You know, we’re doing fine up here on the mountain! We’ve got snow! We’ve got rainbows! We’ve got food in the larder! It’s all great until you have to actually GO somewhere. That’s right, folks, it’s Mud Season. And this year, just for kicks, we’re getting TWO mud seasons; the present one is just the prelim; the preview, the wake-up call, for the real deal that will come along some time in May.
Mud. Can’t go around it, can’t go under it. Gotta go through it, just like in Going on a Bear Hunt. It creeps up and surprises you, some time around mid-day, when the dirt road gets unfrozen. “Greasy” is the term the locals use. As in, “watch out up there on Pike Hill, the road’s gettin’ greasy”. You will soon find out that’s just a sweet way of saying you’re about to lose all control of your vehicle because this is one time that the road is the boss. The road has the last word as to where your car will go. Trust me-one minute you’re just driving along on the right side of the road, as you should be, and all of the sudden, your car is over THERE, and the words coming out of your mouth are very colorful indeed.
My son has friends coming over to visit tomorrow, and I found out they don’t drive a truck or a Subaru like everyone else; no, by golly, they drive a Prius. Gulp. I’m sorry, kid, the road is going to EAT your car for breakfast! In fact, you might get down in one of them ruts and just never get out until summer. So yeah, Mom-taxi here has to venture down the mountain in her truck, praying that 4WD wins the battle!
Reminds me of a memory from half a century ago, when I was a little kid exploring with my mom. The VW bus (of course that’s what we drove!!!) got mired down way off on a dirt road to nowhere…..Mom was probably looking for either day-lilies to dig up or old cellar-holes to explore. We walked forever, knocking on random strangers’ doors, until we found someone to pull us out with their tractor. See hubby? Another reason I need a tractor. To get things/us/hapless sightseers unstuck!!
Anyway, mud season. Watch out!!