The trailhead is up there, a few dozen miles ahead. You’ve made good time on the interstate and now you’ve entered the twisty bits of a two-lane mountain highway. The sun has just risen. The scent of warm pine trees fills the air. Visions of soaring alpine peaks, glittering streams, and meadows of vibrant green grasses fill your mind.
But then a different kind of vision.
A rental RV pulls out of a turnout a mile in front of you—the last turnout for many more miles. The speed limit is 45 mph, but you’re doing closer to 30, with nowhere to pass. Suddenly, the trailhead seems much, much further away. You’re not in a race, really, but still, ugh. Come on, man.
Or, maybe it’s winter, similar road, this time you’re on your way to snowshoe out to a backcountry hut. There’s plenty of snow around, but it’s a bluebird day. Chain controls aren’t mandatory which doesn’t apply to you in your AWD anyway, but from out of the vista point parking lot ahead, a Honda Civic piloted by a driver unaccustomed to snow, the front tires wearing cables, putters out in front of you, the cables loudly scraping the mostly dry pavement. Turnout after turnout the car drives right past them, forcing you to travel at their same speed. What gives?
But heck, at least you can see around the Honda, still enjoy the scenery. The RV, on the other hand, has a giant fiberglass rear end with a wolf painting blocking the view of pretty much anything.
Sure, we’re open-minded peaceful people here. But still, we get impatient. There’s a certain kind of vehicle many of us really don’t want to see swing out in front of us, slowing our pace. So which is it for you?
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We have an ’85 repowered Westy (side note, for sale) and even when we are going over the posted speed limit some folks just can’t wait to pass us. We laugh and call it the “dirty slow hippie syndrome”. An undeserved reputation that nonetheless precedes us.
Based on your photo – Big Sur might deserve its own article on the worst type of car to be stuck behind 😉
Well, I voted for “any car that refuses to use the turnouts” BUT–
“you’ve entered the twisty bits of a two-lane mountain highway. The sun has just risen. The scent of warm pine trees fills the air”
It seems that a certain amount of just chilling out and enjoying might be appropriate, too.
Trucks. Especially when they’re not supposed to be in that road.
Y’all need some zen.
A loaded log truck or a snowplow (damned if you pass, damned if you don’t)
It’s winter. It is dumping, the snow is falling hard and piling up deep. The car in front of me is a low slung, rear wheel drive American made mid life crisis machine with Texas plates. When the road gets a little steeper the back tires spin. The car fishtails, the brake lights burn. The car slips sideways across both the up and the down lanes. Here we sit while everybody uphill from muscle car get the first tracks.
Livestock transport, or trash transport trucks. Stinky….
1984 VW rabbit diesel. Those who have been there know…..
haha, i drove an ’82 rabbit diesel from milwaukee to mt. hood when i was 19. camped near trilluim lake for a month and rode snowboards (in july!) that little 4 speed could not get up the mountains, winnebagos blew by us like we were standing still. we made it, but that thing was sooooooo slow. unlike my current 325hp volvo wagon…..
As there was no “All of the Above” option I went with anyone who refuses to use the turnouts. But I’ll admit that “Car with objectionable bumper stickers” was a close second.
There’s something about getting stuck behind someone who’s so eager to preach “Coexist” while doing 15 miles below the speed limit that seems so ironic.
Not as ironic as getting passed on the way up to the Sierras by a G65 with a Keep Tahoe Blue sticker but you get the idea.
You forgot tractor. I once got stuck behind a trailer carrying a mobile home that was stuck behind a tractor. Not a mountain road, but still…
People are out there trying to enjoy a place no matter what vehicle they are in. They may not be local, but I guess that is one of the costs of living in places where people want to vacation or visit. They may not be as accustomed to the way things are done, but give them a break. Show them the people are as great as the place. Heck, even give them a hand and make everyone’s day safer and better.
The worst kind of vehicle to be behind is an ambulance that has just left the scene of a horrifying accident. Puts your life and your attitude for the day into perspective. People need to slow down and enjoy their outdoor experiences. Don’t be in such a hurry that you aren’t driving safely.
tour bus .. they never seem to be in a hurry