don,
I'm glad you didn't get nailed, that short cut almost turned into a long road to recovery....if you lived. That guy probably didn't see you till it was too late or didn't realize how slow you were traveling when he came up on you at 60+ mph.
Your quick thinking evasive manuver saved you and I'm sure this close call will be on your mind for a while, I've had a few myself. You have a legal right to be on that highway as any other motorist, but at that speed, you are likey to have more close calls.
Motorists are suppose to watch out for what's in front of them, but distractions like kids,changing radio stations, damned cell phones, on and on, mostly cause the rear end collisions, and when it happens to a bike.....man it can be ugly.
Peds are good for country roads with shoulders/berms and city streets, but I wouldn't take my ped on a major highway, but that's my call, people are free to ride em anywhere they want, legal or not, but if I'm on a 60 mph highway.....I'm gonna be doing 60 also.
glad you are still here,
jim