Icy Bridges

Duson, Louisiana

Weather: low 31 degrees in Bay City, Texas, high 49 degrees in Duson, Louisiana, clear skies, winds to 20 mph

We left Bay City about 0800 hours this morning. With the wind blowing about 20 mph, it felt much colder than 31 degrees. The snowfall from yesterday was still much in evidence on roof tops and in fields and ditches from Bay City to our stopping point for the night in Duson, Louisiana.

We were making good time until we approached the bridge crossing the Houston Ship Channel to Baytown. About three miles from the bridge, we encountered a massive parking lot on the highway. The bridge was closed due to the ice that formed overnight because of the rain, snow, and cold. We estimate we were sitting in the highway parking lot for about 1.5 hours, unable to do anything but sit there and hope the sun would eventually melt the ice. Luckily, we had our house with us, so were able to get food and water if needed. Equally important was being able to go to the restroom if we needed to.

When I was thinking of the things that might hold us up, ice on the road and bridges was not even remotely among the scenarios that I thought of. We have lived in Texas for 18 years, and I have never heard of ice closing the road this early in December in the Houston area. Houston drivers are notorious for thinking they are invincible. Today, however, we saw no one displaying the dangerous driving habits that we know so well for the area. Instead, everyone was being very careful. It was nice to see people being careful for a change.

Once the traffic started moving again, we eventually arrived at I-10 and turned to the east toward Beaumont. Traffic continued to move well all the way to Duson, Louisiana, where we are spending the night.

More later, be safe.

Today's Town - Duson, Louisiana: Paper Town

Not all who wander are lost.