Sunday, November 4/2018

Headed out

AGAIN,  we awoke to snow on the ground and it was coming down in great big snow flowers!!  It did not look like it was going to be stopping anytime soon and that made me more nervous.
I spent a few hours listening to all the vehicles starting up the pass and heard several sirens both going up the pass and coming down.  It wasn't very comforting!!  John of course, wasn't worried and even said we could stay for another night if that is what I wanted.   The weather man said that this particular snow storm was settling in for a day or two and I knew there was better roads ahead so staying was not an option.   Soooo....we started to pack up the camper to get it into travel mode.
John was doing the outside stuff and I was doing the inside stuff.   That includes making sure everything is tucked away and not going to be bouncing around inside as we go down the road.  It wasn't very pleasant for John outside and I knew that he would gladly stay but I was insistent about leaving.  I was so worried about the upcoming day's travel.  When John told me that I was clear to put the slide in I failed to notice that the TV had not been secured against the wall and as the slide came in I heard a most awful crack and the slide did a sort of bump and grind thing.  Shit oh dear.....now what!!   Of course John heard the commotion and asked  "what was that?'   Shit was about to hit the fan!!   Of course I couldn't say I dropped a pot or a jar of pickles so fessed up and said.....It was the TV.   There is was, hanging at a God awful angle with its back split open looking like a dead duck!!   It was a wonder that it was still attached to the wall.   I am sure it no longer functions.  I had broken its neck and its body was hanging limply from the wall.   Of course John had to come in and investigate the murder scene and I could tell that he was not happy.   All he said was "I give you one damn job........  He then left the camper and slammed the door so hard that I thought it was going to leave through the opposite wall!!   Well.......that went well now didn't it!!  That bloody slide has been the bane of my life since we bought the camper!!   I have personally been responsible for running it into the satellite equipment and removing a couple of chunks of the trim from around the front of it,  ripping off the cupboard door because it wasn't closed,  squishing a pair of fancy Maui Jim sunglasses, and best of all......damn near squashing one of Kay's cats as the slide was going out!!   I hate that damn slide.   Today, has started out very rocky and to think...leaving today was my idea!!   I'm thinking it is going to be a very quiet day in the truck with John madder than a hatter and me hanging on to the door handle for dear life battling the road conditions.  Sooo not looking forward to this day....

Headed out

The roads were the total shits and we ended up travelling behind a snow plow for several miles.   It was true winter driving conditions and I am sure my fingernail prints are imbedded into the handle of my door!!  It was my worst nightmare and with John being so mad at me, I didn't have much confidence that he wouldn't just drive me over a cliff!!  Eventually though, the conditions improved and the roads dried.  We were getting closer to the warmer weather.

Welcome to Utah

We eventually hit the Utah border and I started to breath easier.  We were on good roads and out of the mountain passes of Idaho.  It was a good thing.   We seemed to travel back and forth into Utah and then again into Wyoming.   We did a few times before we finally were in Utah for good.

Utah cattle drive

Starting to rain

And we are headed right into this nastness

Back into Wyoming on this long, winding road

Lots of deer

LOTS of deer

Back into Utah

Finally, we were into Utah and dry pavement.   Once again, I could breath a sigh of relief.   Little did I know what was in store for us.   With John always in search of a different route to travel, this road we were on would take us over Bald Mountain.  I wasn't really worried until I started seeing snow on the ground and we started to climb.   Shit, oh dear!!

Snow and ice

The higher we climbed the worse the road conditions got and before long we were back into the same conditions we had started in this morning.   The only difference was that there was very little traffic on this road so if anyone had any issues, help was a LONG way off.
Of course the wind had to start blowing and to add insult to injury, the snow started falling.   We were in a pretty good blizzard.
Before long we came upon a small white car coming towards us with the driver's arm waving out the window.   The wind was blowing like a banshee and we were at the top of Bald Mountain.  Now what the hell??  I just wanted to get the hell off the top of this mountain and off these icy roads and onto dry pavement.  Instead, we were about to stop on very icy roads, reduced visibility and hope the hell no one comes and smashes into us.
As it turned out, the driver was looking for a tow rope as someone was stuck on a side road down by one of the many mountain lakes.  Ok, now, who in their right mind goes sightseeing during a blizzard on a mountain top???   John had a tow rope so borrowed it to the driver and away he went...off to the rescue.   We sat for about 20 minutes before the fellow returned with a small non four wheel drive car in tow!!   This was even more incredible to see!!   How absolutely stupid for folks to go sightseeing without the proper vehicle.  I can only imagine that those folks probably did not even have survival gear with them.   Holy Buckets!!
Once the tow rope was returned we headed down the mountain.   With all its twists and turns, ice and snow and mountain grades, we managed to survive the trip down.   It was a miracle although I am sure I was the only one to think that!  I had to go to my "happy place" a few times so that my nerves could settle.
It was getting late and the deer where rather plentiful so that became another issue until finally, we were back in civilization and dry safe pavement.
Nephi was too far away and I suspected that John was going to end the day there.  We don't normally travel at night but today was a combination of anger and stubborn determination.   It was still pretty quiet in the truck so I wan't about to ask too many questions!!

More snow and ice

Nasty ass roads and dangerous icy curves

Bald Mountain Pass

summit 10,759 feet

We finally arrived in Nephi and I was eternally grateful for that.  I gave Kay the biggest hug, thanked the good Lord for getting us here safe and sound and quietly (in my mind) thanked John for his driving skills.   I was very tired and emotionally spent.  We had a quick supper.  Kay had burrito stuff in her fridge and that served us very well.
It wasn't too long before I had to face my arch enemy....the slide.  Bedtime was calling and it was either me or it.   I needed that bed so it was going out..... hopefully without a hitch.  I mustered my courage and out it went... no smashing or crashing this time!!
I settled into bed, bone tired but thankful.    Life is Good..... better though when one does not murder the TV!!