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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

A, Enter Mudslide

10/17/2015

 
I don't know how widespread the news was, but Kern County was hit by severe thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon that caused devastating mudslides closing two of our major highways - Interstate 5, and Highway 58.

Interstate 5 is California, Oregon, and Washington's major traffic artery. It flows from Mexico to Canada, carrying not only passenger vehicles, but the big trucks that keep our economy humming along. Highway 58 connects California's Central Valley to the eastern side of the state. It's one of the larger highways that passes through the Sierra Nevada. Even a short closure of either I-5 or Highway 58 could cause an economic headache.
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Highway 58 - Internet photo
Since California has been in such a severe drought, we've lost much of the vegetation that serves to keep our dirt where it belongs. When the thunderstorm hit, it dropped several inches of rain on wild fire scarred hillsides that simply collapsed within minutes.
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Aerial view of I-5 (internet photo)
I've seen a number of videos that drivers shot as they passed through the area, and some of them looked terrifying. Water and mud simply came rushing off the mountains, trapping hundreds of vehicles beneath six feet of mud.
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There's a three lane highway under there somewhere. (internet photo)
Word spread quickly that I-5 was closed, and the closure of Highway 58 came soon after. We're accustomed to short closures of these highways as they are occasionally closed overnight for snow and ice, but the Department of Transportation and the Highway Patrol usually get the road open within hours. When images of the mud started surfacing on the news, we knew this wouldn't be a short closure.

To the surprise of most southern Californians, heavy equipment was rushed to I-5 and by late Friday afternoon, traffic was once again inching over the Grapevine, the portion of I-5 that drops into Kern County. Highway 58 is closed indefinitely. CAL-Trans and the CHP say it might be a week or more before that area is open for traffic.
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Highway 58 - Photo by Steve Hettinga
The reason I share this is because this is the weekend for Chemaine to come for another casual clinic. On Friday morning, I was pretty confident that the weekend would be a bust. I doubted the road would be safe enough for her to make the trip, and even if it was open for a few hours, I worried it might close before she could get back home on Sunday.

I will never again complain about CAL-Trans. Those guys and gals must have worked their tails off through the night and early morning to open I-5, no easy task. On Friday afternoon, texts and Facebook messages started flying, celebrating I-5s opening.  
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Doing the happy dance
Our first ride is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. I received a text not long ago that Chemaine is heading our way, safe without any delays. So ... A, enter mudslide, but proceed to X!
lytha
10/17/2015 09:34:19 am

Do you guys call it "5"? We call it "eye-5" - curious. I've never heard it called simply 5.

Yesterday S asked me, as we sped along the Autobahn, what we call it - speedway, motorway, freeway, or highway. I said, "Sorry, it depends on where you're from. I'd say freeway. But others highway. And the English people say motorway." I didn't even mention turnpike cuz I have only been on those for a few hours of my life.

My husband is always afraid that our property will wash down the hill one day, and he's very conscious of keeping plants growing on our steep slopes. I won't show him your post.

Please take a look at my blog today - I'm curious what you think of Marius Schneider.

Bakersfiedl Dressage link
10/18/2015 05:52:31 am

There are definitely linguistic differences that exist from even within California. In the northern part of the state, people refer to it simply as "5" as in you can take 5 all the way to Sacramento. In southern California, particularly south of here, most people call it THE 5 as in take the 5 to the 210. Most southern Californians add THE in front of the highway names.

In my experience, a freeway is any large 2 or 3 lane thoroughfare. Many of our large roadways are designated as highways so they are referred to as such - Highway 101 and Highway 58 are two examples. I5 is called what it is because it is an Interstate, it crosses multiple states.

And yes, there are many other names, depending on where you live in the country. I don't think California has any Routes, but there are many such as U.S. Route 66. Toll Roads and Turn Pikes are usually the same, they collected a toll to use them. We don't have any in California.

When in Europe, we also try to remember the use of motorway, but if slip and say highway or free, most people know what we meant. :0)

I'll definitely read your blog post, but I would be hard pressed to find anything wrong with your prospect since I usually buy a horse based on my gut. :0)

Teresa link
10/18/2015 07:02:27 am

wow, that is frightening! was anyone hurt or killed? I guess with the drought there's nothing to soak up the rain?


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
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  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
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    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
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    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
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