Tornado Alley

While driving through western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska, I en- countered tornado watches, which turned into warnings, then the radio said, "Find shelter immediately!!!" So, I did; in a gas station beside a ravene. The locals laughed and said, "I've never seen a tornado here." The attendent said, "If I see one, I'm going into the ditch outback." The wind calmed down and they didn't seem worried, so I ventured further west. The sky to the north and east was deep blue/black/green/grey. My bowels tightened, but I kept moving West away from it. However, the winds were heading south, from the north (like a Maine nor-easter), and I knew it wasn't a good sign. Clouds above me were hugging the ground, which I also knew wasn't good, since I'd lived in tornado land in Ohio, and had seen those monsters before. Soon, all the clouds came to earth and picked it up, spewing it around my van and the air around me. The clouds turned brownish/green, and I quickly exited US80 to find shelter. I had to wait for a red light to turn green; the man next to me was on his cell phone and nervously scanning the horizons, as was I, to see if a funnel had formed. Just as I was ready to illegally go through a red light, thinking - do I be a good citizen and obey traffic law, or do I die, the light switched. I quickly went to the lobby of a large hotel. The force of the winds was so pwerful that Ihad to push with all my strenght to exit my van. My entire body was shaking from the experience. That part of the storm passed but I was forced off the road at least three more times due to heavy rain and large hail. I saw the setting sun in the west and knew to get there would be safe. Eventually, I met clear weather and camped in a darling state rec. area called Mill Creek. For 12 bucks a night I had a level camp site and a very hot shower and freight train whistles blowing all night. I had trouble getting to sleep after all that and lightening continued to ripple brightly on all close horizons. I was afraid to sleep; how in hell would I be ablel to see a funnel if one formed. The storm brought rain and minor winds, but passed on, and I was able to sleep at 3:30 a.m. I awoke to a sky of blue and sunshine, with a large covering of light burgundy cloud to the west. While in the shower house, damned if I didn't hear the tornado siren blowing. I stayed in there for a while, poking out momentarily to spot a funnel. None, thank goodness.

Arrived at the home of my youngest sister, Linda, and her partner, Larry. After telling them my tornado story, they showed me a video from the horrible tornado that tore throught Windsor Co two years ago, and how they survived it as it tore up 100 year old cottowoods beside their house, but left the house intact, except for blown out windows. After Larry told me how to get to the Missle Site campground on a bluff above Windsor, he also said "The sole survivor of that tornado was camping there and he tried to outrun it." We watched weather reports after this discussion and all was clear for my stay there. Had a wonderful sleep in the Colorado plains with a view of Rocky Mountain National area in front of me (photo above) and meadowlarks awakening me.

I remain thankful for my safety.