small acts of kindness

[theHighwayman]

well, I had an interestin day t-day -- first part was kinda dull - just cruisin my normal haunts -- takin Shela for her romp & dump @ the "Dusty" - witnessed the remains of a TC bein cleaned up there -- someone weree'nt payin attention and ran into a stopped vehicle

then, I headed out, to go once more thru the park, and over the bridge, before headin back to the ranch -- as I'm tranistionin from SB SR 163 to SB I-5 I see a small white car coming to a stop on the NB RS JSO the NB SR 163 off ramp -- don't know that they're actually in trouble, so I continue SB to take the bridge exit and cross over to Coronado -- coming back, and merging to the NB I-5, I spot a small sedan stopped in the SB CD with a mini van pullin up behind it as I watch!

This does not bode well for either of them as it's a dangerous spot they're in due to the curve of the freeway there, so I take action immediately to exit @ Pershing and double back nearby to come out onto the SB I-5 "LIT" and angling over across the lanes thru traffic to the # 1 lane where I fully LIT w my directional LED lite bar strobin RIGHT

as I landed behind the minivan, folks who had made a hole for me passed by with a coupla toots of their horns and waves spoke w the driver of the minivan - seems the driver of the small car was a friend, who had been followin her to a mutal destination and had got disoriented and had STOPPED IN THE CD where she had gone around and come back to help her friend, and then they were BOTH afraid to try to merge back out inta traffic due to the blind curve and high speed of oncomin vehicles

I told them both I was gonna back up around the curve to where i could be well and easily seen by oncomin vehicles and then I was gonna "run a break" for them to be able to "launch" safely -- they were to watch for me coming and when I flashed my high beams rapidly they were to "launch" POST HASTE and STAY in the # 1 lane untill they had achieved "flow of traffic" speed -- after which they would be on their own

I proceeded to do as i'd explained to them and as I came round the curve the first driver DIDN'T immediately launch -- which lead to hesitation by the second driver -- which caused *me* instant consternation as I was "LIT UP" and flashing my high beams for all I was worth!!!! They finally both got launched successfully and with me behind, to protect em, we achieved "flow of traffic" speed, after which, I broke off and angled successfully to exit @ 28th St and return NB [ mentally wishin them godspeed and hopin they made it to their destination safely -- [ the first woman should NOT be driving a car ]

anyways --

Now I'm NB agin and I reach the spot where I'd seen the small white car stoppin on the RS - it's still there -- battery dead, from drivin w a defective alternator -- it's a small Dodge-Chrysler product -- onea them where the IDIOT engineers decided to place the battery *inside* the LF fender area - accessable only by removin the LF tire and part of the fender splash shield -- STUPID STUPID STUPID place to put a battery!! [ can't easily install my backup battery there ] so I'm contemplatin the situation, when a small pickup pulls in beHIND my Merc and the fella comes up and ribs me fer not wearin a reflective vest!! someone who works for Caltrans and knows me and we've met before and he'd given me a vest on anuther occassion as a gift [ funny guy ]

anyways -- I've got an appointment I've got to keep so I ask the stranded couple if they'll promise to return my portable booster I'm gonna plug inta their cigarette lighter to power their car after i jump it w my BIG booster -- they vow to do so, so I DO just that, give em a card w my address info on it, and send them on their way to their job they was headed to, a coupla miles away, w a Via Con Dios

here's hopin they keep their word! -- them boosters are expensive -- and I have to *modify* each one that I git w a higher rated circut breaker so's they don't "kick out" when folks step on their brakes or use their turn signals -- lucky I always carry TWO ofem --

[theHighwayman]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well -- it don't look like my booster's comin back this time haven't heard from the couple I loaned it to --

ordered thisun tday --
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-J...=pd_sbs_auto_4

along with this --
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-B...+jump+starters

to plug it in with, to power a dead alternator vehicle outta harm's way -- upta now, I'd fashioned my own version of this, for use in my rescuin folks -- we'll see how this-un works out -- dang -- I coulda used the money these cost to be out there anuther day or 2 -- the way it goes sumtimes

don't liketa be out there w-out all my options available --

helped 8 folks w different "situations" tween then & now -- but I kin jist feel anuther alternator - battery situation comin up so I gotta git prepared --

last 2 times I've been fuelin up to go out to "play" folks have approached me to say THANKS fer helpin their friends-realitives recently -folks git to talkin -- then they git to DOin -- makes it worthwhile, it does
__________________

