A Frightening Experience
I have just had what was one of the most frightening experiences of my whole life. I have driven home in freezing rain.
I came out of the massage to find that my car was covered with a sheet of ice. It took me 15 minutes to get the ice off the front and the sides so that I could see well enough to drive.
Most of the busier roads in Burlington have been salted, and for a time, we {meaning me and the few cars in front and the long line behind} were moving along like the proverbial tortoise {who is a little faster than the proverbial snail!} Then I had to turn onto a less busy road and that was where my wheels were slipping. The first time it happened I was starting up because the car in front of me was moving and there was this noise, and my car wasn’t moving. Now, bear in mind, I have never lived in a place where there was a chance of ice on the roads. In Mississippi, the schools and businesses all close down if there is even a forecast of ice! My reaction to this noise and the fact that the car wasn’t moving in first gear was that there was something wrong with my car! Then, after I had to stop again and it happened the second time, I suddenly realized what it was and thought, “Oh! That is why people here have special tires for winter!” I was less panicky now I knew what it was and proceeded onwards very cautiously.
Since this is Vermont {albeit the Champlain Valley} we have our share of hills and most of them seem to have a traffic light at the top of them. There were lots of stops at yellow lights, and lots of stops because the car in front had stopped. This journey from Burlington to where I live which usually takes me oh, 10 minutes at the busiest times of day, took me 35 long, slow minutes. As I got to my street I decided there was no way I was going to try to back in to my parking place which is what I usually do and which gives me a little frisson of fear in case I hit Fred’s car even in bright sunlight. Here it was getting dark, and the parking area was a sheet of black ice. I drove straight in and slowly and carefully parked right behind Melanie’s car. Fortunately, I can do this because Mike and Melanie are in Utah until Wednesday.
Then I walked very carefully over the black icy parking area and held onto the fence all the way to the front door. The pavement was a solid sheet of ice. When I got upstairs, Fred was glad to see me since he had no way of telling if I was lying dead in a ditch somewhere.
{I am going out to the Unicel office tomorrow to see exactly WHY my cell phone is telling me no funds since they are authorized to withdraw $10 when the level in the account drops down to that level. If they don’t have an EXCELLENT reason, I move on to another company. When I want to use my cell phone, I NEED it to be there.}
Until later…
Sorry to hear about your frightening experience. Glad you got home safe and sound though 🙂
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that icy stuff can be AWFUL. i am so glad you made it home safely and into the house safely, too. the ice just makes me so nervous. i worry that i will fall outside (taking the dog out) and i will be out there alone all night. so your entry made me very glad that you are ok.
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so glad you are home and safe. black ice is no fun to drive on/in. i’d much rather drive with snow on the ground. i’d be upset with my cell phone if they didn’t add the additional minutes to it when it was needed. hope you get that cleared up tomorrow. take care,
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*huggs* I remember being stuck going up a small incline to a bridge and my mother telling us to get out and push. I ended up slipping myself and there was a car coming up upon us. I was so scared, I thought they were going to run me over. I am glad you made it back in one piece. now put your feet up and have a warm cup of something.
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I don’t mind driving on snow, but ice is a whole different matter. It’ll challenge the most seasoned driver. I’m glad you made it home safely. frank
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Driving on ice is scarey! I’m glad you made it home in one piece.
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Freezing rain is the worst type of driving conditions.
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OY!!! That is one reason I am glad to be in Florida for the winter. Glad you got home safe. Icy roads are scary for sure.
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Sorry you had such a scare. This is frightening to even experienced drivers. For once, I’m glad I live on campus and if I fall my butt is the only thing to suffer…and not suffer much since I am well padded.
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We don’t get freezing rain here. Well, not exactly. It rains, then it snows, then the sun goes down and we have ice covered with snow and it’s very dangerous and deceiving. Still, I don’t think it’s as bad as what I hear about freezing rain. I’m SO glad you made it home safe and sound.
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We’ve had freezing rain with an inch of so of ice here too. The road grader has been going by all day to rough up the gravel road to make it drivable. The yard is terrible, put ashes on the paths – back to work tomorrow…
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Wow! I am glad you made it home safely!
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Driving on ice. Ack! What a scary experience. I’m glad you got home okay.
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Very scary. I’m glad you’re ok. I had a full skid once when I was going to Curves early and my side street had not been properly cleared. Did a 180 degree turn right into an intersection, fortunately empty at the time.
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Frisson of fear–that’s a good word. Glad you made it home safely.
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Oh man, that would have done me in! I’ve never driven in ice or snow. I can just imagine what a nightmare it must have been for you. I’m so glad you made it safely home.
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OMG! I’m so glad you’re ok. How horrible.
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It’s such a strain driving in conditions like that – horrible experience. RYN: Oh I think I can manage that – you’ve got the job! Did I mention the tea & soldiers were the wages? No? Must’ve slipped my mind …….
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You tell them. I bet they say it was the holidays. poop on them. I will talk to Punk and have her talk to Cam this week about the vaccum. Of course he would love for you to buy a kirby, right!?? but he does get some really good trade-ins. Technically he isn’t allowed to sell them, but his wife has yard sales and does and then they give them to goodwill. He has just been on a few out of town gigs.
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yep when the weather is bad you need your cell phone
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hmmm, we have prepaid cell phones too. Its sooooo much cheaper than a contract I found. You use it less too. I’m wondering why you can’t top up…. And yes, its scary. We drove once through KS around midnight and it was raining ICE. We slid into the hotel parking lot, and decided that’s where the truck stopped, that’s where we stop…
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and then we got out of the truck and literally slid over to the door of the hotel. It was horrible. I never ever want to experience that ice stuff again. I can deal with snow, but ice? Its the worst helpless feeling ever. I’m so glad you’re SAFE.
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oh my, I have driven in freezing rain and I know it is scary. I’m glad you made it back okay. 🙂
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Oh my Gosh! I’m so glad you made it safely home! Hope ya don’t have to do that again for a long time! It’s good you didn’t fall when you had to walk across that icy parking lot too. Much to be thankful for today! Now I’m hoping you get a good sleep; you’ve surely earned it! hugs, Weesprite
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I certainly understand how you must have been feeling for that 30 minutes, been there and i onoy live in the uk, where the whole country shuts down if we have a bad winter. Well done for getting through it Best Wishes
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My blood ran cold as I read this. Thank goodness you got home safely! When the weather is too rough, J and I have learned to just hole up and wait it out.
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Patrisha, there is nothing so terrible as driving on ice. Even the right tires don’t help. Once, when in northern Arizona, I had to walk to work on a sheet of ice — a little less than a mile — I was scared silly & fortunately someone picked me up, delivered me to the work door. Also terrible that your cell phone didn’t work. Anna
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So glad you are safe. There is nothing worse than driving on ice. I am so glad to be retired and not out driving to work at the hospital on all kinds of roads.
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I can’t imagine driving on ice. The whole idea is terrifying.
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You must have gotten what we had. We have had sleet, freezing rain and downpours of rain showers here in Wisconsin. Not a typical winter for us. Hope all is well today.
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