Hell On The Highway
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
Canada
February 21, 2016 8:26am CST
We made it home in two days We left Panama City Beach, Florida before day break and the only bad part of the first day on the road was Atlanta. (too busy and too many accidents) none of the accidents included us, it was just normal for that stretch of highway. Spent the night in Lexington Kentucky.
In Lexington we woke up at 4:30AM and got on the road in the dark. We hit Cincinnati at rush hour in the dark and missed our turn so had to go through the city and I'm thinking no one wants to do that. The number of accidents was outstanding. It was scary for me because hubby was driving and I could see them all... by the time we got out of that city the sun was rising and we soon were in snow country but the roads were clear and fast.
Around Erie Pa, the trip so far was just windy. We came up over a hill and hubby said "that sign says high winds and drifting snow", I looked around and said I don't see any drifting until we crossed a patch of snow on the highway.
At least three cars were in the snow off the road to the left, a couple of them on their side, with police already there. A truck and three of us twisted and turned on that slippery slope and made it past without hitting anyone or ending up in the ditch.
Sigh of relief...then a huge sign that said in "capitals" TRUCKERS SLOW DOWN...
Just then we watched a Semi pulling two containers swerving in the wind trying to get control. We waited until he slowed enough to get control a then floored our gas and passed him. We had to do that several time and at times the road was covered with blown snow. There were a number of accidents on the way.
The only accident photo I took with my iPad is shown above. It was blurry, but it gives you the idea of what it was like.
Once in New York things calmed down, once in Buffalo all was good and the wind had slowed, we crossed the border and headed home. When we got to the house I wanted to kiss the ground but that might have been over kill. 
We were home. We were safe. We were tired. We know that traveling in the winter can be stressful.
We unpacked the car, our best friends come over for a chat with a bottle of wine, and when they left we vegged until it was time to go to bed.
Sigh...We are Home.
I am grateful we made it home in one piece and life goes on.
Have you ever been on the highway when it was hellish?
.
We were home. We were safe. We were tired. We know that traveling in the winter can be stressful.
We unpacked the car, our best friends come over for a chat with a bottle of wine, and when they left we vegged until it was time to go to bed.
Sigh...We are Home.
I am grateful we made it home in one piece and life goes on.
Have you ever been on the highway when it was hellish?
.40 people like this
42 responses
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
21 Feb 16
I prefer to take three days to do that drive but hubby was in a hurry to beat the rain we expected so I said ok, lets travel longer and make it two days. I'm glad I had only two hellish days and not three..
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 16
@PainsOnSlate I'm with your hubby on that - better to have two longer days than three shorter, even if the traffic and weather conditions are terrible.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112764)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Feb 16
Holy SHEETS of ICE, that is not the kind of road I'd wanna be on at anytime.
About the worst kind of hellish situation I tried to drive in was when we got a freak snow storm on Loop 375 as I was heading up the mountain, I ended up stalled behind so many others also stalled because we were on side of the road that goes up and naturally no one round here has snow tires so many of us began traveling back wards, we were inching our way backwards actually. That was back in 2010, and the only part of El Paso that got any kind of freezing weather was a stretch we call Northeast El Paso. When I finally got outta that mess 2 hours had passed by and I'd only traveled a total of 5 miles. For me that was enough to make me want to simply stay home at even the slightest mention of POSSIBLE snow and I am careful about the weather in the mountain pass, it's always different than the rest of the county.
3 people like this
@rebelann (112764)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Feb 16
I've heard CO gets some really nasty road conditions in winter @PainsOnSlate but I also thought Canada wood too.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
@rebelann yes its bad here but the difference is here is home, we don't have to travel when its lousy.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
21 Feb 16
Colorado did that to us a few times, although we traveled with chains and just put them on to continue.
3 people like this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
21 Feb 16
That must be scary for you. Good thing you are safe.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
21 Feb 16
It was scary and I am glad to be home too.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
21 Feb 16
What brave people you are taking to the road and driving such long hours and such a long way.