[theHighwayman]

Better luck t-DAY on gittin things returned

young fella's mid 70s Ford F100 pickup was on the RS of I-8 WB JWO the Mission Center OF -- ignition problems -- no spark -- loaned him my K-D 2632 portable ignition system on his promise to return it after it got hiim home -- I just came in the door, and found it on the kitchen table w a note form my "witch" sayin it was dropped it off w thanks

FIRST TIME any of my "loaned" equipment has BEAT me home

got ta thinkin bout how I *usta* have THREE of these -- 2 were never returned --
so -- I decided to check e-bay agin, jist fer fun, and WHATTA YA KNOW? lookie what I found --
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KD-TOOLS-POR...379#vi-content

anybody feel like grabbin it up for me?
__________________

[ here's where onea them went ]
Just t-day I stopped to help a mom, her daughter, and baby granddaughter w their broken-down small motorhome -- turns out they're livin in -- goin from place to place nightly

battery had been low on water and exploded in traffic on the I-8 EB JWO 70th -- MH was stopped on the *narrow* RS stickin out inta the offramp lane on a slight curve -- oncomin traffic couldn't SEE it till they were ONit -- no hazards since battery blew!

*I* missed seein it myself initally, and hadta do a "goaround" to git backta help em --

didn't have what I needed with me to gittum under way, so headed back to the ranch to collect the necessary items from Beulah's stores -- meanwhile -- I called 911 and asked that a FSP tow GIT there pronto to give em a courtesy tow outta danger --

I arrived back on scene bout 20 min later [ still there ] and began to effect tempory repairs to git them "outta Dodge!"

JUST as I got it to fire up w my aux battery installed and my aux portable ignition lit up -- CHP motor arrived w a FSP tow followin him in -- we're already runnin, so the motor officer took the lead and we all launched inta the rush traffic w the "lit" tow bringin up the rear

this ain't the end o this story but i jist got called to dinner -- "I'LL BE BACK"

well now, I'mmmm BAAAACK!

we got off the freeway, and proceded to Denny's parkin lot where I looked over the MH tryin to find the ballast resistor I suspected of failin -- w my battery init the engin would kick over jist fine but die right off when key turned to run position -- [ that's symtomatic of a failed resistor but also kin happen w a damaged electronic ignition module ]

couldn't find a resistor anywhere [ followin all the danglin wire harness ] but vehicle runs ok on my porta ignition

her battery is exploded [ literally ]

soo -- on observatin & talkin w em bout their "situation" I decided to leave my new battery in their vehicle -- and I hooked up the porta ignition semi permantly and showed the gal howta operate it -- ran the on-off rocker switch thru the doghouse
[ engin cover ] and draped it over the steering colomn


anyways

haven't had need ofit in a coupla years and these folk needed it moren I do --

told her, if she gits "situated" better I'd liketa havem back -- but theyr' her's no worries

littl gal teared up when I told er -- I mighta have jist a mite as well -- but *I'm* comin home to my "ranch" whilst *they* look every nite for a place to park where they won't git rousted -- or worse
Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:39 pm

[theHighwayman]

TWO encounters w DRUNK drivers t-day

both female

first before I'd even left surface streets of El Cajon!

she ran a red light and woulda plowed inta my right side had I not braked and taken evasive action --- THEN -- she swerved from the right lane next to me [ just in front of me ] directly into MY lane -- causing me to hard brake and take evasive action aGIN!

TOLD her about it a the next red light! to her hand waving and smiling and making signs w her hands -- [ no, not the finger ] light changed, she took off, and I pulled inta the Pep Boys parkin lot where I was headed -- fella came up to me and said he saw the whole episode and couldn't believe I'd been able to avoid hittin her --

second one was a FREEWAY incident! transitiong rfrom I-5 NB to I-8 EB, an older Explorer came up behind me @ a high rate of speed on the transition -- I'm behind a car transport 18 wheeler that is transitioning @ a reasonable speed and I've got nowhere to go -- so I HIT my brakelites a coupla times -- NO effect on the oncomin vehicle -- then I LITE up w everything I have rearfacin! -- vehicle finally slows just a coupla feet off my back bumper -- continues to tailgate me to the I-8, where, as I signal and begin to move left the IDIOT floors it and nearly brushes my left side as she bulls past me , passin me on my left as I'm signalin and movin left, causin a vehicle next lane over to take evasive action as well some STUPID STUPID people out there t-day -- decided that the THIRD time [ if it happened ] might be my undoing- - so I reluctantly headed back to the ranch -- just got in


the "kindness" t-day is that I made it home safe

[Biker395]

Cripes!

