This was an AP photo of Valley Motors in Winona (SE Mn)... I'd think its time to relocate and change the name to....maybe...Hilltop Motors. In all seriousness, it was a major rainstorm with 12 plus inches coming down in a very short period of time, causing some deaths. We had about 7in. here. Any HAMB members effected by the storm? Madison Wi must have been a washout....St. Cloud swap was good!
we're ok the hailstorm did not get anything good here at our place... but we did decide to reroof our cabin this week tear off started last week... first in 3 months with rain
Goodguys Madison show was PERFECT on Friday all day and evening for the headquarters party, lots of cool cars and a good band. We only got 2 hours w/o rain on Sat. AM, then rained all day, not hard but enuf. Rainin Sunday AM, so we left for home. Water was over the road bout a half hour south of Madison, for 300 feet or so and 8-12 iches deep. We drove thru it OK after we saw an S-10 pickup go thru. Lots of water runnin/sittin in Wisconsin, hardly any in Illinois. Hope all are OK.
Uh...none... in Illinois? Really? Might be cause I live a block from the Fox River, but I've got a new indoor pool in my basement. Crap.
All the details will be told in Day 16 of our little Salt Cured HAMB Tour BUT we got caught right in the middle of that on Saturday nite. The rain was coming down so hard on the freeway I was doing less in 35 MPH with my flashers on and still was having a real tough time seeing the road. After about an hour I couldn't take it any longer and we got off at an exit that had a sign for hotels. Little did we know till we got to the top of the exit that the hotels were located 6 miles north on a twisty, turny mountain road, AND was in Winona Between the previous nights experience in Rapid City and this one in the south eastern part of MN, well lets just say it wasn't a pleasent 24 hours. We had to stop at 4 hotels in Winona before we found a room AND we got the very last one. Rain came down hard all nite. When we went down for breakfast the hotel had signs up all over about highways that had been closed due to mudslides and flash flooding. Found out about the deaths on the news. We made out way back to the interstate and continued to head east for home. Not a pleasent drive at all. Top that off with WI folks who drive like assholes and I could really care less if I ever pass through that state again. (of course none of these asshole drivers that we encountered we HAMB folks)
Denise! Don't be so harsh! As a god fearing Wisconsin boy you're tearin' my heart out! To be honest, I think you'll find the kind of drivers you're describing just about everywhere. It was always my opinion that Wisconsin folks were some of the better citizens out on the roadways, but I am biased, and like I said it is only my opinion. Later, Thor
I'm with Denise on this one. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say that WI folks "drive like assholes," they do appear to have dropped the passing lane rules of the road off the driver's training curriculum permanently. Maybe dumbasses, but not assholes.
My wife and kids were in Milwaukee this weekend. I was home alone,Thank god. I live in the Kickapoo valley between the Wis. river and the Kickapoo river.The town ,Soldiersgrove, got hit hard. State of emergency,cant get in or out of town. We have power now and everyone's fine.totaled my nice basement.No big deal.Were all alright. Every day above ground is great. Chuck
Nuroadsir - thanks for the pic of Valley Motors. I was walking that lot a couple of weeks ago with my brother in law, who lives nearby and works law enforcement in the area. He's been busy the last couple of days; rescued some folks with the airboat, etc. BTW, Witoka, MN, just a few miles away from Winona, got 17" in 24 hours.
My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in the storms and subsequent flooding. The Salt-Cured HAMB Tour really dodged a bullet getting through Winona - it could have been so much worse for us. I drove through so much rain that I finally feel like I've been baptized into the world of roadsters!
"Top that off with WI folks who drive like assholes and I could really care less if I ever pass through that state again. HMMMMM !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty harsh and pretty all inclusive !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Must never have driven in Michigan. Maybe it is a good idea to stay away. ( I can be harsh and all inclusive also). BB
I SAID it doesn't include HAMB folks I'm sure. The constant tailgating and cutting off was like nothing I've ever experienced before....not even in California.
Hey Denice, sounds like you got your area wrong, probably foggy from long hrs behind the wheel, you were actually in Chicago. LOL
After seeing the Valley Motors photo, I have to ask: Couldn't anyone from there move those cars into the upper lot? You can't say you didn't know the rain was coming!
No, she isn't telling a fib, I was witness. People were cutting off Big Olds like nothing I had ever seen before. It was like it had a sign on the back that said "pull in front of me then slam on your brakes". Actually I would guess that they didn't have much time. Tman called us when we left Mt. Rushmore and told us to wait on the west side of Rapid City to avoid the hail. We were sitting in the cars contemplating going in the bar when it literally started to pour buckets, not sprinkle, pour! Once it started it never let up. It was VERY serious rain. Luckily though we dodged the hail. All the way home we saw cars that must have not been so lucky with taped up rear windows, sun roofs, etc.
The owner of Valley moters lives on the other side of the river in Wisconcin. The rain came down during the night and by the time he probably found out, he probably could not get to his car lot due to the many roads closed. I know hwy 61 ( the highway infront of his car lot ) was closed saturday evening due to flooding.
I was running right behind Big Olds and saw (albeit through rain soaked windshield, glasses and eyes) what Megan saw. In fact, there were others that ran less than a car length behind Denise, crept toward the shoulder to see what was in front of her before passing on the right and cutting her off - all in a pouring rain at speed. I'm sure every state has those drivers but it seems all of the Wisconsin chapter was on I-90 Sunday afternoon.
I tagged along behind Denise, Megan, and Larry on my way home from B'ville and I gotta tell you they definitely earned their wings that night. The ONLY way we could see where the road was to look down next to the car and follow the white line going into Winona....when the line wasn't under muddy water. It was just dumb luck that we pulled off the highway when we did because the next morning there were spots where trees and rocks from mudslides had been cleared from the road just ahead of where we pulled off. We'd have probably driven right into them if we'd have kept going. There was still raining a little in the morning. I snapped this pic as we were leaving.
Denise you guys really lucked out. I should have let you know were only 45 minutes off I-90 and Mom and Dad are right on I-90 a couple hours before Winona.....maybe next time through..... I drive I-90 to Madison quite a bit. Once 90 and 94 merge at Tomah it's chaos. I always thought it was the assholes with Illinois plates!
Stopping to visit with your Mom and Dad would have been one of the highlights of the trip. I thought about your whole family, including Steve, alot during this trip and the week prior to leaving as I would have called him, and sent him photos, of Big Olds' new top and of course called him when I got to the Salt like I did in 2003. I miss him. Please say 'hi' to your folks from me.
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