Best Laid Plans, and Mother Nature

I left my house at 4:30 am this morning, to go to Boise.  Was giving a presentation Monday on the McNair research my adviser, Scott, and I did last year and the paper we wrote which will be published May 2011. 

However, instead of being in Boise as planned,  I am back at my house.  Made it to Medford. Flight left at 9:25 AM, I got there at 9:40 AM.  The plane did not wait for me.  :)  It's a 4 hour drive, 3 hours in really good weather with no traffic and no problems and an excellent driver.  So how did I rack up an extra hour and ten minutes?    The short answer is, horrible weather, car problems, and an average to below-average driver!

Long answer:

1. Huge Storm.
2. Cliffs along Smith River between Crescent City and Cave Junction were saturated with water after drying out all summer.
3. Cliffs spit rocks onto roadway. Sharp, hard rocks.
4. At 6:30 am, Caltrans rock sweepers have not gone by.
5. Cars coming towards me, and cars behind me, with their lights on, of course, because it is dark!
6. Can't see road real well.
7. Hit rock.  Car was fine.    Car that was on my tail, and passed me, is seen five miles down the road with a flat tire. 
8. Scenario repeats about 5 miles down the road, I hit another rock.  Dang!
9. Couple more miles down the road,  Jetta has a flat tire.  
10. Changed tire, in the rain, in the dark, with a tiny LED light on my key-chain.  (Note to self--get good chargeable flashlight for the car!!!). (Hey, at least I wasn't barefoot in the snow!  lol)
11. Thank goodness Stuart had the forsight to teach me how to change a tire back in Idaho, before we moved me back to California the end of May!. Even then, it took me a while.   Rain, cold hands, jack problems, etc.  
12. Lower the car onto the spare tire, and wouldn't you know it, the Spare tire was very low on air.
13. Find old repair air canister in trunk.    Gets enough air in tire to drive the 20 miles to Cave Junction and the gas station.
14. Soaked to the bone, freezing cold. Thank goodness for Jetta's heated seats!  
15. Made it to Grants Pass and then the airport near Medford, but the next flight was 6 am the next day, and was going to cost an extra $236.   
16. So, my adviser is reworking the powerpoint I put together, and doing the presentation tomorrow.    We are going to work on revisions to finalize the powerpoint, over the computer and phone tonight, instead of in person this evening in Boise as we had planned! 
17. Phew. Thank you, Scott!!!  I'm so glad the information we had to share will be shared.  I wish I was there.

On my way back from Medford, I passed two wrecks.  Was not a good driving day.  So I stopped at this beach and took some photos to wrest something beautiful and positive from the day!   Enjoy.

One lone gull, hanging in the air.

A gull that came in for its close up.

Suddenly the flock of beach-bound gulls took to the air.

Coast, looking north towards Crescent City.

Coast, looking south towards Dry Lagoon.

Trying to capture the surge. 

Getting closer but still not as magnificent as the real thing!

Looking straight out to sea. This rock is the one in the surge pics below.

Looking straight out to sea, these rocks are just south of the larger rock in the photo above.

Surge splash!

Surge Splash 2.

Surge splash 3.