glenn
Jan 22nd, 2006, 11:09 pm
It has taken me a while to sit down and write this. It has probably been one of the most profound experiences in my life, partly because it also involved my wife.
My wife and I were headed to the CCR this past summer and I had wanted to take the Lolo Pass road from Idaho to Montana, 77 miles of curves and all that. We made it up and over the pass and were in the part where it starts to level out with the river running alongside the road. Beautiful road.
About 1/4 to 1/2 mile ahead I see this car backing up- pulling forward, operating rather strangely. I watch as the driver finally stops 1/2 in the road, gets out, and starts waving his arms frantically. I start to slow but am a little concerned as I cannot see anything wrong. I pull to a stop just behind his car. In a very excited voice he tells me "I saw it happen, I looked in my mirror and saw you coming, and I knew you wouldn't see it, I had to stop you." I'm thinking SEE WHAT? Then I saw it, stretched clear across the road, shoulder high, a 1/2 inch steel electric power line. It blended so well into the background that from 20-25 feet away it wasn't readily visible.
Apparently a large truck that had just passed me in the opposite direction had some how snagged the line and knocked it off the pole. We both went into a state of shock. I could only mutter something like "you just saved our lives."
Just as I said that we heard loud poping coming from the river bank. Off to the side the power line was touching ground and was starting a fire. Flames were rapidly spreading in the dry grass and shooting up a tall pine tree. We had the start of a forest fire here. Some folks came running out of the homes across the bridge and we formed a bucket brigade from the river, trying to form a wet perimeter around the fire. Flames were halfway up the 75 foot tree. Fortunately it was out by itself somewhat, keeping the fire contained to the one tree for the moment.
I was thinking how surreal this whole thing was as we passed the water buckets, when I saw the wires in the water. The power line had some shredded support lines dangling from the main line into the water. I told the lady standing shin deep in the river to get out now. We had to let the fire burn.
I walked back to my bike, looking for the driver that had stopped me, I wanted to thank him again. He was gone.
I knew once emergency crews arrived there would be no way they would let me pass the power line. So I tucked the antenna down, crossed over to the other side of the road, and rode down to dirt bank a little to get on the other side of the cable. Fortunately, the power line didn't drop down more.
There were plenty of people standing around watching the flames with more arriving. We didn't particularily feel like sticking around and talking with anyone at that point, so we rode off to Missoula.
I've had a lot of time to reflect on this and consider all the "what ifs." One of those "what ifs" is that there are people out there that care about other people.
And on that particular day my guardian angle was driving a car.
As a footnote, when we arrived in Missoula we decided we needed a drink. There was a nice looking resturant that looked like it would fit the bill. We ordered a meal first, then found out the resturant was dry. Damn. Went across the street to the Safeway and got a bottle of brandy.
My wife and I were headed to the CCR this past summer and I had wanted to take the Lolo Pass road from Idaho to Montana, 77 miles of curves and all that. We made it up and over the pass and were in the part where it starts to level out with the river running alongside the road. Beautiful road.
About 1/4 to 1/2 mile ahead I see this car backing up- pulling forward, operating rather strangely. I watch as the driver finally stops 1/2 in the road, gets out, and starts waving his arms frantically. I start to slow but am a little concerned as I cannot see anything wrong. I pull to a stop just behind his car. In a very excited voice he tells me "I saw it happen, I looked in my mirror and saw you coming, and I knew you wouldn't see it, I had to stop you." I'm thinking SEE WHAT? Then I saw it, stretched clear across the road, shoulder high, a 1/2 inch steel electric power line. It blended so well into the background that from 20-25 feet away it wasn't readily visible.
Apparently a large truck that had just passed me in the opposite direction had some how snagged the line and knocked it off the pole. We both went into a state of shock. I could only mutter something like "you just saved our lives."
Just as I said that we heard loud poping coming from the river bank. Off to the side the power line was touching ground and was starting a fire. Flames were rapidly spreading in the dry grass and shooting up a tall pine tree. We had the start of a forest fire here. Some folks came running out of the homes across the bridge and we formed a bucket brigade from the river, trying to form a wet perimeter around the fire. Flames were halfway up the 75 foot tree. Fortunately it was out by itself somewhat, keeping the fire contained to the one tree for the moment.
I was thinking how surreal this whole thing was as we passed the water buckets, when I saw the wires in the water. The power line had some shredded support lines dangling from the main line into the water. I told the lady standing shin deep in the river to get out now. We had to let the fire burn.
I walked back to my bike, looking for the driver that had stopped me, I wanted to thank him again. He was gone.
I knew once emergency crews arrived there would be no way they would let me pass the power line. So I tucked the antenna down, crossed over to the other side of the road, and rode down to dirt bank a little to get on the other side of the cable. Fortunately, the power line didn't drop down more.
There were plenty of people standing around watching the flames with more arriving. We didn't particularily feel like sticking around and talking with anyone at that point, so we rode off to Missoula.
I've had a lot of time to reflect on this and consider all the "what ifs." One of those "what ifs" is that there are people out there that care about other people.
And on that particular day my guardian angle was driving a car.
As a footnote, when we arrived in Missoula we decided we needed a drink. There was a nice looking resturant that looked like it would fit the bill. We ordered a meal first, then found out the resturant was dry. Damn. Went across the street to the Safeway and got a bottle of brandy.