I know, what a daredevil. I thought at first he had learned the art of drafting, to make flying easier, but he wasn't really able to follow the cars ahead anywhere near close enough. And he flew in front of my car, when he could have tailed, since I had to stop for the on-ramp meter light. He gave me a good laugh, though.

Thanks for the grins. Real life truly is stranger than fiction. Especially in California. I sometimes think the wildlife here get high on things that are grown. Or maybe it's just the water.

What water?

That's hysterical. I sure wish you could have caught it on video.

That would have been a sight!!! It doesn't sound like he was terrified.

I love the way you described it, too! Hilarious!

Sounds like you were a distracted driver. AND a very good driver to do the observation and stay in lane. Cute story.

Fun story. It reminds me of a story that my DH told me when he was out for a run.He was running in our neighborhood, no sidewalks just curbs. A tiny field mouse starting running along the curb and kept up with him for about two blocks.

Jasdip, you are right about him being calm. It was as if he commutes this way frequently (I don't know, not driving that route regularly, so maybe he does!) That just magnified the strangeness of it all though.

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marcopolo5, it was just typical necessary CA freeway survival skills. Even at high speeds, drivers will often cut in front of you with so little clearance that if you aren't prepared you will clip them, so one gets used to keeping a very close watch on surrounding cars, and those coming up beside, to anticipate their sudden moves. For most of the journey, the duck was flying directly in front of my car, and forward left after he went into the next lane, and did nothing erratic during that period. Other drivers in the three right lanes likely could see him too, and slowed down, because no one was passing us. This also served to greatly increase the open distance between us and the cars ahead, because they continued to travel at the speed limit.

When he went for the HOV lane, the drivers in the cars in the crossed lanes were obviously startled, but he cut across so quickly, he was clear before any of them could really react. But they then slowed down to the duck's pace. All of the drivers across the five lanes that were cut were probably monitoring him at that point (guessing here, because I can't remember any passing through my line of sight), letting him act as the pace car for the traffic and remaining behind him. The cars backing up behind them probably assumed it was due to a highway patrol traffic break or something.

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That is funny ellendl. I cannot image why a mouse would do that! Tired of running alone? :)

What an amazing experience! If it were I, I'd probably have hit someone as I was gazing at the duck. :)

Love the mouse story too!