Wade Chamberlain
Member
For the folks that missed the cruise-in last night, it was fantastic weather. It was coming home that sucked!
Rip - did you get wet last night? I hope Doc, Pete, Scott, and Chipper were all home by the time the deluge started.
Rip and I watched the spectacular lightning show to the north, the whole way up the PW parkway. It had just started raining when Rip and I parted company on Liberia Road in Manassas. I was out of gas so I stopped to fill up and suit up. Also dug my trusty chamios out of the trunk so I could keep the inside of the windshield wiped down.
By the time I got back to Rt234 bypass, I had to take my glasses off because I couldn't see through them. Can't see without them either....lesser of two evils I guess! Had a hard time determining where to turn at the intersection because there was so much glare, and the rain was smacking me hard in the face. Finally made the turn and it started HAILING. Not huge hail, but I can assure you, even the smallest of hail is no fun in an open car! Ouch! 8O
I remembered there is an overpass on the bypass, so I figured I'd pull over and wait it out. The only way I was able to find the overpass was to take note of the brief reduction in rain as I passed under it! I had to back up about 100 yards (no backup lights, dark, raining) to get back under the overpass. There was almost no curb area, so I had to back into the dirt to get off the road. In the heat of the moment I wasn't smart enough to realize the dirt would now be mud.....about 4" deep. I decided it would not be wise to stay and sink, so after much spinning and some "monster-truck-quality" mud rooster-tails I was able to get out of the quagmire.
By the time I got to RT28, I could feel the water sloshing around in my footbox, so I pulled over and removed the drain plugs from both footboxes before the water level got high enough to toast the computer. Coming across RT605 to Warrenton, I could barely see the road, but could feel the STANDING water as I drove through it. I figured any minute I'd run smack into a tree the had been blown over or something, so I drove extra slow for the final 10 miles.
Beth thought I finally pressed my luck too far with the rain and got washed away. She didn't know whether to call the police or the Coast Guard. She was trying to call me cell phone and I wasn't answering. I had stuck it in the trunk to stay dry when I stopped for gas!
Finally got home a little before 11pm. Wet, muddy, tired. Will spend some time today getting the ol' girl cleaned back up. At least the underside got a wash.
I LOVE IT!!!!
Rip - did you get wet last night? I hope Doc, Pete, Scott, and Chipper were all home by the time the deluge started.
Rip and I watched the spectacular lightning show to the north, the whole way up the PW parkway. It had just started raining when Rip and I parted company on Liberia Road in Manassas. I was out of gas so I stopped to fill up and suit up. Also dug my trusty chamios out of the trunk so I could keep the inside of the windshield wiped down.
By the time I got back to Rt234 bypass, I had to take my glasses off because I couldn't see through them. Can't see without them either....lesser of two evils I guess! Had a hard time determining where to turn at the intersection because there was so much glare, and the rain was smacking me hard in the face. Finally made the turn and it started HAILING. Not huge hail, but I can assure you, even the smallest of hail is no fun in an open car! Ouch! 8O
I remembered there is an overpass on the bypass, so I figured I'd pull over and wait it out. The only way I was able to find the overpass was to take note of the brief reduction in rain as I passed under it! I had to back up about 100 yards (no backup lights, dark, raining) to get back under the overpass. There was almost no curb area, so I had to back into the dirt to get off the road. In the heat of the moment I wasn't smart enough to realize the dirt would now be mud.....about 4" deep. I decided it would not be wise to stay and sink, so after much spinning and some "monster-truck-quality" mud rooster-tails I was able to get out of the quagmire.
By the time I got to RT28, I could feel the water sloshing around in my footbox, so I pulled over and removed the drain plugs from both footboxes before the water level got high enough to toast the computer. Coming across RT605 to Warrenton, I could barely see the road, but could feel the STANDING water as I drove through it. I figured any minute I'd run smack into a tree the had been blown over or something, so I drove extra slow for the final 10 miles.
Beth thought I finally pressed my luck too far with the rain and got washed away. She didn't know whether to call the police or the Coast Guard. She was trying to call me cell phone and I wasn't answering. I had stuck it in the trunk to stay dry when I stopped for gas!
Finally got home a little before 11pm. Wet, muddy, tired. Will spend some time today getting the ol' girl cleaned back up. At least the underside got a wash.
I LOVE IT!!!!