The rain from the past few weeks added to the level of the creek and she missed the crossing by five feet. Trying to correct her error, one front wheel sunk into the bank. Now she played the game…reverse, first gear, reverse…rock, spin…repeat. No use arguing with a tire covered in mud. Sloshing up the creek bank on her way to get help, she was glad it was mud and water and not ice and snow. It would undoubtedly be added to the dinner table banter, and living this one down wasn’t going to happen soon.
Crossings are chosen for their safety factor. Safe to move animals from one side to the other. Safe to drive vehicles across. Mother Nature has her own idea of what is safe and what isn’t. All she has to do is add moisture of any kind to make a person question if what was once safe isn’t. Missing signs when you are in comfortable surroundings is bad enough, but missing them when you are on your own away from the comfort zone, can be treacherous and darned right dangerous. Water and mud are bad enough. Ice, snow, and cold temperatures can be killing.
We grew up knowing that whenever you left the house by horseback, on foot, or in a vehicle, we were supposed to go prepared. Extra clothing-ie warm coats, rain coat, and dry socks, matches, string, a chunk of cotton, a piece of wasps’ nest, survey tape, jackknife, and sometimes a firearm, depending on where we were going and/or the season. Snacks and water rounded out the list. Dad used to tell us to carry a deck of cards. If we got lost, we could play solitaire. He said, “Eventually, someone will come along and tell you to put the jack on the queen.” Of course, the time of year made for additions to the list and a lot of time, the items stayed in the vehicle or saddlebag year round.
We let someone know where we were going and when we thought we’d would be back. Return time was always a +/- thing, but at least if it got dark and we weren’t back, someone knew the direction we had headed. Accidents happened, weather changes happened, and silliness sometimes prevailed. All causing the possibility of being alone for several hours, overnight, or days.
As I get older, gravel travel is something I enjoy and often I go alone. When I make a trip to visit friends and family, I tend to shy away from the most travelled routes. Now it is my children who ask me which roads I am going to take, when will I arrive, and when will I return home? Do I have the things I need in case I get stuck and need to be on my own for hours or overnight? Their questions can be annoying, but deep down, it pleases me to know I have taught them well.
We grew up knowing that whenever you left the house by horseback, on foot, or in a vehicle, we were supposed to go prepared. Extra clothing-ie warm coats, rain coat, and dry socks, matches, string, a chunk of cotton, a piece of wasps’ nest, survey tape, jackknife, and sometimes a firearm, depending on where we were going and/or the season. Snacks and water rounded out the list. Dad used to tell us to carry a deck of cards. If we got lost, we could play solitaire. He said, “Eventually, someone will come along and tell you to put the jack on the queen.” Of course, the time of year made for additions to the list and a lot of time, the items stayed in the vehicle or saddlebag year round.
We let someone know where we were going and when we thought we’d would be back. Return time was always a +/- thing, but at least if it got dark and we weren’t back, someone knew the direction we had headed. Accidents happened, weather changes happened, and silliness sometimes prevailed. All causing the possibility of being alone for several hours, overnight, or days.
There were no cell phones, and the truth be known, where I grew up, there are still areas that have no service. You couldn’t check in, and you couldn’t call for help, other than yelling. You relied on your knowledge of your surroundings and what you had been taught to get you through.
As I get older, gravel travel is something I enjoy and often I go alone. When I make a trip to visit friends and family, I tend to shy away from the most travelled routes. Now it is my children who ask me which roads I am going to take, when will I arrive, and when will I return home? Do I have the things I need in case I get stuck and need to be on my own for hours or overnight? Their questions can be annoying, but deep down, it pleases me to know I have taught them well.
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Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life “Capturing moments others may never get to experience.” to edit. |
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September 19, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about mud on the tires. The tires can be from any conveyance or serve as an analogy. How did they get muddy and why? What impact does mud on the tires have on the story (plot) or characters (motivation)? Go where the prompt leads!
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