To the Big City and Back

Christmas day started with a less than enthusiastic beginning as we witnessed an event that wasn't full of joy and love for our fellow man. We had a leisurely morning, sort of. I took my time more than I should have as we had a multi-hour drive to San Francisco to pick up a son and girlfriend that were flying in for the holidays. I used to enjoy going to San Francisco, but over the last few years it has changed into a place that is not pleasant to visit. Politics, policies and just plain the people are not the fun bohemians of the past. It's a city that is just a mess to travel through.

But that was to come. Before we were even ten minutes away from our home we stopped at a rural stoplight and were treated to a strange event. We were the middle car of three vehicles on a two lane road that changed to four lanes just before a stoplight. The pickup behind us was in a hurry as he was right behind us, and as the lanes separated into two our direction he pulled the the right and passed us only to be stopped at the light next to the car that was in front of us. Now the weird began.

We were the second car in the left lane behind a small Hyundai sedan. In the right lane was the truck that had been riding our rear bumper. I noticed the truck driver had his window down on this brisk morning. Then a large cloud of smoke billowed forth from the driver and I figured why the window was open. The truck sat on larger than stock tires and just beyond the limit line with a low rumble of the engine. Then the light turned green.

For some unexplained reason both vehicles took off like they were shot from a gun. A race was on and with no apparent reason other than ego. The truck roared off billowing smoke and noise, as the car surprisingly kept pace. The two were even as they approached where the road lessened from two lanes to one. Neither seemed willing to back off and neither did back off. Finally the truck inched ahead and swerved over in front of the car just as the road became one lane. Why had this happened? Within half a mile we were all three stacked up behind another red light. If this was the beginning of the day, what else might we see?

We didn't have much choice to travel four plus hours to meet the flight, but we were optimistic that traffic might be sparse because of the holiday. Going through Fresno cured us of that thought. We cut across the valley to Interstate 5 and there were less travelers and the driving was better.

Until we came down from Altamont Pass and into Livermore. Our side became crowded but not as bad as the vehicles leaving the Bay Area. We eventually maneuvered through the different highways, across a bridge and into SFO's parking lot. We met son and more than a girlfriend and began our trip home. This time we went south on 101 then across at Pacheco Pass back into the valley on onto I-5. Traffic was good and we made good enough time getting home we had a mini Christmas celebration and food Friday night as well as the one were originally planned for Boxing Day.

Every time we travel to a large city, and more often than not it's the Bay Area instead of Los Angeles, I think about and plan a potential escape from the area. I make sure there is a full tank of gas in the car as we enter the area so our vehicle will get us part way home or to family. We have some people in a remote part of the area we could stay with if we get to their place. It is the opposite direction from home, but it is a safe place and is reasonably supplied. So a choice will have to be made depending what type of event has happened and where we happen to be when it happens.

That always make me think quite a bit as the Bay Area has many different potential events. Earthquakes come first to mind, but a tsunami could also happen. A recent study has outlined the potential for a tsunami wave to reach inland to Sacramento in some events. Many portions of the Bay Area are low in elevation. Parts of San Francisco are built on landfill and the Loma Prieto earthquake showed the vulnerabilities in that regard.

My bigger concern is the people. I come from a small town and drive very little compared to the average person in a populated area like we visited. I don't know all of the roads. I can guess about how to use some of the roads, but most of my knowledge and maps show the bigger roads and highways only. This is where I need to improve my knowledge. We have started to take different routes as time allows. We use a map to give a general idea of a new path to visit family. I talk with family to ask what other routes they have taken and get more ideas. It is an ongoing process to learn more. But it is an important process to do.

So even with a strange start, the trip went well and for a while, family is together.