I made pretty good time out of West Memphis, AR today. No major delays, no load problems, not even a weigh station hassle. I started getting nervous. I always get nervous when things are going a little too well.
I had planned on stopping in Rochelle, IL for dinner and a quick break before heading on into WI. The last 30 miles to Rochelle were very tedious. Just about where I crossed I-80 I ran into a thick pea soup fog. Visibility was down to less than 100 yards. Naturally I reduced my speed. The idea of traveling at 60mph or better in that kind of non-visibility seems insane to me. I set the cruise at 45mph which was fast enough to remain above the legal minimum speed limit and limit the odds of being hit from behind, but slow enough to allow some reaction time if I came up on one of those nasty surprises that one is likely to find in this kind of fog.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people will fly along at high speeds even if they can't see the road in front of them. There were cars zooming past at around 70mph only to quickly disappear into the fog, and even trucks going past at 60 or better. Insanity. I was expecting to run up on a wreck at any moment. Complete and utter morons. A truck driver should know better but sadly we have our share of idiots and "super truckers" out here. I'd rather be safe than kill myself or someone else.
I finally found the exit for the truckstop here in Rochelle. The fog is so thick that I couldn't even see the exit ramp until I was literally right on top of it. It was impossible to read the road sign along the interstate as they were obscured by the fog despite the fact that they were only a dozen feet away.
I crept into the parking lot and found myself a spot to park for the night. I'm not going anywhere in this crap. It'll wait until morning. Even if I am still fogged in tomorrow morning at leasts the sun will help light things enough to make it safe to drive, if at a much reduced speed. It just isn't worth it at night. The fog can play tricks on your eyes and you can suddenly find yourself rolled over in a ditch that you were sure was the road a second ago. Or worse, run up on a vehicle who's driver became confused and stopped in the road.
Staying here for the night is definitely the better part of valor. After all, the load can't be delivered if it's scattered around in some ditch.