Leaving El Paso, Illinois – Monday, 17 February, 2014
Feb 22nd, 2014 by rallyadmin
Last night when I checked in, it was cold and damp. The clerk at the registration desk said there was a winter storm warning for the today, starting at 6AM. Up at 6 and out by 6:30. It’s not snowing yet but there are faint, small snowflakes on the truck and when you look closely you can see the snow in the air. It doesn’t look promising.
On the road north, I stop in Beloit, Illinois for fuel. The sun is up and it doesn’t even look like it’ll snow. I’m headed for probably Fargo, ND or, at least, Minneapolis. Back on the road.
Just as I cross into Wisconsin, the snow starts and in less than 20 miles, it’s really coming down. Soon the snow is bad enough that visibility is getting down to a couple of hundred feet. This could be a long day.
By the time I get to the Wisconsin Dells, the snow is covering the roads and the visibility really sucks. There are occasional cars off the road in the center median and there’s even a semi, upside down of the right side of the road. It must have been a long night.
He snow makes for a long ride but as I get to northern Wisconsin, the snow eases up and the visibility improves. The only upside has been that the traffic has been minimal so it’s been mostly driving with trucks and they, apparently, don’t think much of this snow event. They’re moving right along and I start making good time.
By the time I get to Minneapolis, the snow is stopped and the sun is coming out. The overcast burns off and it turns out that Minneapolis hasn’t gotten much snow at all. The forecast had been for rapid clearing in the Minneapolis area and so it is.
Through Minneapolis and on on to North Dakota.. I egt to Fargo and find a room for the night. I did over 600 miles which is less than yesterday but, with the snow in Wisconsin, it’s been a long day. Tomorrow, into Canada.
Obi-wan