The Belly Of The Beast

Published on January 13, 2007 By MasonM In Blogging

What a day for driving. I ran North out of Dallas on US 75 and then US 69 into OK. This route is the most direct one to where I need to go, but it also ran right through the middle of the ice storm that is pounding the Midwest right now. Right into the belly of the beast as it were.

It made for an interesting drive. My truck is now coated in several inches of ice. The roads were a mess, there were trees and tree limbs down all over the place, and power was out in more areas than not. I stopped at three different truckstops along US 69, and all three were without power. I got lucky on the fourth one and they still has power for the moment. Long enough for me to refill my coffee mug before once again doing battle with the elements.

I had to stop every few miles and knock the ice from my windshield wipers as the build up rendered them useless. I'll have to replace them tomorrow as they are both now pretty much destroyed by the punishment.

I eventually made it up to Big Cabin, OK where I picked up I-44. While the interstate was also pretty nasty it seemed great after the last couple of hundred miles. I hopped on and put the hammer down. There were a lot of trucks running the interstate, all driving very slowly. I blew past them and kept my foot in it, slowing down for iced over bridges, but otherwise running full tilt. I guess I embarrassed a few of them because they jumped out in the left lane and followed me. A few got scared and slowed back down, but several of them stayed with me all the way here to Joplin.

I wasn't being reckless at all, I can read a road pretty well and it was safe enough for high speed travel as long as one stayed in the ruts and didn't try to change lanes too quickly. It was a little dicey a couple of times when I had to change lanes to go around a few idiots who were poking along out in the left lane where they didn't belong. Slow traffic keep right! I made sure to give them a little extra splash of slush as I blew past them.

I mainly wanted to reach Joplin before it got dark. Once the sun was down I was sure that the slush would glaze over and the road would then be a skating rink. No place I wanted to be. I made it here to Joplin just as the sun was setting. Perfect. As I expected the truckstop was jammed full of trucks who had the same idea as myself. I circled the parking lot once, finding only a single open parking spot. Nobody had taken it as it was in a difficult spot and I guess they were afraid to try it on the slide for fear they would slide into another truck. Not me, I whipped around and popped my rig right in to it pretty as you please by judging the slide effect as I went. I literally slid into the parking space and slid to a stop with a good foot and a half to spare between myself and the truck parked in the space in front of me.

I would say that the drive today was nerve wracking and stressful, but to be honest I had fun. It took a long time to get here, a good deal longer than it should have, but it made for a very interesting ride.

Once here at the truckstop I went inside to get something to eat. The contents of a glass display case caught my eye. It contained several nifty looking canes and walking sticks. I found a cashier who opened the case for me and I selected the one that had originally caught my eye. It's a pretty nice cane with a pewter dragon's head handle. Very hefty and cool looking. Oh yeah, it also has a sword inside of it although it doesn't make for a very practical defense weapon as one has to unscrew the handle to unsheath it. Just a novelty really.

I am hoping that the roads between here and WI will be reasonably clear as I have a bunch of miles to run tomorrow.

Comments (Page 1)

dynamaso

on Jan 13, 2007

Wow, sounds like the sort of driving I would hate to be doing. I'm glad you survived the ice and made it to your over night stop, mate.

As for the cane, well what a beauty! I really like it a lot and if I ever need a cane (which I will probably do in the future) this is the sort I would like to have.

MasonM

on Jan 13, 2007

Wow, sounds like the sort of driving I would hate to be doing. I'm glad you survived the ice and made it to your over night stop, mate.

Thanks. It makes for some serious driving, the kind where you can't let your attention lapse for even a second, but it's surely not boring

As for the cane, well what a beauty! I really like it a lot and if I ever need a cane (which I will probably do in the future) this is the sort I would like to have.

Yeah, it struck my fancy right off. I don't really care about the blade and may even remove it if I can figure out how without damaging the handle. Besides, the solid pewter handle could do some serious skull damage on it's own. It's surprisingly comfortable in the hand too.

SSG Geezer

on Jan 13, 2007

Nice Walking stick Mason.
Had a few scary times on roads like you describe,

glad you are safely parked.

Shovelheat

on Jan 13, 2007

Had a few scary times on roads like you describe,

glad you are safely parked.

Ditto. Ugh. Cold, icy weather. Yuck!

Hang in there Mason

Cordelia

on Jan 13, 2007

That cane rocks! Good buy! Drive safely (although it sounds like you do already).

TheSnowbear

on Jan 13, 2007

Watch as you go through KC, really bad sleet and ice on roads. We had sleet falling for over 2 hrs here. So please.. slide the right way ok? I agree on slow traffic stay in right lane, lol In TX they have signs advising you to do that,and I believe it is a fine to hamper traffic in the fast lane there. To bad you had to put up with it.

KellyW0498

on Jan 14, 2007

cool cane Mason.

Be safe and warm.

MasonM

on Jan 14, 2007

Nice Walking stick Mason.
Had a few scary times on roads like you describe,

glad you are safely parked.

Thanks. Just another day at the office

MasonM

on Jan 14, 2007

Ditto. Ugh. Cold, icy weather. Yuck!

Hang in there Mason

You be careful in this crap too. I know it's iced up pretty good in your neck of the woods.

MasonM

on Jan 14, 2007

That cane rocks! Good buy! Drive safely (although it sounds like you do already).

Thanks, I thought it was pretty cool. I do what I can

MasonM

on Jan 14, 2007

Watch as you go through KC,

Thanks, but I won't be going that way. I'm in Joplin now and will be running across 44 to St Louis and cutting North through IL. It's the most direct route to Oshkosh.

jennifer1

on Jan 14, 2007

It made for an interesting drive. My truck is now coated in several inches of ice. The roads were a mess, there were trees and tree limbs down all over the place, and power was out in more areas than not. I stopped at three different truckstops along US 69, and all three were without power. I got lucky on the fourth one and they still has power for the moment. Long enough for me to refill my coffee mug before once again doing battle with the elements.

That weather sounds pretty hairy Mason, glad you made it safe and sound. Keep warm.

Slow traffic keep right! I made sure to give them a little extra splash of slush as I blew past them.

I did a double take when I read this - we are opposite to you - slower keep left oops

MasonM

on Jan 14, 2007

That weather sounds pretty hairy Mason, glad you made it safe and sound. Keep warm.

Thanks, it was pretty nasty.

I did a double take when I read this - we are opposite to you - slower keep left oops

Yeah you guys are backwards

Welcome back.

MasonM

on Jan 14, 2007

It's a night and day difference between OK and MO. While the OK roads were a major disaster, the roads here in MO are clear. There is another wave of ice coming this way and I'm hoping to outrun it.

I've had my breakfast, so time to run.

Tova7

on Jan 14, 2007

Hey Mason I just watched the weather channel. Looks like rain sleet mix where you are so be careful.

Love the cane..and a blade in it makes it very appealing. Love that feature.

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