DUST STORM

OUR DRIVE TO WORK CUTS THROUGH THE MOHAVE INDIAN RESERVATION.  BEAUTIFUL IRRIGATED HAY FIELDS OR COTTON FIELDS, IT’S A NINE MILE TRIP.

THE OTHER NIGHT AFTER WORK WE WERE HAVING A MONSOON EVENT AND ADMIRING THE LIGHTENING OFF TO THE SOUTH OF US.  SUDDENLY THE WIND PICKED UP AND THE TUMBLE WEEDS WERE CUTTING ACROSS THE ROAD IN OUR HEAD LIGHTS.

AS WE MADE A LEFT TURN HEADED DUE EAST BETWEEN THE FIELDS, THE WIND REALLY PICKED UP, WITH THE WIND OUT OF THE SOUTH.  ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS AN OPEN FIELD THAT HAD JUST BEEN CHISEL PLOWED AND WORKED UP FOR PLANTING.

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE THE VISIBILITY WENT TO ZERO AND I SWEAR THE WIND MOVED THE HONDA HALF OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE SEEN SUCH A DUST STORM.  THE FIELD WAS LITERALLY BLOWING ACROSS THE ROAD!

WE COULD NOT SEE OR MOVE.  WE JUST SAT THEIR HALF OFF THE ROAD WAITING FOR THE NEXT CAR TO COME ALONG AND PLOW RIGHT INTO US. WE LITERALLY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO?  WE COULD BOTH TASTE THE DUST AND ALL THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED TIGHT.

AFTER A LONG 10 OR 15 MINUTES AND TWO OTHER CARS LINED UP BEHIND US HALF OFF THE ROAD, WE MANAGED TO SLOWLY DO A U-TURN AND HEAD BACK THE WAY WE CAME AND WENT THE LONG WAY HOME.

IT WAS OUR FIRST DUST STORM, AND A SCARY EVENT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT UNCLE HANS WILL BE ALONG IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WITH A STORM STORY OF HIS OWN FROM WISCONSIN.

BE SAFE OUT THERE !