As we headed home an nearly hitting a guardrail in
Summerhill at 40 miles an hour we figured we had used up our luck
for the day and headed for the Turnpike. The weather was getting
worse very quickly as if that were possible. Driving south or west
on US-219 the visibility was around 200 yards at best. So a last
minute call to try US-30 east to Bedford was made. We figured it
would still be somewhat highway. It was a two lane highly travelled
road. As we exited onto 30 there were signs for the Flight 93
Memorial. I was thinking we are this close it would be silly not to
go. We have already almost skidded off the road once, got stuck once
and almost t-boned a guard rail. What on earth was I thinking? As
we went down US-30 there was a sign directing us down Lambertville
Rd. Glad brad caught it, I never saw it. Lambertville Rd is a rural
two lane road that was actually being salted as we went down. It
really looked like a postcard, but we we just hoping to get to this
memorial in one piece. The next directional sign said 1/2 mile to
the memorial and we needed to make a left. We couldn't see much due
to the snow. The road started to grade uphill and the van started to
slide to the side and not go as well forward. At this point I am
beginning to think, WTF I am a half mile from this memorial and
can't get there. After downshifting to low and easing it up the hill
the road leveled out and went down an even steeper hill. Uh oh. We
made it to the memorial and below you will see the tribute which has
been built so far. I we couldn't see much more around the memorial
because of the snow. I am sure its a very nice place when the snow
is gone. After 10 minutes in the blowing snow we figured it was
time to roll. (No disrespect meant towards the victims as "Let's
Roll" was a big phrase used by crash victim Todd Beamer) We started
up that larger hill to go out. After 5 minutes of spinning we were
beginning to think this was going to be where we would spend the
night or call a favor in to a local fire department to yank us over
the hill. We persevered on spinning until Brad came up with the idea
of backing up to the end of the road and trying to get a running
start. He was going to stand behind and add some push if we needed
it. So I dropped the car into low and eased on the gas. Somehow we
got traction and Brad ran behind the car. I was going to slow down
to let him in and he just waved me ahead and tried to run and keep
up. As we reached the top of the small hill he jumped in, I thought
he was going to have a heart attack. Imagine running in single
degress temps with snow and wind blowing in your face. Not fun. |