The First Day of Travel

We flew to San Diego to get a car we had
bought from family. We did California in one
day. And this is how the first day trip went.
Warning: language is not for children.....

I was the co-piloted/navigator for 11 hours
and drove 6 hours. The King drove 11 hours
and bitched for 6 hours. After the 17 hours, he
was exhausted and wanted to pull in. I would
have drove to Portland, but we stopped in
Medford, Oregon.

His driving consisted of all kinds of verbal
thoughts on the other drivers who were on
the road with him. Some were not the nicest.
Especially when we were on Highway 210.
Doing 10 to 20 mph in a 60 mph area. After
11 hours, he was really getting cranky, so I
jumped into the driver's seat, after one of our
stops for gas.

He had all kinds of wonderful remarks about
my driving. As we came down one of the many
mountainous areas, he told me it was good we
didn’t double team often as I would burn out the
brakes. So the next down grade, I took my foot
off the gas and rode it down like a roller coaster
hill. Roller coasters scare the hell out of me. So
I decided to compare it like the Silverwood Log
Plume, in my mind. When I was awaken from the
comparison by the screams of the King. ….
“use the F***ing brakes!!!!, what the hell are you
trying to do, turn the car over in to the canyon ?
USE THE BRAKES!!! I guess he is scare of downhill
roller coasters too. I reminded him of the remarks of
me using the brakes. As I glanced at him…I could see
his lips were tight and he looked forward out of the
front window. He was quiet for about 20 miles. I guess
he had nothing to say. I rather liked that.

After he recovered he started his driving lessons again.
I thought I had done pretty well in my 50 years of
driving with only one accident. But he felt the need
to give me his advice of how to drive the highways.
I had not asked for the lessons.... that I knew of… so
guess he was just being helpful. Like “get in the
passing lane. NOW!!” I thought it might be a better
etiquette to let the cars along side of us, go first. He
yelled “pass the trucks…. You have 5 cars behind
you.” Well, the two trucks in front of me were having
a race to see who could pass whom, with another trailing
just behind them…… and I decided it was best to follow
along and watch, but not to interfere.

After we left California, he started to calm down. And
I promised him a hot shower, and food in Medford.
So the 40 miles in Oregon went a lot better. The next two
days of travel, he drove and I navigated, and I watch the
wonderful view from our window. I would tease from time
to time, by giving some of his own advice back at him…
luckily we both have a good sense of humor