12/28   Trip Report:  Hit I-5 (from 78, in Oceanside) at 9:40, and traffic
        was a dream.  Took 5 to 55, visited friends in Santa Ana, smoothest
        drive you could ask for.  Got back on 55 around 1:50, transferred to
        5 North, lulled by its unoccupied nature.  Fool.  Brothers and
        sisters, I-5 may look like an asphalt ribbon on the gem that is the
        city of Los Angeles, but do not be fooled; it is a trap, and all of
        its promises of smooth sailing turn to cramps and inane blocks of stop
        and go.  Hit four pockets of this crap.  Still somehow managed to make
        it to 210 by 3:30, then got socked in by warnings of a two-hour delay
        and a horrendous accident 17 miles ahead.  Grumbled and cursed, then
        counted blessings as we were passed by the Coroner's car on the left
        shoulder.  Two hours later passed two semis facing the wrong way, one
        with a cab that had obviously been through a roll, much to the
        physical detriment of its driver.  Torrential rain and heavy winds all
        the way to the Grapevine, followed by fog, sand/dirt, and typhoon-
        force winds up to Avenal, followed by torrential rain and heavy winds
        all the way to Livermore; traffic on the 5 after the Grapevine was
        mostly clear, however.  Longest trip north I've ever had; I figure we
        were on the road nearly 12 hours total.
        \_ Sorry. -- ilyas
        \_ Sorry.  You know, I wasn't kidding about staying off the freeways.
           These days, if I can get to a known destination on city streets,
           I do so.  It's faster on average. -- ilyas
        \_ Damn those people who die in accidents and make everyone else late.
           Traffic needs more fault tolerance.
           \_ Read more closely.  We were properly chastised just by seeing
              the Coroner's car go by.
              \_ I know... I was making a semi-serious comment.