His foot nudged the brakes to slow him down
But the pedal floored easy without a sound
He said, "Christ!"
It was funny how he had named the only man
Who could save him now
He barely made the sweeping curve
That led into the steepest grade
And he missed the thankful passing bus
At ninety miles an hour
And he said, "God, make it a dream"
As he rode his last tread down
He said, "God, make it a dream"
As he rode his last tread down
And he sideswiped nineteen neat-parked cars
Clipped off thirteen telephone poles
Hit two houses, bruised eight trees
And Blue Crossed seven people
It was then he lost his head
Not to mention an arm or two before he stopped
And he smeared for four hundred yards
Along the hill that leads into Scranton, Pennsylvania
Harry Chapin 30000 Pounds of Bananas
Route 87, which runs from the San Tan Valley near Phoenix up to the hills and eventually mountains of northern Arizona, is a winding, hilly, absolutely beautiful ride. Along the way there are some 6 and 7 percent climbs and descents which present a challenge to overheating the engine and cooking your brakes in the desert heat.
There is a stretch just after the peak elevation heading north that winds along the side of the mountains offering spectacular views.
It also hosts a series of signs which always makes me think of Harry Chapin and his song about the careening truckload of bananas.
The first sign alerts drivers to the presence of the safety runoff ramp two miles before it. This section is one of the steepest on the roadway.
I always imagine some terrified truck driver, aware he has lost his brakes, careening along, truck gaining speed, 65, 70, 80 mph, now thinking all he has to do is hang on for two miles.
85
90
100 mph
HANG ON!
And then, just as he somehow makes the last corner, turning into the last quarter mile is a smaller, yet even more critical sign, a flashing beacon on it indicates Ramp Occupied.
"Christ, It was funny how he had named the only man who could save him now!"
Now what?
If the driver has been on the road before, he knows there are no more ramps. This was his final hope before "it was then he lost his head, not to mention and arm or two, before he stopped."
And every time I pass the ramp, this lyrical line begins playing in my head.
"Yes, we have no bananas, we have no bananas today."
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