----- Original Message -----
From: <ElMGeo@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 12:00 PM
Subject: A note 9/18 from Cris
> USFRA's WOS was cancelled due to rain. It rained last week but not too
> bad. Then Sunday it rained again. Ed and I drove out Monday afternoon
> after a big storm swept thru here. High profile vehicles weren't
> allowed to travel west for several hours. Our USFRA crew left SLC early
> in the morning driving into strong headwinds. They just passed the
> Dugway exit when the Highway Patrol stopped westbound vehicles from
> crossing the west desert.
> When we got to the end of the access road, the whole end of the salt
> past the
> access road was underwater. We didn't need to unload the car to drive
> out and check out the courses.
> Tues morning Gary Allen & Gary Wilkinson were going to drive out and
>
> check out the courses. I and several others wanted to see for ourselves
> so we jumped in the back of his truck.
> Treading water with our frog feet and paddles, we headed towards
> what was to be our starting line. (Same one used during Speedweek).
> One lonly pole sticking up in a sea of water was the only indication of
> where we were. Three or four miles down couse, the salt was out of
> water but wet.
> Where's the black line, I asked? Where is any black line? For the
> longest time we couldn't see any black lines. Once out of water and
> approaching dryer salt, we did pick up the black line but it was not
> very visable. The further we drove, the
> dryer it got. If we were to race on any salt we would have to have the
> course
> resurveyed and restripped. I'm hoping when the salt dries out, the line
> will be more visable.
> On the mountain side of the track was a long ribbon of water. If any
>
> wind came up, this water could easily blow back onto the long course.
> As we stood there in our heavy winter coats, we could see dark
> clouds rolling in and around the backside of the mountains. As we
> looked around us in all directions, we were surrounded by low
> threatening clouds. The sun was trying to peek thru, but this wasn't to
> be.
> We watched the storm sweep up and over the mountains dumping sheets
> of rain. The mountains were soon invisible. Low hovering clouds above
> us started to spit rain as if to give warning to get off the salt. As
> we looked at each other, you couldn't tell what was rain drops or our
> own tears.
> It was at this time Gary turned his truck around and started heading
> back to the end of the access road. He had a serious urge to speed up
> rather quickly as those of us riding in the back did not want to get
> caught in a downpour.
> Rain continued to fall on and off the rest of the day, from
> sprinkles to light rain with some wind. The sun would peek thru then
> clouds would sweep overhead
> followed by more rain and wind.
> I hung around till 3p.m. and was told another storm was moving in.
> If I
> were to get back to Salt Lake before the next storm, I would have to
> leave immediately.
> I packed up my gear, loaded the car behind the motorhome and headed
> back to Dodge. I made it home before Ed got out of work. About an hour
> or two later the 2nd storm hit Salt Lake with thunder, lightening and
> more rain.
> Wed: Today it is in the 50's and rain fell most of the night and
> early morning hours. Predictions of low temp throughout the week. Our
> event just couldn't get mother
> nature's cooperation. See ya next weekend or next event. luv, cris
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