We’re having an interesing day here for March 1. This morning, it was practically a snowstorm. By noon, although the temperature had only gone up one degree, the snow had morphed into pouring rain. We don’t usually see rain like this in my neck of the woods in early March.
Anyway, I was driving Nate to work, and I could tell the right lane was fairly badly flooded in spots, so I stuck to the left lane. I thought this was precaution enough. However, as we were coming down one fairly busy stretch, there must have been a very large puddle in that right lane that I couldn’t see well enough. There was a van in the right lane about 1.5 car lengths ahead of me and a truck in my lane about 2.5 car lengths ahead of me; the truck must’ve been blocking my view of the right lane. All I know is, that van hit the “puddle” (more like a pond), and it sent tire spray the likes of which I have never seen before heading directly at our car. For what seemed like an eternity, it felt like being in the rinse cycle of a car wash. My windshield was flooded, and I could literally see n.o.t.h.i.n.g. Except cascading water. I had no idea if I was still headed straight or how close I was to the vehicle in front of me. I also had no idea how long it would be before I could see again.
In the end, it only lasted 2-3 seconds. But I have never been so scared behind the wheel of a car before in my life. My brain simply went blank as I instinctively gripped the wheel tightly, gently pressed my brakes (I didn’t want to press too hard and spin out), and hoped with every fiber of my being that I was still headed straight ahead. Thank goodness I was.
