Speed Limitless

J-132, CA

On our way to Yosemite, we were detoured on to SR-49 => J-132 from SR-120. This detour was not only very long, but exciting; J-132 was mostly without a posted speed limit during the detour. Driving through it, you could see "Speed Zone Ahead", followed by "End Speed Zone" a few miles further; within those speed zones, the limit was usually 40 or 30; between them, it was like autobarn in Germany, no posted speed limit. Unlike autobarn, I could hardly reach 60 mph; it was treacherous paths meandering through mountain ranges; there were places where suggested cornering speed of 20 mph or even 10 mph. Usually when the suggested cornering speed is above 30, you could safely do it with at least 20 mph above that; but when that gets down to 20 or below, it means business. I was doing 30 at a corner marked with 20, and heard the squealing sound from the tires; I definitely didn't intend to screw that one, as the cliff beside that gave no forgiveness.

The more exciting experience was in the night. As usual, we left the destination after dark. My adrenaline rushed to the head for what I saw; total darkness was what covered us. High beam could not serve the purpose at all on winding roads; light travels straight lines, it's that simple. Balancing among the urge to experience the extreme, the eagerness to get back earlier, and the fear for anything unexpected, it was surely the experience I would like to put down in records. Even in this wilderness, signs were posted marking "Residential Zone", and those were where we sighted a coyote, where the stars outshine lights, where the only evidence of residence were the road and sporadic mailboxes by it. By the time we reached places where we badged suburban in the morning, they looked welcomingly mordern.

Last weekend was the Rodeo festival of Oakdale, CA. When passing through Oakdale, the festive dust stired up by hooves, together with the cowboy hats, painted a subtle image of cowboy into our journey.