21 February 2014

Icy Drive

Minnesota has seen it''s fair share of snow storms this winter.  With snow, and blowing, and wind chill not seen in several decades, it has been a rough winter all around.  People are sick of it and ready for spring.  Part of what makes the storms so bad is having to deal with driving during and afterwards.  Minnesota does a great job at trying to keep up with the road conditions and everyone should applaud them for it.  I'm sure it is tough being a MnDOT driver.  All hours of the day and night in horrible conditions.  Everyone was making fun of the southern states when they got hit with their snow/ice storm, but I didn't because I know that they are not prepared for it.  They do not deal with that type of weather on an annual basis.  Minnesota does.   

The storm we got yesterday and into today has been the worst seen this winter.  The previous two days were glorious.  In the 30s and 40s.  It felt like spring was around the corner.  But oh no, Mother Nature had one more truck up her sleeve.  She's a fucking bitch when she wants to be.  Yesterday morning, it was warm enough that when the precipitation was coming down, it was in the form of rain/sleet.  That would have been okay if the temperatures did not start to fall.  The rain turned to ice and then the snow fell on top of that.  When I left work yesterday, it took me a little over an hour to get home.  The normal commute time is twenty five minutes.  This morning's commute was going to take about an hour as well.  But I didn't end up going to work.  Why?  Because the highway is ice.  Sheer ice.  If there was ever a need for a Tauntaun it was today.

The state of Minnesota issued statements saying that if you don't have to travel, don't.  It is dangerous until MnDOT can start to get salt and sand on the road.  And until it warms up (which it won't) there is going to be slick spots all over the place.  I'm pretty secure in my winter driving abilities.  I've been stupid and driven in blizzards before.  I've driven on roads covered in snow and ice.  Looking back, I am extremely lucky never having been in any type of winter driving accident.  I was not looking forward to the drive this morning, and luckily I didn't have to.

15/120

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