Three Hours to Nowhere


Ditched
Originally uploaded by Steffe

I just spent three hours in my car and I didn’t even make it to my intended destination. I can blame it all on the snow.

I did the right thing. I gave myself lots of extra time. I left early. I took it slow, knowing that the intense snowfall was making the road a little treacherous.

I just needed to get out of the city. I knew that if I could make it to the highway, I would be fine.

My car started to slide on the ramp to the highway. I tried my best to stay on the high part of the on-ramp but my efforts failed me. The car kept sliding closer and closer to the ditch. It seemed to be perfectly content to tuck itself into a snow bank.

I grabbed the shovel that I keep in the trunk and started to dig. Two vehicles stopped to help me out. They did their best to push me out. Unfortunately, my car was now sideways on an incline. No matter what we did, I sunk deeper and closer to the ditch.

I had to give up and call the automobile club. The CAA tow truck driver put a chain on my car and pulled me out.

It took me over an hour to get back home after that.

I rolled my window down to hear all the sounds on my drive back home. I could hear my tires spinning and spinning at certain points.

There were cars ahead of me that were stuck. They weren’t on an incline or in a snowbank either. They were just on the road.

I put my hazard lights on and helped to push four cars from one particularly treacherous intersection. The road ahead of me was now clear. The light was green. Anxiously, I drove through the same area. I made it.

By the time I got home, I had been in the car for three hours.

I’m glad I am home safe and sound.

If you don’t have anywhere you NEED to be today, please stay home.

If you have to go out, put a shovel in your trunk. Pack some snacks and several bottles of water. Bring a book along with you. That way if you get stuck, you will be okay for a while.


4 responses to “Three Hours to Nowhere”

  1. Hi Chase .. we had over a foot down here .. but Scotland, the north, Wales and Ireland are coated in the stuff & sheet ice .. all the motorways were closed etc ..

    Some school kids, teachers and parents .. spent the night in the school .. because they couldn't get home!! Improvisation of mats from the gym, blankets, cushions etc .. seems it was well organised – despite the kids not being able to be at home: they were with trusted teachers and their friends.

    Hope the car is not too damaged? Cheers Hilary

  2. Hi Hilary,

    London Ontario is completely shut down. They are canceling pretty much everything through tomorrow as well.

    My car is fine, thank you.

    I have never seen anything like this before. I'm used to snow in Canada and the occasional snow day. But a snow week? This is crazy.

    I'm trapped at my girlfriend's place now. It could be worse though. At least I'm not trapped at school with my students. Hope everyone there made it through okay.

    Be safe!