Ron Shoots

The north winds continued to blow snow across the roads as I left the Red Cross shelter (see previous post) at daybreak. The sky was clear and, in the east, a very welcome pink glow.

The shelter host called the South Dakota DOT for an up-to-date weather report… State #10 West- icy conditions, gusty winds up to 35mph, snow drifts… at least there wouldn’t be much traffic. In town, the weather was a balmy 6 degrees. As soon as I drove a few miles into the countryside, the temperature dropped to zero. (Wind chill was minus 27 degrees now!)

The blowing snow and deep drifts looked like waves in the ocean when the trade winds are kicking back home in Maui. I was quite awestruck by the beauty of nature as this blast of artic air whipped snow across fields, farms and roads.

More South Dakota Hospitality!

As I drove west on State Route 10, I spotted a snow swept graveyard that offered photographic potential! I did a u-turn and pulled gingerly off to the side of the road on what looked to be a flat hard surface. All of a sudden the whole side of the truck dove deep down into snow-filled ditch. Rocking the truck back and forth only dug the wheels deeper and within seconds the snow was up to the door handles on the passenger side. As I got out to check my predicament… out of the blue, a pick-up rounded the corner and stopped to offer assistance. With the tow chain that I carry, a few valiant pulls and the smell of burnt rubber as the pick-up tires screeched on the tiny strip of solid pavement, my truck was back on the road!

(Doesn’t look like much… the snow was up to the door handles!)

I don’t know the name of the benevolent gentleman driving the Chevy pick-up. He left as quickly as he arrived, but my thanks go out to him! The people of Roberts County are great!

(And for any truck fans, yes… a Chevy pulled out my Ford.)