TALES OF SNOW AND ICE

HAVING JUST EXPERIENCED THE FIRST BLAST OF WINTER MY MIND DRIFTS TO ADVENTURES OF PREVIOUS FRIGID SEASONS. WHILE IN GENERAL I PREFER NOT TO TRAVEL WHEN THE WIND IS HOWLING, SNOW IS FALLING, AND THE TEMPERATURE IS DIPPING; BUT WHEN ONE DEPENDS ON SALES TO PAY THE BILLS ONE HAS TO HIT THE ROAD IN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER. IF THE CUPBOARD IS BARE OFF TO A SHOW WE MUST GO.

IN THE EARLY TO MID 1990's WE WOULD TRAVEL TO ATLANTA GA. (PRIDE OF DIXIE & SCOTT'S ANTIQUE MARKET) NOVEMBER TO MARCH. ALMOST EVERY TRIP WE WOULD ENCOUNTER TREACHEROUS ROADS - I65 IN KENTUCKY CLOSED FOR ALMOST 24 HOURS, ATLANTA ITSELF TOTALLY SHUT DOWN FROM THE WEATHER, SHOW WAS CANCELED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EVENT, LEAVING NORTHBOUND MOTORISTS STRANDED ON THE I-75 CORRIDOR FROM ATLANTA TO CHATTANOOGA, AND US UNABLE TO RETURN HOME FOR DAYS DUE TO I-75 BEING CLOSED IN TENNESSEE.

SOMETIME ABOUT 1999 THE TRIP TO JANUARY PIER SHOW TOOK TWICE AS LONG FOR THE ROAD (I-90 NY) WAS COVERED WITH ICE FROM BUFFALO TO ALBANY. WE HAD TO STOP EVERY 15 MILES TO BANG THE ICE OFF THE WIPERS. I DIDN'T EVEN DARE LEAVE THE TOLLWAY, EVEN THOUGH 50 PERCENT OF THE CREW VOTED TO STOP REPEATEDLY, AS I-90 WAS CLOSED AND TO EXIT WOULD HAVE ENDED THE TRIP AND WE NEEDED TO SELL. SO FORGE ON WE DID!

AND JUST BECAUSE ONE ARRIVES AT THE VENUE AND IS SUCCESSFUL IN SELLING DOES NOT MEAN THE TRIP HOME IS EASY. ONE MARCH OUR TRIP HOME FROM CHICAGO (FOX VALLEY ANTIQUES SHOW) WAS A DOOSEY! I-80-90 CLOSED THROUGHOUT INDIANA, SO AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS WE HEADED NORTH ON I-94 INTO MICHIGAN. MORE CLOSED ROADS, BLINDING BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS, CLOSED EXITS, STUCK AND ABANDON VEHICLES EVERYWHERE - YET WE FORGED ON BEING THE LAST VEHICLE TO LEAVE CHICAGO GOING EAST THAT DAY.
SO THIS WINTER REMEMBER BEWARE OF TREACHEROUS ROAD SIGNS. DRIVE SAFELY.