Here's our story, an excerpt from our upcoming trip report.
The Lady was driving, taking her turn and allowing me a break from pilot duties. We were south of Alturas, in California’s remote northeast corner, heading north on two lane highway 395. Traffic – as is usual on 395 north of Susanville – was very light. We caught up to a semi that was traveling at around 60 mph. The speed limit was 65. With a long straight section of highway with good visibility and no oncoming vehicles, the Lady pulled into the left lane and started by the 18-wheeler. I was alert in the passenger seat and confirmed to the Lady all was safe. We pulled even with truck’s cab when we all saw it. On the left, from behind vegetation, a pickup truck appeared, speeding down a dirt road intersecting with the highway. He was not going to stop. He was looking only to his left. He was turning right onto the pavement directly head on into us. It all happened in a second. The semi driver let up on his throttle. The pickup completed his gravel raising right turn into our lane. The Lady moved to the right. The pickup driver’s “Oh S##T!!!!” expression was absolutely priceless. He kept turning to his right and off the highway, foot mashed into the accelerator, and took off into the dirt and brush. We all – the semi, our truck, the pickup - missed each other by only a foot or two. We never looked back to see what happened to the pickup. The trucker didn’t either. “You know,” the Lady calmly said. “I hate passing.”
I am happy you had nothing to report but an adrenaline rush!
As for similar experiences, Impetuous youth is to blame for all my near death experiences. I have grown cautious and maybe just a tiny bit forethoughtful in my older years.
Edited by AWG_Pics, 01 August 2022 - 01:43 AM.
