I would have written this earlier, but the Foxes are without power. That of course means we’re without heat and as an extra bonus water! No cell service either.
I left work last night around 11:00 PM. The roads in Hartford were icy, but there was no problem getting around.
Unfortunately I had to get off I-91 early and was forced to take the Berlin Turnpike. There began the scariest ride of my life!
So, here it is an icy, snowy night on an empty road and I was heading toward the Wilbur Cross Parkway which the governor had already declared closed to all but emergency vehicles!
For much of the trip the lights were out. The heavy snow reflected my headlights back to me limiting my visibility.
The Berlin Turnpike was where I first began to see downed trees. A few times I was forced far left as 85% of the roadway was blocked. Finally I came to a tree fully blocking the road. I doubled back northbound in the deserted southbound lane.
I called Helaine. I was tense. She was good company.
At some point I got on the Wilbur Cross. I’m only guessing at this since all the highway signs were snow covered and any sense of familiarity was gone, blanketed in white.
All I could think of was the reason the governor had closed the road. Trees had fallen. Trees were still going to fall. I didn’t want one to fall on me. It was a real threat in a blinding snowstorm.
I switched back to I-91 in Meriden and drove uneventfully to Hamden… at 25 mph.
I have written before about Todd Street. It’s the connection from the flatland of Hamden to our little hill. Helaine wanted me to avoid its twists and turns, so I went to the next road over. It’s wider and a little less steep than Todd.
I drove under three felled trees somehow propped up enough for a car to pass. The fourth had the road fully blocked.
I went back to Todd and gave it another try. Again I drove under felled but leaning trees before pulling up our driveway.
We’ve got five or six large limbs that will need to be cleared. One is leaning against a rear window, but otherwise seems to have done no damage.
Before going to sleep (and while we still had cell service) I called United Illuminating. I worked through the automated voice tree until the disembodied voice told me we’d have power by 6:40 AM.
Right.
After waking today I checked again. This time we were told power would be restored before 3:43 PM.
Why bother.
At this point UI says virtually all their customers will have lights by Monday evening. Beyond that they’re not making (or breaking) any more promises.