RAT My Travels so Far...

["Adam G. Gertsacov" <kafclown@well.com>]

Things are okay.  3 days, 1700 miles.  Providence to Houston.  I'm taking
a day to stay with friends before I continue onward.

I didn have a VERY scary incident on the New Jerse turnpike on the first
day.  It was pouring cats and dogs, and I was going about 50 mph.  

My car HYDROPLANED.  I tried to recover out of it, but couldn't.  I hit
the left part of the NJ barrier, and at the same time managed to do a
complete 180 degree stop in the left lane.  If there had been someone
behind me or tailgating me, I would have been in serious doo doo!

Fortunately there wasn't.  My car had stalled out, but I used my cell
phone to call 911 and a  cop was dispatched within about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile a guy stopped, and we pushed my car off to the side of the left
breakdown lane.  I just stayed in my car and hoped that no one hit me!

When the cop came, I explained what happened.  Meanwhile I was able to
start my car.  The fender had a bit of a problem (it was impeding on the
tire) so I used my crowbar to take off that end of it.The cop asked me if
I wanted him to write it up or not (I don't have collision on my 1990 car,
so I said no) If he had written it up, I would have gotten a ticket.

 I drove (slowly)to the next exit and found a tire shop (STS- which is
like a
Firestone but independent) They re-aligned my car, checked for structural
damage (none!)
and banged out my fender.  I was on the road within 3 hours.  My light's
busted, and I need a new bumper and left panel, (and my windshield has a
little crack in it) but no damage.  (And I wasn't hurt either)

I was very lucky! 

 Since then I've had excellent weather, have had NO problems driving, but
I think that if it starts to rain more than a little I'm just going to
pull over.  (which when it had started to come down, I had thought about
doing, but decided against it)  <--Trust your instincts!

 "Lucky to Be Alive!"  Adam