Neanderpundit

Every northerner knows it, and knows how treacherous it is.

below 20 degrees, which is when black ice is worst, is where salt won’t work anyway, which is why the road crews here use calcium chloride. It works below zero F, and will help keep the roads clear, but too much will hose up the road.

North they use sand and clinker, because the point is not to melt the ice but to provide traction. And that it does, barely. At that point it becomes about skill.

Several years back we were on our way back from Canada, in the middle of winter. The roads were black ice all the way, but traffic was moving fairly well. The wife was driving, and we crested a hill to see the road full of stopped cars. She took the Explorer from 50 to a dead stop in less time than it takes to clench your butt, and while the car went sideways all the damned way, she was in control the whole time.

because she knew how to drive.

I myself have never driven in an actual hurricane, though I have driven close enough to a big twister to see it. I have not driven through the desert alone, and I would not. I have few enough hours on a motorcycle that I wouldn’t even attempt to ride one- well, anywhere, anymore.

I know what my limitations are. I have driven around roadblocks onto roads that snowplows won’t hazard. I drove, winter and summer, nearly 700 miles each way to visit the Ogwife when she was the Og Girlfriend. We drove those roads together, after marriage. She drove a Uhaul full of her posessions through a miserable winter, unloaded it at our home, and drove it back the same night, a 1400 mile round trip without so much as a nap, fueled by caffeine and nicotine, driving an unfamiliar vehicle. we were both so broke we couldn’t pay attention.

I don’t drive beyond my limitations, or the limitations of my vehicle. I have a truckload of shit that helps me to be prepared for whatever might occur. I am still paranoid, and always assume I have forgotten something.

What on earth makes people go out in shit they KNOW they can’t handle? Sit tight, people. It’ will all be over in a day. Better to get to know Ajit at the Quickee Mart than to have your ride crushed on the interstate. You have a cellphone, call home and make sure they stay there too.

I saw and enjoyed at the Shot Show was Harris Bipods. The rifle I’m building will have a bipod- maybe even need one- and it’s gonna be a Harris. I like the fact that I can attach and detach via the sling swivels, I like the heavy duty sling swivels they sell, and I really like the people. Mrs Harris sat at the booth and smiled at everyone while demonstrating the product, and every time I walked past with a tray full of lattes they wolf whistled at me. Most attention I’ve gotten from any woman not my mom in half a century.

yes, I know it was the lattes but still.

Seems to have had some issues.

I get that it’s not usual for them to have this sort of weather, but around here, there are drifts sometimes as tall as a man- down there, you could have pulled up the hood on your hoodie and walked home through all 2″ of snow. Anyway, I hope everyone made it home safe with little damage to person or property.

Also, I have to say, there is NOTHING like having an AWD vehicle which has the oomph to seriously overpower the drivetrain going 60 down an icy road sideways with all four tires throwing up roostertails of slush while the 50something owner grins like Alex in Clockwork orange. if you have ever watched Mika Hakkinen flick and you didn’t involuntarily stomp your foot down on an imaginary accelerator, you will never understand.