (up hill, and because that is the - ha ha - speed limit) I am in the number 3 lane and in the number 5 lane is - wait for it - the same little red fire truck with the same cute guys in it. If a big 18 wheeler hadn't blocked me, I would have pulled over and honked at them. I had a good laugh. Bad Boys! Cute though. |
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