6/20/19 Holding on to a flying COW

A couple days ago we drove from Baker City, Oregon  to Portland, Oregon along Rt 84.    In turns out Rt 84 parallels the Columbia River which cut  a deep canyon through the Cascade Mountains.

As we entered the Dalles (which is part of the Cascade Mountains), the canyon along the river narrowed and the winds increased immensely.  The COW bucked and twisted. I had a death grip on the steering wheel as we were being blown back and forth in our lane.  Sandy grabbed the support bar along side of her chair which left finger print impressions imbedded into the bar.  The wind blew so hard that dirt came into the COW from the outside. The newly installed drivers side window creaked and groaned each time an gust of wind would hit us from the side.

I slowed down the COW to 55 MPH in the 65 MPH zone to get it under control.  For the most part the semi drivers did the same.

When we stopped for Diesel fuel at a Flying J truck stop just off the highway.  I opened the door to go to the pumps and the wind almost launched me out of the COW.  As I pumped fuel I realized a little to late that if the pump did not trip off in time the diesel fuel would go airborne.  I did a quick dodge, but still was the lucky backdrop for some of the overspray.  The wind had launched the overspray 5’ beyond the front of the COW.

As the canyon opened the wind subsided and we were able to make it to our next destination.