hey all. i have just arrived in mesa, az. and after a couple of days of rest and recuperation, and then a day more to find the computer cords to plug this puppy up, i am back!!!!
it took us nearly 3 full days to get from indy to home. most of the drive was quite nice. beeeeeeeyoooooootiful country out there. i'm thinking you guys who live in texas and oklahoma have it pretty good.
the only bad part of the trip was west of albuquerque, nm. we were heading west on I40 and climbing in elevation. we could see the rain clouds ahead of us, but we weren't worried much. until the rain started turning to snow. and then ice. it got so bad that my windshield, wipers, and entire front end of suburban (including the lights, so it didn't matter if i had them on) were coated in at least a 1/2 inch of ice. we pulled off at the next exit to calm me down (nothing like not being able to see to incite a panic attack) and de-ice the vehicles.
after filling up the gas tanks (didn't want to get stuck with low tanks) we were heading down the on-ramp back to 40, think the rest in downhill and the weather should be getting better. well, not quite yet.
at the end of the ramp, matt (driving the ryder truck) says into the walkie talkie, "i think there's an accident down here." and was there. we stopped on the ramp. and then 5 cars coming flying up over the top of the hill just behind us and skid and slide all over the road trying to avoid the stopped traffic and the previous crash. what a mess! saw at least 3 vehicles smash, cruch, or otherwise make contact with another vehicle. the old Man up above was definitely keeping an eye out for us that day. i'm thinking my windshield icing up and our retreat to the exit had some Divine intervention. no telling how bad we might have had it had we stayed on the interstate. but we got home safely.
all in all it was a good, safe trip. aside from the snowstorm, the only other drawback was that we lost all but two of the fish we were transporting. [:(] but the anoles and cats are hunky-dory. [:)]
and finally, i have never seen more patriotism in my life than i did in the 1800+ miles i traveled in those 3 days. flags and bumper stickers galore. it did my heart good to see those things.
and i'm glad to be back!