March 05, 2005
Dear Flatlanders,
First, I appreciate the need to escape to the mountains when you get the chance. If I lived in the flatlands, I'd be out of there whenever time allowed, too. I understand you wanting to take a trip through the San Lorenzo Valley, and hope that you stop into our small towns and help out the local economy. However, there are some things I'd like to point out...
When driving Highway 9, there are places called turnouts. This is where you move off the road and let others pass. Not only is it polite, it's often the law (California Drivers' Handbook). Now while I realize that the handbook says "five or more vehicles behind you", do it if there is one. As much as I and other mountain folk love to see the majestic redwoods and beautiful views of the valley and the bay, we'd like to enjoy it from home. It's not hard... really... I do it myself when someone is moving faster than me. You just put the blinker on when you see the turnout sign (that's the stem sticking out of your steering column on the left... your other left). You pull into the turnout lane, and slow down. We go buy you, and you pull safely back out onto the road. Have you noticed how when you are going down the road there are times when my big truck comes running up to you? That's because on your right there is a lane I'm praying you will move into. I'm going faster to make it easier for you to use the lane, and keeping you from slowing down more than you have to. I assure you the lane didn't get wider just because Cal Trans wanted you to feel you were on a luxuriously wide lane...
Next? We are not all hippies. Don't comment to us how quaint the mountain folk are. Probably 50% of us are highly educated, and just want some peace. You might be visiting, but this is our home. We'll make you a deal, don't comment on the Charles Manson look alike trying to hitch a ride, the people in the beautiful riverside park that have strange smelling rolled cigarettes, our unhurried gait as we walk down the sidewalk, or the friendly service you get at the local hardware store (alright, you can comment on that), and we won't say anything about seeing you on the side of the road buckled over or hanging out the window even though you "don't get car sick", but Highway 9 proved too much for you.
Ok. That's my rant from the stump for today. Remember, this is our home, not just a place for you to have an outing. Respect our lives and ways as you would like us to respect yours. Oh yeah, stop throwing your trash out of the car window. We don't want it either...
Sincerely, a resident of the San Lorenzo Valley
First, I appreciate the need to escape to the mountains when you get the chance. If I lived in the flatlands, I'd be out of there whenever time allowed, too. I understand you wanting to take a trip through the San Lorenzo Valley, and hope that you stop into our small towns and help out the local economy. However, there are some things I'd like to point out...
When driving Highway 9, there are places called turnouts. This is where you move off the road and let others pass. Not only is it polite, it's often the law (California Drivers' Handbook). Now while I realize that the handbook says "five or more vehicles behind you", do it if there is one. As much as I and other mountain folk love to see the majestic redwoods and beautiful views of the valley and the bay, we'd like to enjoy it from home. It's not hard... really... I do it myself when someone is moving faster than me. You just put the blinker on when you see the turnout sign (that's the stem sticking out of your steering column on the left... your other left). You pull into the turnout lane, and slow down. We go buy you, and you pull safely back out onto the road. Have you noticed how when you are going down the road there are times when my big truck comes running up to you? That's because on your right there is a lane I'm praying you will move into. I'm going faster to make it easier for you to use the lane, and keeping you from slowing down more than you have to. I assure you the lane didn't get wider just because Cal Trans wanted you to feel you were on a luxuriously wide lane...
Next? We are not all hippies. Don't comment to us how quaint the mountain folk are. Probably 50% of us are highly educated, and just want some peace. You might be visiting, but this is our home. We'll make you a deal, don't comment on the Charles Manson look alike trying to hitch a ride, the people in the beautiful riverside park that have strange smelling rolled cigarettes, our unhurried gait as we walk down the sidewalk, or the friendly service you get at the local hardware store (alright, you can comment on that), and we won't say anything about seeing you on the side of the road buckled over or hanging out the window even though you "don't get car sick", but Highway 9 proved too much for you.
Ok. That's my rant from the stump for today. Remember, this is our home, not just a place for you to have an outing. Respect our lives and ways as you would like us to respect yours. Oh yeah, stop throwing your trash out of the car window. We don't want it either...
Sincerely, a resident of the San Lorenzo Valley