Outside of Breckinridge, CO area, going towards Fairplay, CO... I was driving an 18 wheeler and could not go thru the tunnel (due to snow concerns) and pass was closed for "avalanche reduction". so... had to take backroads to Denver. I took a couple turns that were so tight I saw the back end of the trailer from the drivers seat... with just a turn of my head!!
Another? with the bus... The bridge to Orleans Island in Quebec... it's so narrow you had to point your mirrors down to see the white line and the side of the bridge curb.
with a truck... Going towards Salt Lake one nite out of Boise, had no traffic in either direction due to snow... as long as I had traction I was rollin... and I'm still that way. Slow and roll. Went thru 4 containers of de-icer/washer fluid that night. When I got to Salt Lake J bird you could not even see the landing gear of the trailer (any part of it) due to snow and ice build up. I slept 14 hours there- after I took a long well earned HOT Shower and my blood pressure returned to a measurable level.
Then there was the time going up to WI one night in the truck thru a thunderstorm... or at least I'd like to think that's all it was... the lightning was so intense I turned off the lights at one point and drove for nearly a mile because the sky was so lit up.
In west TX in the bus... in the summer, the AC went out on a private coach- I never cursed a bus out so much in all my life. I actually stopped at one point and got out and kicked the bus repeatedly! (it had failed 2 other times before TX)... and this was on a national tour with a band. One of the guys came out and pulled me back and told me they knew it wasn't my fault. I think they had pitty on me. We laughed about it later... but it was no fun at the time- that's the only time in 12 years now runnin' busses that I've ever driven in my boxers!! I had every window and vent open on that bus that would open.
How about the time I backed up the side of a mountain 'cause I was told the road was a frontage road... Wrong! It was a service road- with a dead end to a closed and locked metal gate to the forest! Well, it was a service road I suppose, to a bed and breakfast home that was up a steep gravel road- that was not passable witha 45 foot coach!! So, I backed up... 5 (yes, five!) Miles... in the pouring rain! The entire time it rained.
Memorable roads? Does the Michelin Tires Test Track with a tour bus count? test track driver of over 20 years told me to let go of the wheel (with a loaded bus!!) on their "No Steer" Curve... I looked at him like he was the village idiot! He said if I steer I will lose it. He also said "Do not go below 35 or we WILL Roll Over on our side" And "Do not go over 40 or we could flip over the edge of the banked curve".
I did as I was told but was ready... He was right!!! The bus rode that banked curve at about 37 MPH and held steady- with no hands on the wheel!! I got a round of applause for that!!! But I really wanted clean underwear. Ha!!
How about the Homestead, FL Nascar Track... at 65 MPH on the apron, with Formula One carS going by me at Full Speed??!!
BigBusBob
Another? with the bus... The bridge to Orleans Island in Quebec... it's so narrow you had to point your mirrors down to see the white line and the side of the bridge curb.
with a truck... Going towards Salt Lake one nite out of Boise, had no traffic in either direction due to snow... as long as I had traction I was rollin... and I'm still that way. Slow and roll. Went thru 4 containers of de-icer/washer fluid that night. When I got to Salt Lake J bird you could not even see the landing gear of the trailer (any part of it) due to snow and ice build up. I slept 14 hours there- after I took a long well earned HOT Shower and my blood pressure returned to a measurable level.
Then there was the time going up to WI one night in the truck thru a thunderstorm... or at least I'd like to think that's all it was... the lightning was so intense I turned off the lights at one point and drove for nearly a mile because the sky was so lit up.
In west TX in the bus... in the summer, the AC went out on a private coach- I never cursed a bus out so much in all my life. I actually stopped at one point and got out and kicked the bus repeatedly! (it had failed 2 other times before TX)... and this was on a national tour with a band. One of the guys came out and pulled me back and told me they knew it wasn't my fault. I think they had pitty on me. We laughed about it later... but it was no fun at the time- that's the only time in 12 years now runnin' busses that I've ever driven in my boxers!! I had every window and vent open on that bus that would open.
How about the time I backed up the side of a mountain 'cause I was told the road was a frontage road... Wrong! It was a service road- with a dead end to a closed and locked metal gate to the forest! Well, it was a service road I suppose, to a bed and breakfast home that was up a steep gravel road- that was not passable witha 45 foot coach!! So, I backed up... 5 (yes, five!) Miles... in the pouring rain! The entire time it rained.
Memorable roads? Does the Michelin Tires Test Track with a tour bus count? test track driver of over 20 years told me to let go of the wheel (with a loaded bus!!) on their "No Steer" Curve... I looked at him like he was the village idiot! He said if I steer I will lose it. He also said "Do not go below 35 or we WILL Roll Over on our side" And "Do not go over 40 or we could flip over the edge of the banked curve".
I did as I was told but was ready... He was right!!! The bus rode that banked curve at about 37 MPH and held steady- with no hands on the wheel!! I got a round of applause for that!!! But I really wanted clean underwear. Ha!!
How about the Homestead, FL Nascar Track... at 65 MPH on the apron, with Formula One carS going by me at Full Speed??!!
BigBusBob
