Omens

[fishhead]

Do you believe in omens?

Today I saw a strange sight. As I was driving through a snowstorm I saw a figure on the other side of the road. When I got closer it turned out to be someone on a bicycle. It was warm in the mid-20's and snowing hard. Just as I passed the bicyclist I met a truck pulling a ski boat.

Later since it was a snow storm I decided to go for a hike. I pulled off the highway onto a logging trail and tried to park close to the road but changed my mind and continued driving in about 3/4 mile. My usual parking spot was covered with about 6" of snow over a layer of solid ice and when I tried to turn in I got stuck. Normally that wouldn't be a problem but it was so warm I couldn't budge the car. After an hour of shoveling and putting branches and straw in the wheel tracks. I got the car back on the logging road but when I tried to back out to the highway I couldn't see anything but gray so I got stuck again before I made it 20'.

Then I thought I would try to go past the parking area and back in. The rear wheels barely made it off the road when it got stuck again but the front end of the car slide sideways like it was possessed so I kept the pedal down and almost got it turned around. More shoveling. After shoveling tire paths for about 75' I climbed back in soaked to the skin and gave it a try. It took some coaxing but I got it up to 20 mph and didn't let up until I hit the highway.

It had snowed so much while I was stuck that the belly of the car dragged the whole way home at a top speed of 35 mph. When I came to the driveway I couldn't see it because of the lack of contrast and slammed into the snowbank. It took another 2 hours of shoveling, spreading gravel and finally jacking the car up and putting boards under it before I could get it loose with the help of a passing motorist. Then I could barely get started on the highway because of all the warm snow. Finally I gave up and drove away looking for a place to turn around and almost got stuck there too. After 2 attempts I was able to get the car in the driveway and off the road and it took another 1/2 hour of shoveling before I could drive the car down the driveway and get stuck a third time.

The next time I see a bicyclist and ski boat in a snowstorm I'm turning around and going back in the house.

[sherry in Maine]

what would have made it scary, is if either one of them had met you at your house....

[fishhead]

Ya. If that ever happens I won't answer the door.

[arcticow]

Used to be a cyclist that would ride all winter long in North Pole, bad part was when he would set out before daylight, when school buses first set out. NO ski boats then tho....

[Warwalk]

No omens for me today. I put up a basketball goal for the chirren's and I grilled a chickenbird and we had it with chimmichurri. Still, the temps have been in the Mid-70's, which could be a bad omen for Houston for how this summer might be, huh?