TheBanyanTree: An "Interesting" ride home

[Theta Brentnall]

We're grateful, too, Russ.  I was just commenting that there was nasty 
looking weather over your area.  Glad you made it home safe and sound.

Theta

On 4/13/2017 1:35 PM, Russ Doden wrote:
> Today I had gone down to the shop where I work in various capacities.
> Today was the day I wanted to do herb inventory so I could start putting
> together another order.  The forecast had said rain was "possible" but it
> didn't look like it would do much.  I was pretty focused on getting that
> order put together.  After a while I realized it was getting pretty dark
> outside so finally checked the radar with my cell phone.  Holy Sh#t.  A big
> cell was developing almost on top of where I was!  This would be no big
> deal if I was on 4 wheels, but I was on 3!  It had been such a nice day I
> thought I would just ride the trike - as I much prefer it to being in a
> "cage".
>
> I grabbed my stuff, tossed it in the briefcase, grabbed my helmet and coat
> and headed for the door.  It was just starting to sprinkle, but the sky to
> the east was still reasonably clear.  I headed home just as it started to
> rain a bit more.  About 5 minutes later it was no longer clear to the
> east.  The clouds unzipped!  Well, I had been needing some practice riding
> in a cloudburst, but holy moley, this was beyond the pale.
>
> Even the cars were slowing down to 40ish on a highway that usually they
> ignore the 60 mph speed limit!  I had a "feeling" that I needed to get over
> to the inside lane (this is a 3 lane each way highway) so I started working
> my way over from the center lane.  Not 2 minutes after I made that move, a
> car shot by on my right, and the next thing I knew it had lost traction and
> was doing 45 degree swaps.  Not just fishtails, but severe skidding with
> the brakes locked up (the worst thing you can do).
>
> EVERYONE was hitting the brakes to give that car all three lanes - and it
> was using them.  You didn't dare lock the brakes up though because the road
> was wet - and that adds to the hydroplane potential.  Apparently that car
> had hydroplaned big time.  At one point they were going down the road
> sideways drivers side leading then driver side following.  They finally got
> it under control.   They quickly headed to the nearest exit ramp.  I'm
> assuming they had to find a place to pull themselves together, say a little
> prayer that everyone avoided them, and maybe change their pampers.
>
> I was glad I was toward the front of that mess.  I didn't look behind me,
> but I would imagine that traffic got bolixed up pretty good while we all
> slowed down to a crawl to give that car all the room it needed.  The closer
> to home I got, the farther I was from the cloudburst.  The streets were dry
> when I got home but it was quite the ride home!
>
> That was more practice than I wanted, but I did well!  No skids, no panic,
> no problems!
>
> Color me grateful for training for just such things!
>
> Russ