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| Moving From Las Vegas To Washington |
The day came to leave Las Vegas. We called some guys to come pack the truck with us as we would never have been able to do it on our own. All packed and ready, we headed out on US 95 in Nevada. The big truck with a trailer on the back, with a car on the trailer... The ride thru the City and into the desert was uneventful. We stopped and had probably the BEST burger I ever had, in Indian Springs, right near the military base. Once we were in the desert, the skies were clear and the stars were incredable. We got out of the truck a couple of times just to look up and gawk in amazement. We were in darkness so every star blazed in the night sky. We were also right under the Milky Way. We had never seen so many stars. We went as far as Tonopah and stayed at a motel for the night. The next morning it was clear and sunny. The sky had never looked so blue. We headed out and were all "Ooh-Ahh" at the beautiful mountains with their snowy peaks. It looked like it was starting to cloud up a little too. It was not long before a snowflake hit the windshield... and another. We passed thru a few snow flurries as we climbed higher into the Nevada Mountains. We passed thru Austin, NV, a TINY town hanging off the side of the mountain with a zig-zag road like a roller coaster. It was there, I began to question how good the brakes were. Unable to stop in time, or back up, with brake pedal firmly crammed into the floor,we careened thru town, eyes buggin, white knuckles, teeth gritted. We drove about 5 miles, got our heart rates down and decided we REALLY needed to go back and fill up the gas tank. As soon as we could, we attempted to turn around in a wide area off to the side of the road. Within 2 seconds, I knew we were stuck in the mud. The truck wheels were in about 8 inches of the heaviest, stickiest mud I had ever seen. Then, the trailer with the car on it just sank. Trying to rock the vehicles out, we jack-knifed. Needless to say, I thought I was going to have a total stroke right there. I really thought my head was gonna explode! HELP ARRIVES!!! Peter flagged down a truck driven by a cool Mexican guy and his wife who was Native American. They were hauling a huge trailer full of cows. They said they would come back after they dropped the cows off. About 20 minutes later they came back. In the meantime, I took the car off the trailer and the trailer off the truck. They hooked a chain to the truck and had us out in no-time. Then they pulled the trailer into a more manageable position. The trailer was dragged over a mileage marker and bent it to the ground. I was able to bend it back up. They helped us hook the trailer back to the truck and put the car on the trailer. We were saved from spending the night in the desert. As we all drove off our seperate ways, I took notice of a HUGE storm approaching. It was ok... we were on the road and it was behind us. ...Or so I thought. Suddenly a UPS truck pulled up beside us and flagged us over. It seems the brakes on the trailer were now locked and we were leaving behind a huge plume of smoke pouring out of the burning wheels on the trailer. After another near heart attack, we took a hammer and smashed the brake lever back to a position where the brakes disengaged, drove to the town for gas, where people stopped and shook thier heads, smirking. The gas station attendant asked if we were the people stuck on the road. Word travels fast. Before we left, a cop drove up and asked if we were the guys who were stuck. He said he was "thinking of going out there in a lil'bit". We filled up and were back on our way. As night quickly fell, the temperatures plummeted and the snow started. First a flake here and there, then a total blizzard. We turned on the windshield wipers. At first they were fine. Then, the drivers side wiper started working intermittantly. Then, it stopped working altogether. Later it came on and swung out so it was hanging off the side of the windshield. The snow kept falling, falling, heavier and faster as we drove higher and higher in elevation. We crawled along at 15 to 25 miles per hour. Up and down curving slopes, facing visability of about 20 feet, we drove on, with no place to stop or pull over. At 2:30 in the morning we finally pulled into Jordan Valley. The hotel was full, according to the man in the office/gas station. After filling up the truck with gas, the man said he had a room available that the people never showed up for. SAVED FOR THE NIGHT!!! The next morning, the wind was howling and the skies were a deep grey. The road was packed with ice and gravel making it treacherous. Heavy snow was falling. For a while we were stuck behind a snow plow as it snaked thru a small town and spewed brown muddy mist all over the windshield with no wiper on the drivers side. When we finally made it to an interstate, it was like something out of the Twilight Zone. We drove about 15 mph thru a dense fog. On the one open lane of the freeway, huge ruts and deep chunks missing from the 6 inch thick ice made for a very bumpy ride. It was like driving on a deeply rutted dirt road except this was all ice. At many times, we were the only vehicle in sight. No wipers and not much for brakes... we pulled off in Baker City, OR. Add another night to the trip... We should have already been at our final destination but were now only about halfway home. We called Penske and they said they would be out 1st thing in the morning. He fixed the wiper on the drivers side and replaced the blade on the passenger side. Anyway, we were back on the road and could actually see where we were going! About 50 miles down the road, we were pulled over by a passing motorist who pointed out a tire on the trailer was flat. I'm thinking... PLEASE, SOMEONE JUST SHOOT ME NOW!!!! I can't take much more of this!!!! We pulled into a Truck Stop and called Penske. Within an hour the guy was there and replaced the tire. I was praying it was not charred from when the trailer brakes were locked up when we jack knifed into the mud. Anyways, we were on our way again.... Chugging along at 10-20 mph with no tire chains, towing a car. At the freeway entrance, a huge sign flashed that chains were required ahead. We plodded along. A huge line of 18 wheelers were pulled over to the right, installing chains. The line went on for about a mile! At least we were in Oregon and the end was near. This trip would be over! We were undecided as to go along the Columbia River Gorge or thru to I-90 and attempt the Snoqualmie Pass. Weather reports said Snoqualmie Pass was down to 1 lane due to heavy snowfall and recent rockslides. The delay would have been at least 5 hours. We drove along I-84 thru the Gorge and along the river. The ride was really beautiful. The hills were not as extreme as they would have been on I-90 and the river being warmer than the cold air, kept the road a little wet but not frozen. We went along, oohing and ahhing at how beautiful the jagged moss covered cliffs were. We saw a waterfall or 2 and the smoke grey sky, crammed with huge, low flying clouds, over the river and distant hills was other-worldly. We hooked up eventually to I-5 outside of Portland and it was a straight shot to our destination. This 3 hour final stretch was pretty uneventful. It gave us time to chill out for the first time since we sat in the truck. It also gave all our nerves and muscles a chance to finally lock up. After that, aside from being crippled for a week, things went better. I later dropped off the truck from hell, got my car from my friends house. May I make a suggestion? If you ever have to move locally.... HIRE SOMEONE TO DO ALL THE LIFTING AND PACKING. If you have to make a long distance move.... GET RID OF EVERYTHING FIRST. It is cheaper to ship your car and fly there and replace everything. Just save what will fit in the trunk of your car... Legal papers, identification, some photos, your Music CDs, a few items of clothes. The cost of the truck, gas, motels, meals and just the time involved, costs more than replacing everything. This move could have been the end of some peoples marriages. You can't imagine how stressful it was. Blizzards, no brakes, no windshield wiper, burning tires, flat tires, 20 mph thru ice covered mountains.... Never Never Never Never Again!!!! Ship your cars and fly there. |
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