That Return Trip (Less Brief)
Jeffrey eased me out of his house at 5 AM with orange slices, a scrambled egg sandwich wrapped in tin foil and his traveling mug full of hot black coffee. I stopped five times for gas, twice to nap, and once in Worthington, Ohio, for more dry ice to keep my stash of ice cream cool.
The hours whizzed by, helped immensely by calls from Diane, Adam, Dan and my brother, Peter. Peter’s calls, every three or four hours, helped gauge the distance. He’d call, then have breakfast, call then go for a swim, call, then work on his paper. Each successive inquiry had that, “Are you still on the road?†tone. Peter asked me how much coffee I drank, but I told him the only thing that makes these long drives possible are my naps. And the first one arrived less than two hours from Jeff’s house, just outside of Louisville. When my eyes begin to close, I pull over.
(click)
It’s difficult to balance my camera on the dashboard, and stay within the lanes, and take a steady one second exposure (which this is not). Snow near Rochester, NY.
(click)
I love how clearly that first photo says “Time to pull over.” I know that wasn’t your original intent, but juxtaposed as it is with the text, that’s what it says.
What tulip pictures are now in “Tulips in February”? I mean, there are two, and neither is the least bit boring. Was there once a DIFFERENT second one, or a boring middle one?
Last week a tree fell on the back wing of the old church (now offices) where my sister works in Saratoga Springs and where I made a working visit earlier this week. The visit had been planned earlier, and then that storm discussed in “Warnings” hit NY. I almost didn’t go out after all, since much of Saratoga and the surrounding area was without power — and thus heat and computer access, both necessities for our work — for a while. It wasn’t the whole tree that fell, and I don’t have photos, but it was the top third of a 100 – 120 foot oak tree with a trunk far too big to get your arms around. It broke off and fell on the one-story part of the building. The slate roof was shattered as were several stained glass windows, and the furniture in the room was crushed. The woman working at the now-crushed desk saw the glass breaking and with quick reflexes moved fast in the best direction. Those telling the story add, “She’s an athlete.”
Comment by Jennifer — February 24, 2006 @ 10:43 am
That first picture makes me nervous, having done the same thing (balance the camera on the dashboard, click the shutter, try to stay within the lanes…). What you need, Mike, is a webcam attached to your head, with a voice-controlled wifi shutter connection. Then we nervous bloggers can watch you drive cross country in relative safety.
After you set up the webcam, then enable an in-truck iChat system so when we see you on screen nodding off, we can all shout, “Wake up Mike! Watch out for that 18-wheeler!”
Comment by rakkity — February 24, 2006 @ 1:24 pm
I can’t imagine outrunning a falling tree…wait a minute, Adam remembers me doing just that. But I had a head start.
I have two friends who ridiculed me for not continuing on my merry way in that piffle of a snow storm we had two Saturday’s ago. Had I pulled off the road in New York, I’d’ve resembled a pinata at a child’s party.
I like that iChat webcam for my iTruck idea.
Diane’s plane has landed in St Cloud.
Comment by michael — February 24, 2006 @ 6:58 pm
Remember? I’ve the footage to relive it! But most people run perpendicular to the direction of the tree’s fall, Mike …
Comment by adam — February 24, 2006 @ 7:03 pm
And so predictable.
Comment by michael — February 24, 2006 @ 7:18 pm
I doubt that most people run perpendicular. Just the efficient people.
Comment by Jennifer — February 25, 2006 @ 11:09 pm
Or those still allive at the end of the day.
Comment by michael — February 26, 2006 @ 7:23 am