Re: [a/s] More Travel speed

[Susi and John Burchard <saluqi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bearcatcher0702@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 05/13/2000 11:48:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> saluqi@ix.netcom.com writes:
> 
> << truck lane and two or three runaway truck ramps.  Most of the trucks do
> indeed
>  go slow down that hill.  It would be utterly scary to do otherwise.  But once
>  down on the fl >>
> IT'S been awhile...what is it? a 6% grade?  No doubt I'd slow down too...but
> in the early 80's on the way to a Cowboy/Rams game, on a 'black beauty'
> (something I'd never do anymore), I was FLYIN'..(now everyone knows I used to
> be wild).

At least 6%, and full of curves.  I go down it comfortably at 60 in the motor
home, ready to drop a gear and use engine braking if necessary, but the trucks
do go slower, and a good thing too.  As it is you can often smell fried brake on
that stretch ...

> Hey....what I forgot to say about FOG/SNOW/SAND storms is that when they hit
> day or night...you don't slow down (the car behind may not have!) and you
> don't just stop on the road either for the same reason.  I have literally
> driven down into a ditch until sand has passed over, for safety!  NOT fun!
> It's the only way I'll deal with it if I'm caught in it without warning.

It's the only way TO deal with it if caught without warning ... but it's better
if you can see it coming and get off the road.  Living in Africa and the Middle
East for nearly 20 years I got fairly good at anticipating the sandstorms. 
There are usually some telltale signs that the wind is picking up, before the
sand actually starts to fly.

And coming down off the Grapevine you can usually see the fog in the valley
bottom before you hit it.

One of the problems with that stretch of I-5 (apart from the terrible condition
of the pavement) is that there are only two lanes each way, so there's nowhere
to go to avoid the crazies.

John

Susi and John Burchard
saluqi@ix.netcom.com