My lucky day (close call)

I had to drive about 120 miles away yesterday mostly on one freeway, I-880.
Did a service call in Santa Rosa and drove back just before rush hour.
Oakland is about half way. As I was driving into Oakland at about 5:00 I saw helicopters hovering and circling the freeway.
It was this...

From an article on SFGate.com:
(03-04) 17:58 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Gathering for a series of feisty rallies on college campuses, in civic plazas and in the streets, thousands of protesters lashed out Thursday against the budget cuts and neglect that they say are breaking down the state's public education system.
The historic day of demonstrations in the Bay Area and beyond was largely peaceful, with students and others carrying signs like "Chop from the top," a reference to what they see as puffed-up executive salaries. They chanted, recited poetry and shared personal stories.
But amid an often festive atmosphere, there were also efforts to make more forceful statements during the protests, called the Day of Action to Defend Public Education.
More than 150 protesters were arrested on Interstate 880 in Oakland after using an exit ramp to walk onto the freeway and shut it down for nearly an hour. Many wore black, identified themselves as anarchists and carried a banner that read, "Occupy everything."
The action just before 5 p.m., which backed up rush-hour traffic for miles, came after a peaceful rally at Oakland City Hall. Police in riot gear chased and tackled some demonstrators. One was taken away in an ambulance after falling from the freeway onto a road below, witnesses said. Police said the man was expected to survive.
Schools of all kinds

The I-880 closure came near the end of a day that saw protests organized by students, labor unions, activist groups and others on campuses of all kinds, from elementary schools to UC Berkeley. They ripped state officials, who have cut millions of dollars from education budgets at all levels during the recession.

...



I came up to an overpass and there were a bunch of protesters pouring like ants onto the freeway, holding signs and milling around. They had already shut down the opposite direction. Some cars going my way were stopping but I weaved through them and the protesters, who didn't do anything to stop me, and kept going. In my rear view I could see a whole line of police cars coming off the overpass and blocking the way.

I was one of the last ten or so cars through before is was shut down for a long time!


Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I should have bought a lottery ticket.

[bobarian]

I read abut that this morning. You were lucky to get through! Good thing you had that cow catcher on the front of the car!

Good thing all those cop cars could not smell the pot from the cab of your truck.

Originally Posted by Darrell

Good thing all those cop cars could not smell the pot from the cab of your truck.

Set up a smoke screen? Hahaha! I would have had the crowd following me!

[T.G]

Poor Nimitz Freeway in Oakland just can't catch a break.

Accidents, protests, gasoline trucks slamming into overpasses and melting them, Cessnas landing on the freeway...

I actually had a front seat to that cessna landing about 10-11 years ago. Picture perfect landing right up until the end when he clipped something and spun the plane into the ditch at about 10mph. Sat there for like three hours waiting for CHP and a frew wreckers to figure out how to get the plane out of the ditch.

[safariguy]

Ever see the episode of South Park when Cartman drives through the crowd of hippies?

[sikk50]

I was planning to go to the one a the plaza but had an assignment do in class

[T.G]

Jake: [To a patrolling officer] Hey, what's going on?
Police Officer: Ah, those bums won their court case so they're marching today.
Jake: What bums?
Police Officer: The ****ing Nazi party.
Elwood: Illinois Nazis!
Jake: I hate Illinois Nazis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhozx819izU

[hotreds]

Glad you made it through. Kinda scary feeling weaving thru all that humanity.

Originally Posted by hotreds

Glad you made it through. Kinda scary feeling weaving thru all that humanity.

I definitely had my adrenaline going. They looked like a bunch of kids having fun. I was determined not to get caught in it. If they could see my expression they would be moving aside. Most of them were wearing masks over their faces. They seemed peaceful, but stupid.

I just thought... there has to be some chopper shot vid of me getting through!