Sorry, but another adventure in that day of the week, we would all rather forget. My colleague had asked me to swap shifts and come in early this morning. I duly agreed, taking into account it was his girlfriend’s birthday, so it would have been rude not to come to his aid. This was the first early shift I would have carried out since sometime in early March. I had to adjust to getting up early, particularly after a night like that. It had to be done and I knew the comfort zone of an early return from the office was an uneasy illusion. Little did I know what lay ahead. By the time I got up and was getting ready, there was an unwary silence around the house. Not since my time commuting into the City had it been so quiet. Nobody to greet you in the morning was strange, but I had little time to contemplate this lonely feeling at 6.30am, I had to head to work. The roads were busier than I expected, but leaving early I had a buffer zone, incase the unthinkable did happen down the bypass. Pulling into the office car park, I had for the first time, a full quota of choice of where to park my car. The other offices were dead and it was the first time I had been in the office with so little people around, so little ‘business’ taking place. Thankfully, the work day was quite calm and steady. No major disasters or headaches to deal with, which should have been a sign. I do not know about yourself, but I only fill up my car with petrol (or gasoline) when the warning light comes on. I am not the person to put in odds and ends of £5 or £10 and never have been. The tank is filled to the brim with around £40 worth of unleaded and that not filled again for usually two weeks as my journey to work is so short. The reason for me telling you this is because my petrol gauge was in the red zone and the that orange led was to come on any time soon. I had half expected for it to be come on, on my journey into work but it did not. On the way home, I would need to stop at the local BP petrol station and refuel. No problem, I finished at 4.30pm and could easily get some fuel before 6pm, even if there was a little rush hour traffic, which I expected. As the afternoon passed by my thoughts turned to Friday and the upcoming Bank Holiday Weekend. This short lapse in concentration was to prove very costly. Should have come off at the first available exit and not driven further up into the heavy traffic. The signs were there, but I was so reassured by the fact that this was just down to the time of day, rather than any spectacular.

When after ten minutes I had made no progress, the penny finally dropped something serious had happened at Handy Cross to cause this build up of traffic. I text my work colleague to let him know that this was a no go area and to take an alternative route, then a few minutes later I did the same for my sister, although and alternative route was not readily available. This was going to be long haul, but my reversal to switch on the radio for further information, shows my usual stubbornness to such events. The traffic announcements would do little to help me now. I got out my CD case and try to find audio to occupy me for however long it was going to take me to get home. The only worry I had was running of fuel. The mileage left to my house was three miles, yes a measly three miles. Thoughts crossed my mind of abandoning the vehicle, if I did run out of fuel and walking home. An hour into my journey home, which usually takes no more than twenty minutes, I had progressed a single mile, with fuel running dangerously low. My lane, the outside lane had been making less progress than the other on the dual carriageway, due to an drop out clause. Some drivers were braving the small gap in between the crash barrier, with half a dozen cars, squeezing in between and taking their live in their hands to turn around and head in the opposite direction, trying best to avoid the high speed, oncoming traffic. A businessman had left his brand new blue Audi A4 and walked across to survey the game, giving a knowing look to the driver of the Ford Maverick up ahead, who had stopped to let him take this, leap of faith. He considered the option, but declined and I agreed with him.

What was this really going to achieve? If this accident was has severe as it appeared then all local roads would be busy. The ambulance and police motorcycle that had steered through past us. After the disaster last week, (see blog posting from Friday 20th May) I kept my faith in staying inline and riding this out. Hoping I would be home shortly, now that the emergency services were on the scene. How wrong was I to be. By the time it clocked over to 6.30pm, I realised that it would have been better for me to take up my Manager’s offer and work until 6pm as I usually do. Crazy. Only in England can you leave work earlier than normal only to get home later than you would if you had been working the late shift. Pulling up to the Handy Cross roundabout, I noticed the heavy police presence, controlling the flow of traffic and just keeping everything moving. As I drove across the M40 that the true scale of the problem came to light. The traffic was at a complete standstill with many drivers leaving their cars to find out what the delay was about. Weary of all the traffic police around, I sneaked a quick final image with my camera phone.

Pulling up onto my drive, the warning light came on. It was 6.51pm, I left work two hours and twenty odd minutes ago and was traveled in total seven miles. There was no way I was going to go out and top up the tank tonight, with local roads still busy. Note to self, think carefully before offering to do another early shift. Secondary note to self, come up with a practical route home that avoids the by-pass. Looks like I am not the only one considering some major overhaul of the whole junction. Not a minute to soon, just hope they get it right this time around. Will keep you posted on any news on this proposal. Roll on Spring 2006! 😉