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Old 05-07-2015, 11:12 AM   #1
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"Gumption trap"....

For those familiar with Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" the term gumption trap is explained in detail. Planning this trip to Osoyoos does not happen in a week, but months or preparation. After a horrendous snowy winter, spring has sprung here on the eastern part of the US. But out in the midsection, "Tornado Alley" as it is known as, storms are brewing. It appears that mother nature is creating a gumption trap for those planning on traversing the middle part of the US. The area extends from the Gulf coast up to the Canadian border and is about 1000 miles wide. I remember as a child having to cross the desert southwest at night since daytime temperatures were too hard on the family car which did not have air conditioning.
Similarly now It seems that I'll have to make a quick 1,000 mile dash to try and escape from the tornados that are popping up. This is causing some route changes as well as rearranging over night stops to avoid having to stop within the "Alley" for rest, particularly during the times from 3 pm until 3am. Once in New Mexico, I can breath a sigh of relief. Hopefully others are carefully watching the horizon for issues while traveling.
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Old 05-07-2015, 11:36 AM   #2
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Are you heading from Pennsylvania to Osoyoos, BC via New Mexico?
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Old 05-07-2015, 12:03 PM   #3
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Jim. A wise man told me a little while back to "Follow the weather". We watch the radar and the forecasts religiously. We sometimes divert from our planned route and departure times each day. Might have to go harder one day and lay low the next. Having lived in the upper midwest for 65 of my 67 years, I've seen tornadoes, worked tornado damaged trees in direct hit towns, and had a classmate lose everything but his life in the Parkersburg, Iowa tornado a few years ago. Tornadoes, like floods, hurricanes, forest fires and other natural disasters need to be respected, not feared. That's my take on tornadoes, pay attention, be prepared and keep a full gas tank. Hammer down or Whoa pony whatever it takes. Don't park under Interstate bridges, the tunnel effect will sandblast your rig at the least and flip you around at the worst.
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Old 05-07-2015, 12:25 PM   #4
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Hi: cpaharley2008... Last year coming back from Osoyoos we got chased across the "Alley" by a serious weather front. Each night it caught up to us...each day we got ahead of it.
Just remember not all sunsets are this nice, and your round of travel sickness last year!!! Alf
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Old 05-07-2015, 01:24 PM   #5
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Maybe you should consider driving to Osoyoos mostly through Canada Jim, skirt the North side of the Great Lakes on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Or alternatively, just pick a route through the US that avoids the worst tornado areas.
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Old 05-07-2015, 03:17 PM   #6
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Old 05-07-2015, 04:03 PM   #7
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Some good advice and levity also....unfortunately we have to stop in California on the way out for a brief family visit. Ergo the New Mexico route....
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Old 05-07-2015, 04:06 PM   #8
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Maybe you should consider driving to Osoyoos mostly through Canada Jim, skirt the North side of the Great Lakes on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Or alternatively, just pick a route through the US that avoids the worst tornado areas.
Hi: ice-breaker... I think he wants to go to Osoyoos via Caulifornia so the north route isn't any use to him!!! Alf
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Old 05-07-2015, 05:09 PM   #9
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gumption trap

I was towing the 13 Scamp from OK to CO and then West in '83 with a Ford Model A roadster hot rod with two kids and us. We had to hide/park under gas station covers numerous times to avoid weather, just thunder storms. Not near as bad as when I left Minneapolis in a Boeing for Salt Lake, again middle of summer. I took on extra fuel and used my radar looking for access through the 50 to 60,000 high build ups, by the time I could turn West I was over OK and an hour late arriving, but the ride was good. This is the reasons we now live in AZ and leave for BC or where ever in the summer.
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Old 05-07-2015, 05:47 PM   #10
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Ah, the wise man speaks.
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Old 05-07-2015, 05:55 PM   #11
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I suppose you have fixed dates for CA or you could do the trip the other way around.
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Old 05-07-2015, 06:28 PM   #12
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Hi: ice-breaker... I think he wants to go to Osoyoos via Caulifornia so the north route isn't any use to him!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
Hi Alf- are you calling the Golden State by the nickname associated with the previous regime? The Governator has gone back to Hollywood and the Moon(beam) has risen again. Let's hope he can shake the can & find some $$$ to fix the roads
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Old 05-07-2015, 06:39 PM   #13
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Out of curiosity what happens to the roads in southern CA? Can't be pot holes from the freeze/thaw cycles.
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Old 05-07-2015, 06:43 PM   #14
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Out of curiosity what happens to the roads in southern CA? Can't be pot holes from the freeze/thaw cycles.
Hi: padlin... They don't need to build "Speed bumps". The pot holed roads will shake your can...and slow you down. Alf
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Old 05-07-2015, 06:54 PM   #15
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could be earthquake ripples??
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Old 05-07-2015, 07:04 PM   #16
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Out of curiosity what happens to the roads in southern CA? Can't be pot holes from the freeze/thaw cycles.
It is simple, millions upon millions of drivers and no road maintenance.

Grant
X-Californian
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Old 05-07-2015, 07:56 PM   #17
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could be earthquake ripples??
Some are indeed ripples in the roadway due to earth movement. And you don't even need an E-ticket.
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Old 05-07-2015, 11:08 PM   #18
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For those familiar with Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" the term gumption trap is explained in detail. Hopefully others are carefully watching the horizon for issues while traveling.
Well you can do that and sometimes forecasts can be precise and accurate. But Mother Nature is a force that can also smack you unpredictably no matter what.

I was sailing in the Adriatic and a Bora (North wind) started to increase in force so I went up a river with high protected banks. Then the wind shifted to a Sirocco from the South. Up anchor, shift to the protected side. Then a forest fire fanned by the new wind moved closer and jumped the canyon up ahead. Up anchor and head for open water. Then the lightening started hitting close by. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse we saw the water spout headed towards us Lucky for us we managed to evade it but I've long accepted that you should try to use good judgement and plan things but when Mother Nature catches you out she can ruin your day.

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Old 05-07-2015, 11:17 PM   #19
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Oh, my gosh, you must be glad to be out in your trailer!
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