Thursday, February 19, 2009

The drive from hell!

Short story: We left Disneyland for home on Monday 2/16 at 10:30am. we got home Tue 2/17 at 1pm. Disneyland is only a 6 hour drive from us!

Long story of what happened: Well we learned that California is not prepared for snow and has no idea what to do when it does snow. We where driving on I5 going home Monday morning. We where getting a big storm coming in with lots of rain and some snow in the low mountains. We fingered we would have to pull over and buy chains at some point but NEVER thought I5 would be so unprepared for snow that they would just shut down the interstate all together. We where driving on 5 for about a hour and half when we came to the closer. We got pulled off on to this exit and made to go back down 5 towards LA. We where able to get a map (a crappy map but a map non the less). We had to drive back down 5 a hour from where we just came to hop on to 101 that goes up the cost. Well guess what so did everyone else.
From the time we left Disneyland it took us 10 hours to get to San Louis Obispo (for those who don't know San louis is only a 2 hour drive from Disneyland). It was dark and raining so hard the whole time we where on the road. We saw about 15 car accidents a few with flipped cars (one was a huge Tahoe too) and lots of Semi's vs Car wrecks too, one car we think hit a animal and the windshield was completely caved in. Needless to say by 9pm with the rain, traffic up the yin yang and people driving crazy Mick and I were in full blown panic mode!
So we decided to do the smart thing and pull off and stay the night at a motel. I'm so glad we did!

In the morning we found out that not only was I5 closed but so where 2 other big freeways that run along side I5 so EVERYONE had to take 101, but parts of 101 where getting closed due to flooding.

We tried once again for home at 8:30am and finally made it home safe and sound at about 1pm. It still took us longer then it should have due to really bad rain again, but we made it and that's all that matters.

I have always known I had some great friends but i cant tell you all how much you mean to me. I feel so blessed for all of you. I'm sorry we don't have cell phones (yet) and made you all worry about us. Melissa B., Sarah J., Ann, Stephanie, Kamie you all rock! O and Sarah thanks for giving us some time before you put a APB out on our rental :). Its nice to know that if we ever went missing someone would notice.
We love you guys :)

3 comments:

Kathryn said...

HOLY-COW! I'm sorry you had to endure that!

I don't know what is up with Californian's and rain/snow. You'd think there was a hurricane or something by the way people act on the road!

Sarah Junsay said...

Don't ever scare us like that again! Next time, you're taking my cell phone if you don't have one already!!

Stephanie said...

I'm so glad you and your family are safe. I've never been happier to see you at Joy School.