(Originally posted on LiveJournal)
So, as I was getting ready to hit the road again this morning, a storm front moved in on Houston. Great. Not only that, the motel I was staying at was right in the middle of the corridor of the heaviest rain. I opened my door before 7, and it was pouring outside. And my umbrella was IN THE CAR.
I got wet loading the vehicle. But I got on the road.
And it rained. And rained. And rained. Rain of various heaviness all the way to San Antonio.
Then I got beyond San Antonio and climbed into the Colorado Uplift area of the state, the wide, mostly empty spaces of west Texas. And it started to snow.
Snow on highway approaching El Paso — but not from my adventure
Wet, sticky, icky, icy snow. Traffic dwindled down to convoys of vehicles following in the tracks of the big rigs. By 5:30 Central time, I’d gotten as far as Fort Stockton. But the snow was getting bad. I started wondering if I’d make it all the way to El Paso, let alone the side trip I have planned for tomorrow (which is still pending, now with the weather). After that stop in Fort Stockton, I decided to press on. And it seemed to go well.
But there came a stretch were I’d fallen behind the convoy I was traveling with, and there was no one on my side of the freeway. And I hit a ridge of slush wrong, and was suddenly spinning, swerving. I don’t know what else went through my head, but I do know I was thinking “Stay on the road! Stay on the road! Stayontheroad!” And I did. I got to a full stop, pointed the wrong direction. I carefully turned myself around and got back on track. Whew. But then a bit later, it happened again. I started sliding 90 degrees to the left, but by intuitive magic, got my car nosed back around correctly and stopped. Again, with no other vehicles around. Whew. (Also, again with the “Stay on the road” litany.)
The road conditions became variable. Sometimes this slush and snow scary stuff, sometimes just wet pavement (where speeds could pick up). About 80 miles short of El Paso, though, again in snow, I was being hypnotized by the oncoming fall, and I needed a serious nap. I pulled off in a small town, and napped for 25 minutes. And felt better for it.
Good thing too. Because the next time I was in another stretch of single tracked slushy snow, icy stuff, I spun out again. 360 this time, and ended up off the lane on the (paved) shoulder. This time, as it was a stretch of highway elevated somewhat from the surrounding countryside, the litany was “Not in the ditch! Not in the ditch! Notintheditch!” And I was successful. But THAT was one heck of an adrenalein jolt! I put on my hazard lights and just sat for several minutes to come down. Traffic went by.
Then I got on the road again. After nearly 17 hours on the road, I reached my motel in El Paso, from which I am typing this.
I’m going to sleep. I’ll worry about my next plans when I wake up.
Comments
sartorias – Nov. 25th, 2007
Hoo, glad you are okay! That is way scary,
scribblerworks – Nov. 25, 2007
Yeah, the Upstairs Management definitely had someone special on duty just for me. Thank you, God!
I’m one of those who reacts to the immediate circumstances, just dealing with it. Emotional reaction come later. And of course, once you’re safely stopped, because you’re safe, you’re not so much afraid. Just freaked that it happened.
This morning (I’m still in El Paso, and will probably do some more resting and puttering before leaving – my road ahead is apparently much clearer, and the nasty stuff behind me), I am still tired. Part of that is the long, long hours put in driving yesterday. But another part of it is slightly sore arms and shoulders. I think from the three spin outs in particular, trying to get control of a skidding mass the size of a loaded down Mustang (I’ve things from the house in the trunk, along with my baggage from the trip in the car) was work, even with power steering and power brakes. But I think a hot shower, and finding some Advil will help relax the muscles.
I woke up this morning thinking “favored of God” can be a good thing.
sartorias – Nov. 25th, 2007
Yes, yes! Let the hot shower pound hard on those shoulder and neck muscles. It might help loosen that tension and stress from yesterday.
scribblerworks – Nov. 26th, 2007
I should add that due to the conditions, I don’t think my top speed in any of the three occassions was higher than 40. Maybe 45. But not likely. Even so, a 33 to 45 mph spin out can be scary.
sartorias -Nov. 26th, 2007
Yes! But far, far better than one at 55 or 70.
wild_patience – Nov. 26th, 2007
Yikes! Pretty scary stuff, all right. Let’s hope the rest of the trip home is uneventful.
lynn_maudlin – Nov. 26th, 2007
A 360 degree spin is very scary, no matter how slow you’re going (well– possibly 5-8 miles per hour wouldn’t be so bad – but even then, if you didn’t INTEND to spin – scary).
Give the adrenaline a chance to leave the system and your whole being a chance to stabilize and TAKE GOOD CARE!
Yes, thank God that He does indeed give His angels charge over us…
blessings–
