Val took advantage of her narrow window of opportunity on Thursday, to escape the confines of her hillbilly mansion and venture to civilization. In retrospect, it was a folly fraught with possible catastrophes.
Hick had been telling me since Sunday that I should stay home, that the parking lots were treacherous. He also said that the roads weren't too bad. With a new storm bearing a possible 3-5 inches of snow rolling in on Thursday night, I flew the coop.
Hick had mentioned that our road was the worst part. He was not a-woofin'! Here are some pictures from my drive home.
The county blacktop road wasn't too bad. Mostly clear. Just not clear enough for two vehicles to pass. Each had to get two tires off the pavement and onto the icy part. No indication of where the drop-off was from the road edge. No shoulders in Backroads. Just a ditch. At least I only met ONE truck during my time on this road.
Our gravel road was indeed the worst part. You wouldn't even know there was gravel.
That's down by the creek and Mailbox Row. Doesn't it look peaceful and serene?
It's NOT! That road is a mile of packed ice from the county blacktop road to our house!
I would not have gone if I knew our gravel road was this bad. In town, the parking lot of the Gas Station Chicken Store was similar. I didn't park in my rightful handicap space, but instead pulled under the roof, thinking my footing would be more stable. WRONG! As I walked behind T-Hoe, hand on his hatch to steady myself, I had to trudge through slippery slush that had frozen. I suppose it fell off of cars parked at the gas pumps. AND my hand slipped in the dirty spray that had coated T-Hoe's rear. I hate to block the gas pumps for my brief trip inside for scratchers, but it was the safest option.
At 10Box, all five handicap spaces were taken. Three of them by cars with handicap plates or placards. The other two by ne'er-do-wells who felt entitled. I had to park across the drive, in a regular space. At least the lot was cleared, and a couple had come out and left their cart in front of the store for me to latch onto once I got that far.
After picking up a few foodstuffs to tide us over during the next storm, I headed over to Sis-Town to mail Genius's letter. The roads to there were pretty clear. But I got behind somebody overly-cautious who drove 20 mph in a 45 mph zone.
I'm definitely not getting out on Friday. At least the snow will cover our ice, and give some traction on the gravel road. I think I can make it trapped at home another two or three days, to see how much clearing and melting occur.
Be careful what you wish for. A trip to town is not always the escape you imagine.
It is so lovely .... and so treacherous! I remember driving home from our business Christmas party one year with snow coming down steadily on the roads that were already deep with snow. I couldn't tell where the roads were, it was all white! The forecast was for a snow storm last night here. We went to get our water jugs filled at Walmart and the shelves were bare!! People were frantic and grabbing what they could. No snow yet, but some businesses actually closed today in anticipation!
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't surprise me about Walmart. People were flocking into 10Box on Saturday, frantic that Walmart was out of bottled water. Good thing you had your jugs, heh, heh! I got some bananas, and found a loaf of Hawaiian Bread and Wheat Bread, though they were the expensivest brands. We still have ham to eat! I figured if the power went off, it wouldn't need cooking.
DeleteThe snow is coming! It's taking its time here right now. Just what we needed...
I would not want to drive in that. It may be pretty, but it looks dangerous! It started here at 3 am this morning, and right now, there is too much snow to walk to car, much less drive. We already had four cases of water and plenty of food. I have two bananas left that I dropped and two loaves of bread I fell on, fluffed up and called it good. We will stay in until at least Monday.
ReplyDeleteYes, don't take a chance! I'll see what happens with melting on Saturday, but it will be Sunday afternoon or Monday before I try to go back to town.
DeleteI am SO glad you made it home safely. I hate to think of you sliding on ice whether in the car or on foot. Cars can have snow chains for grip, but your feet can't, unless you are prepared to pull on nailed boots such as mountain climbers wear.
ReplyDeleteThe Pony has some spiky things from work that strap onto his shoes with elastic. My mom used to put socks on over her shoes, and said it helped with traction on ice. I prefer to STAY OFF the ice! But T-Hoe DID go into a slide on my way home Thursday. On the little hill at the bottom of Hick's badly blacktopped hill. I was creeping along, but you can't stop anything on ice. Thankfully T-Hoe straightened out and I didn't go off the gravel road.
DeleteAh, I remember the days of driving on snow and ice. Actually even here in Sunny Arizona a time or two. At my age, taint no fun any more. Stay home, stay warm, the scratchers will wait.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd rather be warm with all my bones intact, rather than risk injury getting scratchers. There's no place I HAVE to be. It's not like when school would start up again, even though our road out here was still treacherous.
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