Ice Trucking

I have been caught in a few snow storms in my life, and the one on Christmas Day was a good one. We had traveled into far North Texas where blizzard conditions prevailed for awhile. My best guess is that we got four to six inches in just a few hours. There was at least a foot of snow on top of my pickup truck. Maybe two.

I said all that to say this, "if you don’t know how to drive on snow and ice, stay home!" The next day we had to drive back to East Texas with all the crazies on the road. We didn’t go far until we came upon a woman driving well below the flow of traffic - about 40 miles per hour, and staying in the ruts. She forced everyone, including me, to eventually have to change lanes which is not a good thing on snow and ice. As we got next to her, I want to tell her she was number one, but I was not allow to do that. The woman was driving while she talked on her cell phone - on icy bridges.

Many years ago, I was driving under similar conditions trying to inch my way to the top of a hill when a man came flying around me at about 60 mph. When I made it to the top of the hill, I saw his car sitting in the middle of a plowed field. He had gone through a fence, spun around numerous times and finally stopped in the field. There were a number of people in the car with him and from what I could see they weren’t complementing him on his intelligence. I crept on by at 40 mph, honked my horn and waved. I think he may still be in that field. Before you condemn me, there was a house within walking distance for him to go to and explain how he got into their field.

Here’s a tip. Slow down - way down - and don’t use breaks unless it is absolutely necessary. Maintain a constant speed and if you start to slide, let off the accelerator and turn into the skid. And, remember, ice is much worse than snow.

Or, you can just jump into the buggy, tromp down on the gas and see where you will wind up. I already know the answer.

By the time we got back to East Texas there was little to no snow on the ground so normal driving resumed. All the snow is stuck in the top of all the trees.

I’m inside my lean-to waiting for it to fall all at one time.

PMO
©2012