TheBanyanTree: An "Interesting" ride home

[Sally Larwood]

That sounded very scary Russ. So relieved you got home safely. 

Sal
Sent from my mini iPad

> On 14 Apr 2017, at 11:17, Teague, Julie Anna <jateague at indiana.edu> wrote:
> 
> Yikes. There are some things you don't want to have to learn the hard way. Glad you got home safely.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Apr 13, 2017, at 4:36 PM, Russ Doden <russ.doden at gmail.com> 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
>> -- 
>> Enjoy Life By Living In Joy
>> 
>> Well Being Consultant
>> www.rldwbc.com