A few weeks ago I was able to go and make a short trip to see family in Texas! Melissa was so kind to pay for the gas so that Richard and I could drive down. With gas prices being so low it was under $200 Roundtrip for us to go. That’s less than a single ticket!
We stayed with Alison; who was kind enough to put up with Richard and I. We spent the two days we were there eating sleeping and playing games. Probably the best way to spend a holiday! It was awesome seeing my cute nieces and nephew.
Richard and I started our trip back on Saturday into Denver. Bad Idea! It was snowing on the morning of our second day and we headed into winter travel that was not fun. We started north toward Wyoming on the 25, but by the time we hit Fort Collins it was closed. So Rick and I got adventurous and drove down a ways to an opening on the highway that wasn’t “officially” closed off. So we hopped on the empty highway and made our way north. We must have passed about 15 police cars going the other direction, but nobody flagged us down or tried to stop us. The road was clear the whole way up, but not on the southbound. There must have been three major accidents in that direction. Though we made it to Cheyenne bypassing the road closure it was only halted by another closure of hwy 80 heading west.
This time there was no way around it and we decided to wade it out. So we stopped and watched a few shows on my computer and then out of frustration for the long wait and wanting to make it to Salt Lake I tried to make a break for it and see how far the hwy was really closed. A number of cars had started to line up on the highway shoulders waiting for the highway to open. I didn’t want to be in the back when it started and figured if I went around I might get a good spot in front of this mess. I don’t know why and or how we did it but as I entered the hwy and headed towards the last exit for the closure the cars were moving and we just happen to be at the start of the opening of the hwy! Yipee! We were only about five rows back from the front of the pack. It was perfect timing and we didn’t have to waste time fighting the onslaught of waiting trucks and cars. Alas this moment of hope turned into terror because the mask of the situation was that we were headed into adverse weather conditions. Wind blowing, snow, ice, zero visibility! Just to name a few of the conditions. But Richard and I held tight and broke through while listening to the Russian Philharmonic play Christmas music. It just set the mood right as we headed into such a traverse travel. The music must have helped because…well….we are alive and well! Not to say that my blood pressure didn’t go up a few times while driving. It was a remarkable and fulfilling trip! Hopefully Christmas won’t hold the same travails.
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