Have You Ever Done Something SO Stupid…??

Have you ever done something so stupid, you’re embarrassed to tell the story? Well, I just did and it’s a doozy! What in the world was I thinking? 🤦🏻‍♀️

A Little Bit of Background

On Saturday morning, hubby and I left San Carlos Mexico after being there for a month.

Everyone said it was an unusually cool winter… The coldest in fifty years someone said. It was great though and we appreciated waking up to the sounds of the ocean every morning. Seriously so stunning.

We hung out for a month. I got lots of reading done. Hubby fished and puppy loved the sand. And then, it was over.

Here’s a few shots of us in Mexico. Ahh, the good ol’ days.

You know that feeling of really enjoying a vacation and then once it’s over you’re all anxious to get home. Let’s go… Let’s go… That was us.

Saturday.

We left San Carlos at 0800 and headed for the US border (422 km or 262 miles).

It took us about four hours and then we crossed our fingers that we were in the right place… the right line.

Everything is, of course, written in Spanish and while we can pick out the odd words here and there (thanks to forced French classes in public school… the languages are similar), it’s still a bit daunting to make sure you’re not in a line up that designates people with guns or hey, get in this line and we’ll tear your car apart… I’m kidding of course, but well, maybe I’m not 😳.

Phew, the US Border peeps decided we’d be okay to travel through their country so we could return to ours, and thus, deemed us entry. Thank you.

And so began the anxious quest to get all the way from the southern border of Arizona to the southern interior border of British Columbia (2600km or 1616 miles)! Come on, let’s make good time and off we went.

We spent Saturday night in Parker, Arizona.

This was stressful because there was some sort of car show (or something??) going on, so we got one of the last hotel rooms that would allow a dog. The thing is, we felt really gouged. The prices were doubled and everyone was walking around pissed off.

Me? I just wanted to sleep, but it didn’t come easy.

Sunday was THE Day… oh man…

We got up relatively early on Sunday–both of us on the wrong side of the bed. Grumpy, tired, and just wanting to be home sooner, rather than later.

Coffee southed the savage beasts and we settled in for a full day on the road.

We got a bit turned around on the massive freeways near Las Vegas, but muddled our way through. Not to worry. Not to worry.

North… We need to head north.

The highway (93N) you get on after Las Vegas is two lanes and is as straight as an arrow. There are lots of transport trucks, but passing is easy because you can see for miles on these long stretches.

The speed limit (except when you go through the odd small town), is 70 mph (note: it’s miles per hour and not kilometres), and everyone flies down the main highway.

Michael drove from Parker to just north of Ely. At around two pm I took over the wheel.

I’m a good driver. Years ago, I was sideswiped on the freeway, rear ended once, and only ever got one speeding ticket twenty-seven years ago. Yes, that’s the only one I’ve ever gotten.

Sigh. I start driving and Michael slept for a while. Traffic is moving well. I was doing around 135 km and making great time when traffic slowed to go through a small town. We had to crawl through at 25 mph (around 40 kph).

Once we got going again, that anxious feeling of wanting to make time, set in again. I started passing everyone.

Finally, I ended up behind four vehicles and they were all bunched up. They’d pull out to make like they were going to pass and then pull right back in.

Well, I made the bad-ass decision that I’d show them how it was done. I signalled to pass and pulled out….

Car one… see ya later…have a good one..

Car two… asta la vista baby…

Car three… Caio dude…

Car four… Wait. What? Car four. I had only seen three. I stepped on the gas to get past the lead vehicle when I saw “State Trooper” plastered across the back of his vehicle.

I pulled in front of him as he switched on the pretty blue and red flashing lights.

“Shit”. That was all I said. I’m sure hubby said a few things too, but I wasn’t listening too hard as I watched the Trooper in the mirror.

He pulled in behind me on the side of the road as the ones I’d just passed continued on with their heads held high… Damn it. He walked up to the window of the vehicle and stated incredulously:

“You just passed a State Trooper going 101 miles per hour.”

Sooooo stupid. Ugh.

I couldn’t believe it. I just shook my head.

And let me tell you, they give you time to think as they take your driver’s licence and registration and go sit in their cruiser for what seems like forever.

Here’s the thing, Mr. Trooper returns with a ticket and fine. Oh my God! The fine is HUGE. (I believe I’m funding the Ely County Christmas party this year–😩). I gasped at the amount and the Trooper without missing a beat says:

“Ma’am, you did just pass a State Trooper going 101 miles per hour.”

I bowed my head.

Lesson learned. Who knows, maybe he saved our life.

Going the speed limit felt like a slow jog.

Seriously stupid! Please tell me I’m not alone.

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