My trip to LaLa land.
I had to go to Cali for a week to get recertified on my security systems.
I figured while I was out there I would go see a couple old high school buddies.
We set up a meeting at TGI Fridays. That was great. It was only 17 miles away from where I was staying. We set the time for 6 pm.
Well, I got done with my class at 4, so I went back to the hotel. Figured I would simply wait till around 5, then hit the road. That would give me an hour to get lost and still get there on time.
This is where my lesson in California driving begins.
I was to go north on Hiway 55, then hit hiway 91 south. Piece of cake. It was only 17 miles, how hard could it be.
I jump in the rental car and head out at 5, just as planned.
That is where it went a little nuts.
I got in line to enter the highway. It was a 20 minute wait just to get onto hiway 55.
they have these little stop lights at the entrance to the hiways. They are supposed to meter the traffic so it can flow in at a constant rate. Yea, they don't work. It is pretty much just a bottle neck and an excuse for people to get pizzed off and yell. Trust me, there was plenty of finger waiving, some of it wasn't by me.
Ok, I'm on Hiway 55 north, from here it's easy right?
WRONG.
First off, it's 6 lanes wide. You have mandatory off lanes on both the right and left. the highway seems to create left hand lanes, sort of like a conveyor belt. I found this out when I went from the middle lane one minute and found myself being forced off in the right lane less than a quarter mile later (I still don't know how that happened).
Well, now I am exiting the highway, I don't want to exit the highway, so I just follow the off ramp and get right back in the line to get back on the highway. Now I'm starting to get a little urked by now.
The wait was only about 5 minutes at this onramp. Some guy in little foreign car tried to cut in front of me. I think he got the point that that wasn't going to happen when I stomped on the gas and aimed at his car. He got real polite after that.
Back on the hiway. Now I learned the last time. I got all the way over to the left. I'm all set.
WRONG.
Did you know that Hiway 55 runs right into Hiway 91. As a matter of fact it splits hiway 55 right in the middle. I didn't know this. I found out the hard way.
Yea, I am all the way in the left lane (so I don't get shoved off remember). Well, I now find myself headed towards San Fransico. To bad I wanted to go towards San Diego.
Ok, find an off ramp so I can get turned around.
This sounds easier than it actually is. I went from working hard to NOT get shoved off the hiway, to not being able to find a stinking off ramp. Drive down for a few miles and finally found one.
Oh, did I mention that it is an off ramp ONLY. No on ramp. Who the heck builds an off ramp with no on ramp.
Now I am wandering all over the place trying to get BACK on the stinking hiway again.
Stop at a gas station. Get directions.
Get back on the 91 headed south.
YEA!
Not yea.
I only needed to go a little bit south on 91. I can't get over fast enough to hit my exit.
So I need to find another exit to get turned around.
Now this is much easier this time.
Pretty much off and on.
I finally found the correct exit and the correct place.
It only took me 1 hour 20 minutes to go 17 freekin miles.
Welcome to California.
Even their hiways are messed up.
I had to go to Cali for a week to get recertified on my security systems.
I figured while I was out there I would go see a couple old high school buddies.
We set up a meeting at TGI Fridays. That was great. It was only 17 miles away from where I was staying. We set the time for 6 pm.
Well, I got done with my class at 4, so I went back to the hotel. Figured I would simply wait till around 5, then hit the road. That would give me an hour to get lost and still get there on time.
This is where my lesson in California driving begins.
I was to go north on Hiway 55, then hit hiway 91 south. Piece of cake. It was only 17 miles, how hard could it be.
I jump in the rental car and head out at 5, just as planned.
That is where it went a little nuts.
I got in line to enter the highway. It was a 20 minute wait just to get onto hiway 55.
they have these little stop lights at the entrance to the hiways. They are supposed to meter the traffic so it can flow in at a constant rate. Yea, they don't work. It is pretty much just a bottle neck and an excuse for people to get pizzed off and yell. Trust me, there was plenty of finger waiving, some of it wasn't by me.
Ok, I'm on Hiway 55 north, from here it's easy right?
WRONG.
First off, it's 6 lanes wide. You have mandatory off lanes on both the right and left. the highway seems to create left hand lanes, sort of like a conveyor belt. I found this out when I went from the middle lane one minute and found myself being forced off in the right lane less than a quarter mile later (I still don't know how that happened).
Well, now I am exiting the highway, I don't want to exit the highway, so I just follow the off ramp and get right back in the line to get back on the highway. Now I'm starting to get a little urked by now.
The wait was only about 5 minutes at this onramp. Some guy in little foreign car tried to cut in front of me. I think he got the point that that wasn't going to happen when I stomped on the gas and aimed at his car. He got real polite after that.
Back on the hiway. Now I learned the last time. I got all the way over to the left. I'm all set.
WRONG.
Did you know that Hiway 55 runs right into Hiway 91. As a matter of fact it splits hiway 55 right in the middle. I didn't know this. I found out the hard way.
Yea, I am all the way in the left lane (so I don't get shoved off remember). Well, I now find myself headed towards San Fransico. To bad I wanted to go towards San Diego.
Ok, find an off ramp so I can get turned around.
This sounds easier than it actually is. I went from working hard to NOT get shoved off the hiway, to not being able to find a stinking off ramp. Drive down for a few miles and finally found one.
Oh, did I mention that it is an off ramp ONLY. No on ramp. Who the heck builds an off ramp with no on ramp.
Now I am wandering all over the place trying to get BACK on the stinking hiway again.
Stop at a gas station. Get directions.
Get back on the 91 headed south.
YEA!
Not yea.
I only needed to go a little bit south on 91. I can't get over fast enough to hit my exit.
So I need to find another exit to get turned around.
Now this is much easier this time.
Pretty much off and on.
I finally found the correct exit and the correct place.
It only took me 1 hour 20 minutes to go 17 freekin miles.
Welcome to California.
Even their hiways are messed up.
