Roadtrip Ramblings

I had to make the trek to Shaunavon today to meet with the staff there. Along the way the weather was beautiful. I got up a little earlier than usual to try to hit the road early. Turned out I required a stop at the radio station in Swift to print a few things off so I was about 30 minutes behind my planned departure time. Still... I was on the highway before the 8am news was on the air.

Driving on a highway, early in the morning, by yourself, on a beautiful day, with a Tim Horton's in your hand is wonderful.

You really get a chance to think. You're wide awake and notice stuff too.

This morning as I turned off the Trans Canada to head in to Gull Lake I was met by a train. So there I sat... starring straight forward at the variety of rail cars humming by. It was then that I noticed that some people's graffiti... is pretty amazing. And not so surprising... some people really suck at it. While I waited, probably 4 or 5 cars passed that were completely painted on one side top to bottom with some amazing skill displayed.

Then as the last rail car passed I noticed the group of cars in the oncoming lane. Right at the front of the group was a female RCMP officer. For whatever reason, when I'm in the station vehicle I tend to wave at people if we make eye contact on the road. Never know if they know me and I just don't know them or if they're just looking at the vehicle with all the pretty colors on it.

I gave her a wave as we passed and I noticed while one hand waved back, the other was firmly locked on a cel phone to her ear.

It's funny... because January 1st a law was passed in Saskatchewan that banned the use of operating a handheld cel phone while driving. It took all of us a couple of weeks to get used to it. But to be completely honest... I've probably seen 15 people driving while holding the phone to their ear since January 1st. Of those 15... probably 10 of them have been police officers. Just saying.

The trek continued down highway 32. As I approached the midway point between Shaunavon and Gull Lake I realized that on this single lane highway there was a car smack dab on my bumper.

My parents were courteous drivers. I learned from them. When someone is behind you and they're obviously in a bigger hurry than you are to get going, you pull over to the shoulder to non-verbally say, "Let me get the door for you... after you."

I also learned that when YOU are behind someone and they realize that YOU are in a bigger hurry than they are... you're supposed to non-verbally say "Thank You" after you pass them. This is usually done by waiting until you're completely in front of them and waving or raising your arm up in front of the back window.

No one does this anymore. I find it irritating. When someone takes the chance of blowing their tires by driving on the shoulder of the road... a place where things that fly off of vehicles are known to come to a rest... SAY THANK YOU.

It's the same as red light lineups that extend passed a driveway or intersection. The best example I can think of is the Tim Horton's running down Central in Swift Current.

During a busy time of day, when the light at Chaplin turns red... the cars often line up in front of the Tim Horton's parking lot exit or even as far back as the drive thru exit. For those of you unaware let me give you a lesson in courtesy. When you see a red light ahead and realize that by pulling RIGHT up to the car stopped in front of you, you're preventing someone from leaving the parking lot, you're a idiot. There I said it.

What do you gain by stopping 12 feet further ahead than you'd be if you let them in? Nothing. You're still sitting at the same red light. But here's what someone stuck in the drive thru doesn't gain. When you don't let them in they have to stay where they are... out of the line.

While you're stopped and they're out of the line... other cars are stopping behind you. Meaning that LONG after you're moving... they're still sitting there waiting for the group that lined up behind you to go by... hopefully if the light turns red again before this group vacates... they don't have bad enough timing to be met with another idiot in the same place in the line.

YES... there is a slight chance that letting someone go in front of you could mean that they make it through the next green light and you don't but unless this merge is WAY back from the light that's unlikely. And if it is way back... odds are good you're going to be required to sit through at least one more cycle anyway.

Don't be an idiot. Be mindful of the world and people around you. And not to sound like a broken record... but similar to the single lane pass courtesy... when someone saves the "exit spot" for you at a red light lineup... for God's sake wave to them as you're assuming their place in line.

Wow... you can notice a lot of crap in a 1 hour drive.

Next time I drive with the radio on.

DAR