Comments | halfshellvenus: The Real LJ Idol: "Sleigh Bells, Schmay Bells"

halfshellvenus

The Real LJ Idol: "Sleigh Bells, Schmay Bells"

Dec 15, 2011 11:43

Sleigh Bells, Schmay Bells
real lj idol | week eight | 1125 words
A Traveling Travesty

x-x-x-x-x

( Trains, Planes, and Automobiles... )

my_fic, original_non_fiction, real lj idol

Comments 28

shadowwolf13 December 15 2011, 20:25:34 UTC

Wow, what an experience. Glad you made it safely.

halfshellvenus December 15 2011, 22:03:19 UTC

Me too! It still beats out the year where there was ice on the Interstate, and we discovered that the Siskiyou Summit was not the only important "high" point on I-5. The road would freeze over above 1700 feet, and we soon noticed that there are about five previously-unremarkable passes that meet that criteria between the California border and Eugene. Holy moly. :0

Having lived in Seattle, I definitely do not miss snow driving--or whatever you want to call it when the car skids around the streets. :) Great entry!

halfshellvenus December 16 2011, 20:28:14 UTC

I got used to driving in the snow the three years I lived in Illinois, but snow-driving on hills is a totally different situation (and maintains a billion times worse).

And all the time I was in Illinois, I was never out in snow so heavy that you couldn't see very far through it!

I am SO glad for the Internet age and I-5 webcams, when it comes to travel. You get much more detailed and accurate information (and can decide which days are not at all suitable for travel. In theory). :D

theafaye December 16 2011, 15:00:57 UTC

Oh jeepers. What a nightmare! But at least you were there for the important event.

halfshellvenus December 16 2011, 20:30:11 UTC

After awhile, it becomes kind of surrealistic: is this actually happening? Are we still on this Interstate? Because it's been hours.

The proposal made the whole, horrendous trip up there worthwhile, and there was still enough "shine" to get us through the trip back-- even with the sudden massive slowdown when the end was practically there!

kickthehobbit December 16 2011, 20:44:48 UTC

oh sweet Jesus, I've made that trip in late fall. I can't imagine making it in December!

halfshellvenus December 16 2011, 21:04:17 UTC

It's painfully long, isn't it, at any time of year?

Last Christmas, my sister (who now lives in Portland) repeatedly nagged us with, "It would be so much easier if you all came up to Portland instead of Eugene."

Well, easier for her. She never makes that trip, or she'd realize that turning an 8-hour (if you're lucky) trip into a TEN-hour trip is asking a lot.

My brother, who lives near me but 1/2 hour closer to Eugene, doesn't seem to mind that idea much, but I cannot say the same. My outside limit for being in a car or plane is about 3 hours, and I'll still dread three hours.

We generally go every summer and every Christmas season, but the weather is incredibly scary in the winter. o_O

muchtooarrogant December 16 2011, 21:15:36 UTC

Aw, well good for your sister, good for you for surviving, and finally good for you for not murdering the husband. *grin*

Dan

halfshellvenus December 17 2011, 02:00:15 UTC

Hee!

In his defense, I now realize that his having grown up in the California Bay area (mild coastal climate) with a few year in Eureka also means that he really has no experience with ice or snow.

I lived in Illinois for 3 years after college, and I've lived in all the snow I care to see, forEVER! ;)

muchtooarrogant December 17 2011, 15:11:52 UTC

Yeah, chalk it up to innocent inexperience. *grin* Sometimes even a car can't crush that mean ice.

Dan