We are very thankful we made it home last night!
We drove over the Rio Grande, and through the juniper to get home last night in a snow storm that left us with an asymptotic* drive home. Although we had a plan; everything took longer than anticipated.
ABQ-ians apparently don’t like bad weather. We had just a few more stops. We got to Talin Market for our non-traditional-Thai-inspired-Thanksgiving-dinner and by the time we came out, the streets were deserted. Two more stops – Sprouts for meat, Peet’s Coffee and a red chili ristras for R. We gassed up and headed into the storm.
Traffic was the usual mix of the ABQ insanity. But once we we made it to Isleta we were on the home stretch… only 95 miles to go.
Where we would usually do 80 mph on I-25, we were doing 60-65 mph with slow downs where ever people got skittish… I drove until Socorro and then R took the climb up to Magdalena. (I wish we had pictures but I spent most of the trip up to Magdalena trying to look relaxed while unobtrusively clutching the car door arm rest.)
That is where things really slowed down…
We had made it up the curves (Go KIA!) and were happily doing 40-45 mph on the flat of the plains when we saw hazards flashing in the distance. It took us a good 10-15 minutes to catch up with them. When we did, they were a big red truck doing 30-35. R commented that he never wanted to push someone past their comfort zone so he hung back. It was still in the low 30s the snow had covered the highway and was coming down enough to make the world beyond the road invisible. The plow had left a ridge of snow between the two opposing lanes, which made passing a possibility of last resort.
We saw the truck slip a little, and R postulated that they were rear-wheel drive, which would be scary! No traction and the possibility of flipping around and finding yourself going backwards down a hill. We gave them some space.
We went about 6 miles and another car slowed into pace behind us, everyone seemed pretty content (or resigned) to the 30-35 mph slog.
There is a stretch of road they call “Dead Man’s Curve” about 12 miles from home. The speed limit drops from 65 mph to 55 mph, and there are reflective signs, warnings, and arrows along its length. It goes up and around, making an elegant 90° turn.
The red truck in front of us slowed, and then slowed again. By the time we hit the steepest part of the curve we are only going 25 mph, and having to back down our speed as our friend slowed to 20.
It took forever… it was painful.
And I thought, once they hit the flat straightaway to Magdalena they will speed up…
No such luck, they crept, and crept, and crept…
I’ve never been so close to home and unable to get there. We hit the elevation sign that marks the edge of the village, and they slowed. We made it to the flashing 30 mph sign… and slowed again I really think it was just a reflex from always slowing down… but now we were trudging along at 20 mph.
At this point I turned to R. If they turn down Main Street I’m going to cry.
Ristra & KIA
Thank goodness they didn’t… and I wouldn’t’ have. We turned down main street and trundled in the dark to the house, and finally were home.
There were about 2″ on the ground, we woke to 8″. Snowed in for Thanksgiving!
Hoping everyone is having a safe and savory Thanksgiving!
~ The Raven and the Hummingbird
* Thank goodness math and reality don’t always aline. We would still be approaching home if they did.
The Raven and the Hummingbird 