A SLOW AND NOT SO EASY RIDE

Slow ride, take it easy - Slow ride, take it easy.

I'm in the mood, the rhythm is right,

Move to the music, we can roll all night

We’ve had quite a trip since we arrived in Snowville, UT. It’s been a slow and not so easy ride and we certainly could not roll all night in the weather we have been having on this trip. When we arose Saturday morning, the snow was starting to fall. As we cautiously left the truck stop, we eased our way out onto the Interstate, and in the darkness of early morning, it was hard to see what was road and what wasn’t. 40 miles down the road, we pulled off at another truck stop to wait until it got just a wee bit lighter. Craig and I got out our laptops and started researching the road conditions and weather satellites. Most of the chatter on the CB was other drivers inquiring if roads were open, or if chain requirements had been put in place.

Feeling confident we could at least make it to the Wyoming state line, where we would have to stop at the weigh station to obtain our oversize permit, we pulled out and onto the Interstate once again. We had noticed that on the website for Wyoming Department of Transportation, they had their “chain law” in effect from Evanston to mile marker 39. From what we understood, they don’t enforce it, but if you should happen to spin out or cause an accident, and you didn’t have the chains on, you get the book thrown at you. As we arrived at the weigh station we could see about 30 or more trucks parked waiting for the chain restrictions to be lifted. I caught a glimpse of one trucker who couldn’t decide what season to dress for as you can see in the photo.

With our permit in hand we continued to where chains were required and pulled off to the shoulder as many other truckers had done. We watched as they struggled to put on their chains, as we watched truck after truck pass with no chains on. We debated about waiting it out or putting on the chains, when I noticed an update on the computer with the “chain law” being lifted.

With that we took off on our slow and steady pace to try and make it through Wymoning. Wouldn’t you know it, about 90 miles into our trip we start hearing of a couple of jack knifed trucks completely blocking eastbound Interstate 80. Oh great…. Just as we think we might have some good luck, now comes this. Talk on the CB stated the back up was already starting and it would be a parking lot for several miles. We were lucky in that a Flying J truck stop was at our next exit so we quickly pulled in as a multitude of trucks had the same idea. We found a spot and sat back and watched as truck after truck pulled in rapidly and started filling all the empty parking spaces. As we all waited to hear when the Interstate would be cleared, a few drivers were giving commentary on the drivers trying to park, especially when spots were at a premium. About 4 hours later we heard the Interstate was clear, but by then it was an just before sunset and we decided to stay where we were for the night and take on the icy roads fresh in the morning.

Yes, truck driving can be a slow and not so easy ride when dealing with snow, icy roads, high wind, and people wanting to go a little faster than what they should for the conditions. In times like this you will always find us taking a very slow ride, easy or not.