Thought that I had seen it all….

In order to get to Mosquito, an area 10 miles north of Placerville, one must take a road that twists and turns. And, this road boasts the oldest one lane wood suspension bridge in the State of CA. I am on my way home ready to start a three day weekend. Due to hot temperatures that are due to come, I went to store to get things so that I did not have to go to town over the next three days.

One particular corner on the road has a curve that is roughly 72 degrees. There was a Jeep in front of me ready to follow the curve when he slams on his brakes. I stop too and try to see why this fellow has stopped. Then I see it: It was a Semi-Truck! No way is this truck going to make this corner, I think and then I wonder, how did he get down here in the first place?

The fellow in the Jeep then went around this bend in the road. I am still stopped on the road. A man comes running around the corner and up the hill towards me indicating that I needed to back up, which I do. There is a white van approximately ten feet behind me as I start to back up while looking back over my shoulder. He starts honking at me as if I am going to hit him! I turn back to the scene and sit there in disbelief and watched.

The semi started up the hill, the look in the driver’s eyes: Crazed! Slowly he inched his way around the corner as the cars started backing up behind me. Then the semi started jerking, and not only the cab but the entire trailer. The driver is inches away from the upper hillside in the cab. The trailer is now tilting towards the opposite hill looking as if it is going to fall over.

The driver stopped the vehicle and got out. Some of the brainiac’s behind me had gotten out of their cars and had to come and take a look. Yup, there they were now standing on the hill looking at the partially tipped semi, which if it fell would squish them. Where was common sense?

Then I see another truck coming up around behind the semi. It was Extreme Towing to the rescue! The tow truck driver was hooking a chain to semi’s undercarriage. There were now about 20 cars behind me and this fellow in his white Toyota truck pulls up and squeezes in front of me as if he is going to go anywhere except be the first car through when this is cleared.

This guy was just one of those many busy bodies that live on the hill. And of course he had to walk around the truck and tow truck like he was helping out but really only getting in the way. From one side to the other this guy wandered. Meanwhile the Extreme Towing fellow had successfully hitched the chain and was starting to pull the semi trailer to a more appropriate angle. Mr. Toyota is standing there in the front, arms crossed and nodding his head trying to look as if he is involved to those behind waiting in their cars.

Next the driver of the semi got back into the cab, turned over the engine, and again tries to move up the hill and around the bend. The semi is jerking and the trailer is hitching, and the brainiac’s are standing there still under the shadow of the trailer with their hands covering their mouths and pointing. The driver stops again and is running his hands from his hair, down his face and back. I hear him shout, “Madre de Dios!”

Again the driver turns off the vehicle and gets out. Extreme Towing is now wedged between the semi and the upper hillside, moving the chain to another area underneath the semi. And here comes Mr. Toyota again, walking around like the Big Man on Campus! The driver of the semi passes by him giving him the evil eye. Do ya think Mr. Toyota noticed? No.

I look back at the cab of the semi and notice that the engine is starting to smoke. The driver gets in, turns it over and tries to move it again. The entire rig is jerking again, and I see the tire on the right just behind the cab section spinning, throwing off smoke and shredding throwing pieces of tire everywhere. The semi jerks and then moves about a foot forward. I can now see the back end of the semi!

Hoorah! I will be moving on shortly! To make a long story short, they finally pulled the semi through the curve, and Mr. Toyota got into his truck and took off ahead of me as if he were escaping from a fire. There were at least 30 cars waiting to come up the hill behind the semi, some of them trying to pull out as if to pass the car in front on this narrow two lane road. Where do they think they are going to go with me coming down the hill? But then drivers like that are another story for another time!