Military Museum

MILITARY MUSUM
Today is Wednesday, August 26, 2009. Our weekly “outing” is to California State military Museum in Sacramento. There are five residents on board, plus our Activities Coordinator, Kelli, and our driver Terri. She is replacing our regular driver, Tony, who is on a cruise to Alaska with his daughter. We leave from Quail Creek at 09:55. The weather is clear and cool (probably 60 degrees,) Yet, the temperature is supposed to climb to 100 this afternoon.
Construction at the I-80 interchange is still going on - only it seems to be on a larger scale, Shell gas is $3.06; Chevron - $3.20 and Arco is $2,90. The construction is impacting Arco. They have posted a large sign “Arco Open”. Oil futures are about $72.00/bbl.
Midweek traffic is moderate in both directions. Just beyond Vacaville, we pass the new Kaiser complex. The Medical Clinic is up and running, and the hospital will be opened on October 6th. 2009. I am conscious of the facility, because I was there yesterday, with an appointment with my Cardiologist.
We are going at the 65mph speed limit, and a Highway Police motorcycle passes us as if we were barely moving. It wasn’t much longer than we saw why all the urgency. He had a maroon van stopped on the right shoulder. A sign Sacramento 32. A stalled Walgreen truck on the right shoulder - emergency lights flashing.
There are a few more trucks on the road = a good sign. A few hauling “Containers” westbound, to the Port of Oakland.
There are many new cars sitting on the lots of Dealers in the Davis area. I didn’t see any “clunkers”. They must be stored in the back lots. A lot with beaucoup RV’s sitting idle. Selling recreational vehicles must be the worst business to be in today, with banking and real estate sales not far behind. The guy next to us is on his cell phone. He’s rolling the dice, even though he did slow down.
Visibility is hazier as we approach Sacramento. We take the “Downtown Exit”, and cross the Sacramento River on the Tower Bridge. Now, we are on Capitol Mall. I can see the Capitol building straight ahead. A TV truck passes us. There must be breaking news in the area. We turn left towards “Old Sacramento”.
We arrive at the Museum at 10:45. It was very interesting. They had the Army, Navy and Marine exhibits on the main floor. The show cases covered all the wars beginning with the Civil War. The Air Force exhibit was in the basement. They have a very good collection of military memorabilia.
While waiting for some of the group, I checked the parking meters: “Quarters only. Two hour limit. Enforced seven days”. We had lunch at a nearby “Subway”. It brought back memories of some of the lunches I had at the chain, on my tour of the National Parks in the west.
We leave “Old Sacramento” at 2:10pm. After crossing the river, I see Raley’s headquarters building - across from Raley Field, the baseball park. Hazy now, and much warmer. Traffic is heavier in both directions. Smoke from a grass fire ahead and traffic slows.
I didn’t sleep on the bus during my trip, but I had trouble staying awake on our return trip. We pass Vacaville at 2: 45. The highway sign says Vallejo - 22
San Francisco - 52.
Terri smoothly applied the brakes. I looked up and saw this van moving ACROSS four lanes of traffic - left to right - before our very eyes. It was a miracle that no one broadsided it! It seemed like I was watching a movie in slow motion. When the van hit the shoulder it started to roll. Then, it settled back down on the driver’s side and slid along - raising a cloud of dust. I didn’t see it come to a stop before we passed by. But, the driver was probably very fortunate. I am sure that he survived, if he was restrained by his seat belt. Kelli had presence of mind, and whipped out her cell phone. She called 911. I am sure that we were the first eye witnesses. I figured that the driver went to sleep. But, Terri said that one of his tires blew! Shortly after that we were stopped at a traffic signal and saw emergency lights plashing ahead. It was a Highway patrol car apparently responding to the accident. Two cars ahead of him also stopped for the red light. The dummies just sat there waiting for the light to change. Finally, the officer hit his siren, and the two cars finally moved - making a slow left turn,
We got back at 3p.m, I estimate that we had covered about 90 miles..
RCL
8/26/09.