Freeway Madness

Being "green" in freeway driving, I had to be real ready on Day 1. Didn't help that I didn't get that much sleep the night before (excited! hehehehe!). Bitbit and lakas ng loob at si Ina Magenta (our GPS), we started our road trip.

Phoenix was not real bad. I know I can handle it. It's the california way of driving that makes me all jittery. I whizzed through Phoenix like a pro (yabangers! hahahahaha!). In no time, I was already driving at I-5 towards Los Angeles. Being the real gentleman, when she saw that I was already fidgety in my seat when I was driving through the desert, we stopped in one of the rest areas and we switched. I had my sleep and in no less time, we already passed the border.

Misis Tikboy: Ok ka lang?
Mr Tikboy: Ya-pers!
Misis Tikboy: California na.. kaya mo?
Mr Tikboy smiled and gave me a sheepish grin before nodding

Her brand of driving is "manila style" so I know she'll be fine. I just need to guide her.

Nang papalapit ng papalapit ng LA, dumami ng dumami ang sasakyan... lumiit ng lumiit na ang daan. The usual 2 lanes became 3 with merging lanes on the right and on the left.

Misis Tikboy: O...O... bat nag le-lean ka sa right side? Gumitna ka baby...

Dumami ng dumami na ang sasakyan... hanggang...

Misis Tikboy: Mahaaaaaaal!

Sudden half break. May umaarangkada na halimaw sa right side na hindi nya nakita.

Mr Tikboy: Syet.
Misis Tikboy: Mahal, tignan mo left and right....


GPS: Turn left on Express lane towards Sta Ana..

Misis Tikboy: Express lane daw?
Mr Tikboy: Oo daw. Ano na?
Misis Tikboy: O sige na..

After some time.. at pagtapos ko magbasa ng mga naka hang na notice sa express lane...

Misis Tikboy: Syet mahal, hindi pwede ang cash. Special lane ata ito. Kaya pala walang nag te-take ng lane na ito...dapat ata naka express lane card ka.
Mr Tikboy: Ha? Pano na?
Misis Tikboy: Sige, tuloy lang. Pag dating na lang natin sa dulo, mag eexplain ako sa officer na hindi natin alam.

Silent na kaming dalawa - which is very very unusual sa amin. Kanya kanyang nag-iisip kung ano ang dapat gawin namin...

Misis Tikboy: Ikaw pa ang nag ddrive... Ako na lang sana.
Mr Tikboy: Oo nga eh... *worried look na - kasi nababanlag na sya, hahahahaha!*

*ding* *idea!*

Misis Tikboy: Magpalit kaya tayo?
Mr Tikboy: Paano?
Misis Tikboy: Itabi mo dyan sa emergency lane tapos ihazard mo..
Mr Tikboy: O sige..

Nag re-ready na itabi ng natapos na bigla ang emergency lane..

Mr Tikboy at Misis Tikboy: Syet!!!!
Misis Tikboy: Kakainis... sana wala pa yung toll gate...

After that, nagtawag na kaming dalawa ng lahat ng santo at santa...hoping na pakinggan nila ang dalangin n aming dalawa...

Then, parang himala na nag appear ang emergency lane.

Misis Tikboy at Mr Tikboy: Ayan!
Misis Tikboy: Bilis! Itabi mo na...

Yun lang at tinabi na nya... Daig pa namin ang super heroes sa bilis namin kumilos. Wala pa atang one minute, nakapag palit na kami at napaharurot ko na ang Xterra...Nakahinga kami ng maayos. Isang problema na lang - ang tollgate.

Kung ano-ano na ang naiisip kong rason pag tinanong ako ng officer -

"Im sorry Officer, I'm from AZ I wasn't aware that this was an express lane"
"I'm sorry Officer, it's the GPS fault..."
"I'm sorry Officer, I'm stupid. "

Yung pangatlo ata ang pinakamagandang rason....

Drive lang ng drive..ang bilis namin sa express lane.. tinitignan ko yung kabilang lane na sobrang heavy na traffic... Magkano kaya ang babayaran pag walang express card????

*Zing* *Zing* *Swish*

Tadaaaan! Biglang nag merge ang express lane sa regular lane....

Walang Himala Ate Guy!!! Walang tollgate!!! Walang himala....

Mr Tikboy: Ang baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad! Walang tollgate!
Misis Tikboy: Grabe! Pinakaba tayo. Hindi pa siguro working...
Mr Tikboy: Buseeeet!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Buset na California freeway....