When an overdeveloped sense of responsibility isn't enough

[icprncs]

I had every intention of going to the zoo for my shift today. The route there (and I have several options) is mostly on arterials, which are largely okay at this point, and I figured as long as I was careful and could get out of the immediate neighborhood (which is the worst part) I could make it there and back. So I bundled myself all up and

Comments

[rocza]

Yikes!

In the future, although I hope you don't need it, I've found that boiling water poured on top of rock salt helps to unstick tires.

(Meanwhile, back here, it's 50 - but the wind is gusting high enough to at least feel like it's in the 40s. But that's still entirely too warm for this time of year. I'm not even sure I'll need a jacket to walk to the liquor store later.)

[icprncs]

I knew various things that I *could* have done, but see the bit about not being properly provisioned. We need a proper snow shovel, some melty stuff (there's some that's supposed to be more eco-friendly than salt) and/or salt, and a better scraper.

The zoo itself isn't even operating on full hours, which was another factor in me deciding that I didn't need to be this dedicated. But if I'd been able to resolve the ice issues, I'd still have tried to go.

[rocza]

Heh, I live on the Coast of Not EcoFriendly. Well, that and rock salt was all I had on hand that day. But it really was remarkably effective when combined together.

I think staying in was probably the right thing. UW rarely closes for weather; I figure when they do, it's a good sign to stay inside if at all possible. ;-)

[oldhalloween]

A good reminder.
Had some of the spray lock deicer but will probably invest in an electric battery one. Don't like what might be in the chemical version. Tossed in supplies for the road trip to Seattle and then found out we were in a garage.

[trystbat]

Now *that's* cold! Even when going to the mountains, I've never had a car's locks ice up. Have dug ice out from behind the tires & shoveled a driveway. On vacation ;-)

I would have tried to go to the zoo too, if only to see it in the snow. But I'm sure you'll have more chances, heh.

[lil_m_moses]

Not necessarily that cold, just cold enough after/while being wet, IME. Ice storms are pretty common in the midwest plains. I had to chip through a quarter inch of ice all over my car one Thanksgiving break so I could open the doors and then drive home from college. I took it very slowly, and marveled at all the cars and semis in the ditch, but it only took me 4 hours to get out of Iowa instead of 3, as it was getting warmer and slushier as the day wore on. And then I ran out of washer fluid, which almost sucked worse than the ice when driving on its remains on I-80.