Ah, Chai…

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

Friday we got up and were on the road out of Sacramento about 8:30. We’d re-checked the weather online and knew that it was going to be a long day. Conditions in the Siskyous were supposed to be impassable later in the day. The weather pundits were warning travelers to stay away from the pass, that there would be blizzard conditions, and that if you attempted to travel it you should have your water and blankets and other supplies to last a few days because there was a good chance you’d get stuck up there. We also knew we couldn’t go through the Sierras as it was predicted that there would be 12 feet of snow there. The storm was big and it was bad. Our choice… go from Sacramento over to the coast, drive up 101 to Reedsport, Oregon, and then back over to I5 toward home. It adds a long way to what is normally not that bad a trip, but we figured better safe than sorry.

So… we knew it was going to be a long day. And, it was. We started by leaving our hotel in Sacramento and seeing that a tree had come down in the parking lot. Over night the storm had come in and we were experiencing hurricane force gusts. The rain was moving sideways in big sheets… it was a daunting way to start the day. None of us liked it, especially Weston, who said a big NO to trying to do his business out in it. Poor little guy, but who could blame him. Not me, I was out with him holding the leash. He stood it only so long before making a b-line back to our room and then another one out to the car so we could take off.

We drove North on I5 for a bit out of Sacramento, up to Williams and the Hwy 20 cut off to the beach, and while we were driving the wind was blowing so hard… trees were ripped out by the roots at orchards we passed. We also saw a semi-truck laid out on it’s side going south on 5… not sure what happened, but we were betting that either a gust of wind made hydroplaning possible for it, or he’d had to brake and because of all the rain he lost traction. Either way, it wasn’t good. We heard later, after we’d gotten off I5 that parts of I5 were actually closed at times on Friday. Before getting off of it we stopped in Woodland, a bit north of Sacramento on I5, to fill up on gas, and get some chai and some food for the road. It was bad. Karen went in for the chai and food at Starbucks, I pumped the gas at the gas station. Funny how this picture doesn’t quite do the wind and rain justice. Nice plug for Starbucks though… I’ll expect the check in the mail. Karen said the place was packed. People just trying to be somewhere warm and dry for awhile in all the wet.