Due to my travel schedule for work I am often faced with the challenge of making tough decisions based on what the weather masters are presenting. Do I reschedule all of my customers in hopes that their schedules work with my next visit or do I roll the dice and take the risk of being stranded “again” because of inclimate weather? That continues to be one of the toughest questions I’m faced with on a consistent basis during the winter season here in the Midwest.
This trip I made the wrong choice, or so it seems. Flying out Wednesday morning with lunch, afternoon and dinner appts set, I truly believed I could get in and out of South Dakota before the HUGE storm hit. However, this trip was not the one I could beat. After learning my Thursday morning flight was cancelled I quickly ran back to Enterprise and asked for the SUV back and asked if I could drop it off in CR. Not a problem, so I was back on the road heading south on I 29 for Omaha then East to CR. Just about 20 miles north of Sioux City the conditions became utterly unbelievable. We were in complete white out conditions and I literally had to stop dead in the road because I could not see a thing in front, back or on the sides of the SUV. Suddenly the wind calmed and I spotted the Vermillion exit. After a quick call to our travel dept to make hotel arrangements I headed to the local grocery store with the Holiday Inn Express just around the corner. I arrived safely at the Vermillion Holiday Inn Express.
So far I have been able to accomplish several items for work, make future appts and eaten just about every Ho Ho from the vending machine in the hotel lobby. The weather has still caused the interstates to be closed and snow continues to fall. Last word was that I 29 and I 80 might open by Saturday afternoon. Storm Lake and Spencer Iowa received over 13 inches of snow. They haven’t closed I 29 for over 30 yrs and many are saying this is one of the worst blizzards in the past 50 years.
I have guests arriving at my home on Sunday to rehearse for an upcoming concert with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, however, I’m wondering if I will even be home by then. Safety first, that is something which is not negotiable.
To be continued….
This trip I made the wrong choice, or so it seems. Flying out Wednesday morning with lunch, afternoon and dinner appts set, I truly believed I could get in and out of South Dakota before the HUGE storm hit. However, this trip was not the one I could beat. After learning my Thursday morning flight was cancelled I quickly ran back to Enterprise and asked for the SUV back and asked if I could drop it off in CR. Not a problem, so I was back on the road heading south on I 29 for Omaha then East to CR. Just about 20 miles north of Sioux City the conditions became utterly unbelievable. We were in complete white out conditions and I literally had to stop dead in the road because I could not see a thing in front, back or on the sides of the SUV. Suddenly the wind calmed and I spotted the Vermillion exit. After a quick call to our travel dept to make hotel arrangements I headed to the local grocery store with the Holiday Inn Express just around the corner. I arrived safely at the Vermillion Holiday Inn Express.
So far I have been able to accomplish several items for work, make future appts and eaten just about every Ho Ho from the vending machine in the hotel lobby. The weather has still caused the interstates to be closed and snow continues to fall. Last word was that I 29 and I 80 might open by Saturday afternoon. Storm Lake and Spencer Iowa received over 13 inches of snow. They haven’t closed I 29 for over 30 yrs and many are saying this is one of the worst blizzards in the past 50 years.
I have guests arriving at my home on Sunday to rehearse for an upcoming concert with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, however, I’m wondering if I will even be home by then. Safety first, that is something which is not negotiable.
To be continued….
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