Interstate and wannabees

There is a reason that money from the stimulus had to go to infrastructure. After a 300+ one way trip on two of California's massive North South roads its clear that we are behind in the maintenance and support for our roadway infrastructure.

I did not know that there was such a disparity between the two major roads that connect northern California with southern California.

Going down to LA Sue and I drove over to pick up the girls at the Bart station in Dublin. We whistled down interstate 5 avoiding a couple of crazy drivers but the folks driving the big trucks were predictable and scooting right along. There was a patch near Bakersfield that was under sever repair. With this exception the road was smooth and the drive was clean.

Coming back was a different story. The road over the grapevine was reduced to two lanes for cars. The trucks have effectively claimed the two right side lanes for themselves and those trucks that are loaded vs those that are empty. The empty ones are the ones to be careful about when you drive the 99. They seem to think that they can pass at will and cut in and out of the passenger side doing a clean 74 miles an hour. This does not work. They are restricted to 55 if they are pulling a box behind them. Most of them are.

Linzi is convinced that the best route is I5. It carries a 30 mile penalty for us. In the long run the extra time may well be worth it.

Pat