Backroads Hazards Part 3: The Road Magician

After being turn-robbed by a white sedan on the street beside the post office, I continued through the FIVE-WAY STOP and got on the next street to go to the School-Turn Casey's. This street has a sharp curve to the right, where you can turn onto the street that runs in front of The Pony's house. I wasn't visiting The Pony that day. Just rounding the regular curve.

There were two bright orange signs beside the road. MEN WORKING, and FLAGMAN AHEAD. Okay. I know the drill. Be aware, and ready to stop. Careful not to run over any construction worker toes. Around the curve, I saw a little dozer working beside a house. I couldn't see over the crest of the hill. Nothing was blocked in my view, unless that dozer was going to come onto the road.

With no cars ahead of me, I still crept along. There was a worker standing on the right, where the shoulder would be if that road had a shoulder. He was wearing a bright green vest, and a hardhat, holding a metal rod taller than himself. The kind of metal rod that has a sign at the top, red with STOP on one side, and orange with SLOW on the other side.

Problem was, I couldn't see either side. Worker was holding it so I could only see the edge. There were no streets coming from my left or right, so no cars needing to see the sign. I needed to see the sign! What was I supposed to do? Go SLOW? Or STOP? Or cruise through at the regular speed limit, since I was not being given directions?

That Worker was a real magician, making two signs disappear! It wouldn't surprise me if he also made his job disappear...

I crept along, choosing the SLOW option that I was not offered. When I crested the hill, I saw another worker, holding his sign so that I did indeed see the orange SLOW side. I had a 50-50 chance, after all. I was certainly glad he had oncoming traffic stopped, since there was also a dozer on the other side of the hill that was partially in the roadway.

Not a good Thursday on the road for Val. I feel like I only have six lives left.