STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 22051: The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men…………..

November 26, 2007 on 10:28 am | In On The Road |

The best laid plans of mice and men often go asunder through circumstances beyond their control. Such is the case with my return trip to Las Vegas yesterday. The plan was to leave Palo Alto about 1000 to beat most of the holiday traffic.

Left, the whole fam damily. Right, Bye, bye guys.
First, I didn’t get out until 1115. Traffic wasn’t to bad until I got onto CA-152. Just outside Gilroy, traffic began backing up, and was stop & go after about 7 miles. The problem was road construction at the CA-152/CA-156 junction. Once I cleared that obstacle and got onto I-5, traffic was heavy, but running at or near the speed limit. About 1 1/2 miles before the Harris Ranch exit, the left front tire on my car lost its tread. I stopped on the shoulder to assess the damage, then drove on to the exit.

I found a place that sold tires, and replaced the bad tire ($182.29 worth). I lost about 2 hours, which put me right in the middle of the above mentioned holiday traffic.
I finally arrived in Bakersfield about 1815.
I had called an old friend (Debbie) along the way and arranged to meet her for dinner at Bill Lee’s (where else). We had a nice visit/dinner. I left B’field about 2000 and finally arrived back in Vegas about 0030. A long, greulling, frustrating day, but I made it.