I was not familiar with Co weather in April. 25 miles from our sons home I began to see semis parked along both sides of the freeway. A smarter person may have stopped and asked what the problem was. Not Me, many,many semi's and I did not see the wisdom of asking what was up ahead.
Much to my regret I soon found out what the problem was. From the point I was at to Cheyenne WY, a major, majot blizzard was raging.
Not wanting to turn around and drive the measly 25 miles back, I took the officer at the road block up on his suggestion that I spend the night with others in the local high school.
I was one of the last dummies in so many had come before me.
The lady in charge of these "special accommadations" told me there was one cot left. But, Please me quiet as everyone is sleeping. She explained the one cot out of 26 was available in a classroom , but don't turn on the light and try not to waken anyone. Let me tell you, it didn't take long and I had the funny feeling I was not with a group of women. The snoring, the kind that rattles windows and "other" noises I won't explain did not sound like a room full of women. Finally had enough noise and went out to the hall and asked this crazy woman who I was sleeping with. 25 truckers was WHO.
That was enough and I grabbed a couple more blankets and spent the night in my car.
Finally at 8:30 am it was clear as far as Cheyenne.
When I pulled into the truck stop all I could see for what seemed like miles was semi's. Then I found out I-80 east was still impassable. AND when the roads were cleared the truckers were going to be let out first and cars had to wait. Believe it or not they estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 truckers were shut down in a radius of fifty miles.
have two brothers that are over the road truckers and saw a couple of men that drove for the same company.
I perfected my best whine and begged them to get me out of there when they left. They agreed as long as I could keep up. Now that is a phrase that has different meanings to different people. I drive a little Chevy Cavaliar. Keeping up to these men meant 85 miles an hour across Nebraska in what they referred to as "the cradle"
No cop in his right mind would have considered stopping them. I had two trucks in front, two behind and two on the side. All I could think of was a blowout or my car stalling was really, really going to hurt.
Afetr record time across Nebraska, they left me and I thought NOW, I will find a place to sleep. Big Joke.
Because of the blizzard many people had stopped BEFORE they got into trouble, no rooms. I finally pulled into a convenience store and asked if I could park in front of their window and grab a couple hours of sleep. They graciously said they would keep on eye on me.
Just drifting off and some lunatic started banging on my car hood. This lunatic had spiked lime green and purple hair. He was soon joined by others that looked as strange as the first one.
Turns out "these lunatics" were just kids that had come from some kind of game where their team had one and were celebrating,ON MY HOOD
Took off again and made it to MPLS in record time. All I wanted was HOME and as soon as possible.
I have not lived this down yet. Sleeping with 25 truckers at my age seems to be grounds for hilarity.
Bonnierae
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