You are blessed to have made it home safely my friend..glad you did.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
22 Feb 16
@PainsOnSlate I like going by car, but I dont know anymore, roads are crazy Paints. Your welcome friend.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
21 Feb 16
Yes and that is exactly why we are extending our stay here until it is spring!! I hate that kind of weather.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
22 Feb 16
@PainsOnSlate Charlotte, NC is one of the bad ones we have to deal with or Washington DC if we go the other route.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
21 Feb 16
We watched the news and no mention of the snow. The city problems was just speed and not paying attention. We try to avoid the rush hour but got caught this time,
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
22 Feb 16
Oh don't get me started!! I have had so many hellish trips it would take a month to write about them. It's one reason I refuse to drive back to Florida after Christmas with my kids who live in Dayton and Cincinnati until it is snow free the entire way. Sometimes I'm there until mid January! I can only do that because I'm retired.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
We 're retired too but had a deadline to get back for business so we had no choice but to carry on.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
22 Feb 16
@PainsOnSlate Yes, that is when it's really tough. I felt for you as I read your post.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160491)
• United States
22 Feb 16
From time to time. My first husband was a trucker, he saw lots of days like that. We try to always take it slow and steady. We were only gone for the weekend and feel very relieved to be home and relaxing.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
We were gone for almost two months, but we had a deadline of when we had to be back for business so we couldn't go slow and easy, we knew there was going to be bad weather but we thought we would beat it, we didn't miss it.
1 person likes this
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
21 Feb 16
Glad you had a safe trip home, and that you were not involved in any of the accidents.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
We loved Panama City and Panama City Beach. We found the best ever oyster bars and visited them often. We were happy to get home safe and sound. Thanks!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
21 Feb 16
Glad you are home safe . We stopped going to SC for vacations because I hate I-75 thru Atlanta.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
We were able to by pass Atlanta but the traffic was as bad on the alternate roads as the main one would be. I don't blame you but don't you miss SC?
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
22 Feb 16
@PainsOnSlate I asked the locals about 285 and they said it's worse than 75. Yes I miss SC, I'm thinking we might go this year, maybe stay two weeks to make up for not going last year.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
21 Feb 16
It was a big mess. we left on Thursday and got home on Friday.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
21 Feb 16
@PainsOnSlate At least you avoided the horrible accidents and are safely home. Whew!
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
21 Feb 16
I could feel the tension in my body, it was certainly not a comfortable drive.
1 person likes this
@dianadee (1778)
• South Africa
21 Feb 16
@PainsOnSlate This type of trip on the road.. hope will never be repeated.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
It is frighting to witness one. We saw so many I never want to see one again.
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Feb 16
Oh yes many many times. I'm glad you made it home. Those trucks can be so scary and I would have taken my chances and passed him too.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
We're no daredevils but if we can legally go 65, the trucks are only going 55 and that's time wasted. A few time I had white knuckles when we pass but our vehicle is brand new and powerful and hubby is a good driver. You can't be shy on the highway...
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Feb 16
@PainsOnSlate No you can't be shy on a highway. It's best to pass those trucks if you can, it they crash or lose control on the slick highway chances are you are already past that danger.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
21 Feb 16
Oh my! @PainsOnSlate , what a trip home, sheesh! I am glad you and your husband got back home safely! Minus a few nerves. On a road trip to the coast, we also, got stuck in bad traffic, pouring rain, high winds, and struggled to find the loo, when we got to the coast we were so happy, likewise when we got back home, and there truly is no place like home.
2 people like this
@sallypup (60805)
• Centralia, Washington
21 Feb 16
Your account gives me the deep shivers. Years ago I was in a little station wagon with a bunch of family- my brother driving. Dumb people had to travel cause of a Christmas celebration. It was my sister's car. The rod off the steering wheel that controls the windshield wipers fell off!!! just as snow began falling. Brother turned the car around. Brother in law lent him a screw driver. We headed back down the highway, sister working the screw driver as brother drove. We had a little Pass to go through and semis were sliding sideways there. Brother got all of us through, Mom hanging onto me in the back seat.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
Yup, ours wasn't that bad but I felt the same way when we finally got home. I was so happy to be home. That ride of yours sounds like a nightmare.
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
Anytime you can avoid an accident is a good day. The photo is a long hill with frozen Lake Erie at the top. The roads were wet there because of drifting snow.
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
We traveled only on the big highways and it was a matter of rush hour, and bad drivers that caused all those accidents, there were more than I've ever seen on one section of road. When we got to the snow drifts and wind, the accidents were because of the weather.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Feb 16
Yes! And th reason you left P.C Florida is because you must have meet Tony`s sister there :) she lives there and that is why I no longer vacation in P.C.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
Oh Oh, she sound like trouble. I met some women in the pool and enjoyed chatting with women again because I was missing my YMCA buddies...and then one of them wouldn't stop talking, she was opinionated and so proud of her every word that came out of her mouth I stopped going to the pool in the afternoon...could that be Tony's sister?
