Marked as safe
I usually put no stock in the weather predictions because the meteorological profession is wildly inaccurate but I do tend to listen when they all start chirping about a major storm. If I lived in a tornado prone area I would pay attention to all warnings about God’s vacuum, same with hurricanes, floods, etc. The trouble with my chosen area of residence is right now. Winter storms shut shit down and if you’re not careful you end up in the ditch.
I left yesterday afternoon as the trouble was beginning in Saint Paul. White out highways lead to white knuckle driving but traffic was moving along at a good 40mph. Every once in a while someone would haul ass past forgetting that the laws of physics still apply to them even with their many wheel drive traction mode systems and sure enough I would see them in the ditch a little later. I was asking Siri to help me with the math and the final tally was 13 spun out vehicles. “Hey Siri add note 1 more” She and I talk a lot while I drive and she is probably my closest relationship. (that just got weird)
Police were everywhere but yesterday all they did was get you out safely and wrap police tape around your car. If you weren’t lucky enough to be close to home you could count on a night or three in the nearest off highway lodgings. I stopped for gas and talked to a Wisconsin state trouper who told me they do that so others know not to stop and try to help that driver which might compound the trouble. I also asked him what was the biggest problem other than the obvious ass pain and he said that the plows don’t stop.
I asked for clarification and he said that all of the cars I saw will continue to be buried until this storm ends. The lucky ones will get pulled out by wreckers but their jobs in this mess are understandibly slow and dangerous as well so very few get towed. The rest will have to wait until the worst is over which is looking like Saturday or possibly Sunday. Yikes. I think if I were to do this again I might consider the train. It adds time but you are sitting in the equivalent of a first class airline seat with wifi and the ability to walk around. I might do that just for the hell of it at some point.
Anyway, thankful to have made it all the way here. I was hoping to see some old friends who were gathered last night but that didn’t work out. At least I’m not sitting in the Menomonie Motor Lodge waiting for the thaw.