We recently had a 6 car accident on the 405. Some guy in an Audi transitioning from the EB 105 to the SB 405 hit a vehicle that was parked on the shoulder, caromed off him, and involved 4 other vehicles.

The CHP made four ... count 'em ... FOUR DUI arrests, including the guy in the Audi.

The guy on the shoulder? Would not be surprised if he were one of the DUIs. But if that is so, that means that of the (presumably randomly selected) 4 other autos involved, HALF of them were DUI?

The statistics I've heard are ASTOUNDING.

Maybe it's because I spend a lot of time out there on the road, with little more than a smile and a rear view mirror to protect me. Or maybe it's because I've had friends killed or maimed by drunken arseholes, often working on their second or third DUI. But I tell you this ... I have HAD IT with drunk drivers and anything that passes for leniency for them. It's not OK ... not OK at all.

[Spirit Tree]

You guys got to be careful out there. Sure this idgits are plastered and get in a wreck; then they are the ones who survive. Seems like is the case more often than not. They are just so limber etc. they just seem to endure...

Thanks to both of you for posting those posts. If it made just one person second guess their sobriety it was worth it...
Like the billboard says buzzed driving = $10,000

[theHighwayman]

thankee Spirit Tree

anuther dead alternator - dead battery situation t-day @ the Second St to WB I-8 on ramp -- right at the END of the OR where everyone is lookin behind & to the left of em as they merge -- makes it REAL dangerous to be stopped there

I saw them as I was takin the EB offramp comin home from a "tour" out "playin" -- went around & under the OP and came out LIT UP & strobin so's I wouldn't git run over by the drivers jockeying behind me --


a small car was on the RS w the hood up and the driver trying to deploy onea these jump pacs himself -- NO luck, because yes, the car would start -- but then would immeadeatly die when he disconnected his jumper -- [ NO power left in his on board battery due to the dead alternator ]

didn't *have* my plug-in jump pac due to the last folks I loaned it to not keepin their word to return it soo on *his* promise to return -- I removed my GP75 DT battery from my LARGE booster, installed it in his vehicle, dropping his dead battery into my LARGE booster's case to more easily carry it home where I'll charge it up for him to retrieve when he gits his alternator replaced and comes by w *my* battery to return it

leastways --- that's how this is sposed to work -- let's hope he keeps his word I can't stand TOO many dissappointments finaniancly

edit

thisun didn't return my battery

[theHighwayman]

SCARY one t-DAY! -- at the SAME spot that thisun happened back in 08 --


Next, Weller pulled behind two cars parked just beyond a curve and barely off the freeway, where others were whizzing by at smash-you-to-bits speeds. One had a flat tire on the freeway side of the car. And the battery was dead.
The second driver was trying to help but couldn't get in position to provide a jump and couldn't jack up the car enough for a tire change. Weller's hydraulic jack and heavy duty jumper cable did the trick.
"That gets the adrenaline pumping," he panted as he pulled back onto the freeway. "That's the excitement of jumping off the bridge with a bungee or going skydiving."

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul...highwayangel24

as I told the leetil reporter gal that was ridin w me that day for the story -- "Don't you even THINK bout gittin out here for thisun!"

the one t-day, was at the exact same spot -- NB SR 163 JNO the Washington St on ramp -- where the RS is about half width this littl Honda had a RF BO and the spare was flat as well -- but -- more troublin, was the fact that all the lug nuts were lockin type that require a "key" socket to git em off & on -- couldn't FIND it in a hurry -- whilst we were tryin, there was a screeeeeeech CRASH right beSIDE us as somebody didn't pay enuf attention to what was goin on ahead of em missed us, but "motavated" *me* to throw all tools and gear and spare inta the Honda's trunk and instruct the driver to run it on the flat around the curve where a generous turnout exists -- I LIT w everything I've got and "covered" his limpin around the curve safely -- arrived to find the 2 vehicles that had collided beside us had had the good sense to pull off there as well -- no injuries, luckily, but a LOT of damage to both and one requirin a tow.

Once in a safer spot w reduced "fear factor" [ I was SOME "puckerd up" ] one of the Hondas' occupants managed to find the "key" socket, and, after airin up the flat spare, I got em under way by instructing the driver to watch me as I walked back some on the curve where I could observe the oncomin traffic in order to be able to give him the "high sign" to rocket away safely -- I did -- and he did -- then I launched totally lit and managed to git outta there as well --- WHEW!

pulled off @ Mission Center and into the Denny's parkin lot where I reorganized my gear used in the save -- then decided to go "once more thru the park and over the bridge agin" littl did I know what was comin up next

[ dinner break here ]

[SurfnSnowboard]

Wow, a two-parter!

Did you ever get your battery pack back?

Sad to think that someone you helped wouldn't have the decency to return your equipment.

[ShiftyRider]

Good save, Highwayman! We want more.

[theHighwayman]

cliff hanger eh?

well, had dinner, put my feet up fer a while, watched our fave shows -- NCIS & NCIS LA -- then crashed

them HI energy - anxiety incidents just kinda take it outta me

anyways --

thru the park and over the bridge I went, agin -- and, returnin -- comin up on the NB I-5 to NB SR 163 off ramp -- lucky I was *prepared* [ as always ] cause I hadta LITE UP instantly as I came off the I-5 due to a 2 car collision RIGHT WHERE BEULAH WAS KILLED in 2011!

exact same spot

2 vehicles, minor damage, no one hurt -- but -- the likelyhood for a secondary TC extreemely HIGH!

I stayed LIT and "covered" the #1 lane behind em catywumpus so's to protect em -- then approached and advised both parties they should move to a safer place to exchange info -- they moved out w me followin "lit" untill they gained "flow of traffic" speed WHEW!

[theHighwayman]

Wow, a two-parter!

Did you ever get your battery pack back? ---------- NOPE sometimes that happens

Sad to think that someone you helped wouldn't have the decency to return your equipment.

[theHighwayman]

"Witch" & I went to see a show t-nite @ the BellyUp venue in Solona Beach --

https://www.facebook.com/events/268175849978656/



young fella sings the "Highwayman's" songs -- does em well



now I *wonder* why *I* like the highwayman song?



http://snowchains.tripod.com/highwayman-lyrics/



on the way TO the show, "witch" & I stopped twice to help folks w flat tires first was WB I-8 JEO the Waring Rd. exit -- small car w a woman & 3 kids LR FT BO -- she had the kids outta the car and up on the embankment wrapped in blankets [ it was COLD! ] fairly dangereous spot here -- and she was unloadin a ton of stuff outta her trunk to git to the spare as we arrived -- I LIT up to protect us all and got to liftin the car and removin the BO as she was diggin the spare out [ it was FLAT ] don't ya jist KNOW that -- no worries - aired it up and sent her on her way, coverin her escape as she launched --



then, some further distance along, on I-805 NB near the Governer's Dr. off, we came upon anuther small car -- thisun w a RR BO FT -- fella's got it jacked up and he's jumpin on his one arm lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts as we pull up behind em - but - my "spidy" sense is tinglin so I go up to em & push my thumb inta their spare -- don't ya know it -- TOTALLY flat as well had jist enuf air left in my tank to "assist" them too -- they was REAL happy we'd stopped



made it to the venue in time to have dinner, see the show, and head home -- ALL the way home w absolutely NO one stranded beside the road -- a 70mph cruise all the way -- good thing too - had no more air in my tank -- now, someone outta gas -- I coulda helped them



w the 4 I'd helped earlier in the day on a "dedicated" play cruise that makes 7 t-day

[SurfnSnowboard]

I saw you on the EB 8 at the 125 helping someone today looked like they might have been OOG. I thought about honking but didn't want to scare you!

[theHighwayman]

I saw you on the EB 8 at the 125 helping someone today looked like they might have been OOG. I thought about honking but didn't want to scare you!

*that* one was a LR FT and as i came up on it the fella was tryin to air up the FT usin onea them 12V compressors plugged inta his cig lighter

I said lets put the spare on instead -- don't think he knew he *had* one cause on his vehicle the spare is stowed under the middl of the vehicle on the passenger side and you haveta crank it down thru a littl "hatch-hole" in the mid seat carpet --got him done & under way safely OH - and the spare was FLAT! bet ya'll knew that was comin

anyways

no worries bout honkin pardner, I may not acknoweldge, but it don't scare me -- what DOES scare me is the sound of screamin tires!!!! HAD that recently endin w a CRASH -- in the lane RIGHT BESIDE US on the shoulder [ *we* were on the shoulder w a FT ]

[ the Honda FT story up ubove thisun ]