Yesterday morning I went out
on some of my favourite roads
to practice driving in the snow
and I just happened to have
my camera, and my wits with
me. It’s a good thing I was
concentrating on the road
because you could say there
is one lucky dog out there
today. I was driving down
the back country roads
admiring the way the snow
was piling up on the trees, and I passed by a couple of people walking down the middle of the road. I wasn’t going fast, but I slowed down even more as I edged past them, because they didn’t bother to move over…it’s a country road, you’re out walking, why move over for a approaching vehicle? Sigh.
Just past them were two border collies from a nearby farm that crossed the road ahead of me, I slowed down even more. I admired the way their black and white fur looked so stark against the snow, matching the dark, and bare tree branches.
One of the dogs started to run along besides the truck, I am always worried when farm dogs do that, some have very little sense of the danger that vehicles can cause them.
Suddenly the dog cut right across in front of my truck, I slammed the brakes on.
There was a crunching sound….. [My husband told me later that it was the ABS brake system locking up.] I slid slightly, and came to a stop.
My heart was pounding, and I looked in the rear view mirror, there was the couple still standing in the middle of the road now staring back at me and the dogs, they looked horrified.
But there on the driver’s side of the truck, safe and sound, was the untrained farm dog that just barely made it past my wheels because I had slowed down due to the cautious little voice in my head that said watch out.
It’s good to move over when a vehicle approaches you, it’s good to train your dogs to not run alongside of vehicles, and it’s good to slow down when you see someone else on road.
One lucky dog.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Very lucky dog and people...the thing I hate about winter is driving one hr each way to work in snow storms...I will not miss that..stunning pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks goodness neither of you got hurt . Your photos are beautiful the second photo is well worth framing and hanging in a gallery ! WOW ! Have a good day !
ReplyDeletePhew! Glad no one was hurt and thanks to your good instincts, it all turned out well. Gosh, these are stunning shots, Jen!
ReplyDeleteThankfully you were listening to angel voices protecting you and the dogs. The pictures you snapped surely capture a winter day's drive on snowy roads. It looks cold, but beautiful. I, too, think that second shot is particularly stunning.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you were driving cautiously! We do that here too, but because of the ever-present deer that are crossing the roads. The winter scene photos are beautiful, Jen! I just love frosty days like that.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, walking in the middle of the road is never a good idea. I'd say you and the dog had a guardian angel.
ReplyDeleteI have a love/hate relationship with the ABS on my car. I was trained to drive in snow without it, so it is an adjustment to drive with the ABS. I hate the grinding sound more than anything.
Your photos are gorgeous!
Those roads even look very slippery. Lucky dog for sure. Not to smart people for not moving. Glad you are so cautious.
ReplyDeleteOne lucky dog and two lucky people. We have bicyclists here that go right to the center of the road and will NOT move into the bike lanes. Your photo are gorgeous! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteAnd it's good to listen to that little voice telling you things - usually. Thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteMy packages with your lovely cards arrived to my friends! One of them is a blogger - Suebee & the Butterflies. She posted about receiving them and provided a link to your blog. You can find her on my sidebar if you want to take a look!
Lucky Dog!
Ann
The second and last pictures are just amazing! Not that the others aren't! But those two really caught my eye. They would make beautiful cards or as pictures blown up for your home!
ReplyDeleteYes they were very lucky dogs. You must have just about passed out when you thought you hit it. Some people in the country (or some times city) don't watch what their animals are doing. Animals are disposible things for some people.
Thoses people walking in the street...what can I say!
I'm so glad you had slowed down Jen and that the dog escaped unscathed. I wonder why the people didn't move over? I've seen teens do that out here on our busy secondary road. They just keep walking on the pavement making cars go around them. They obviously don't drive or they'd know the danger of not walking on the shoulder. Or would they. Some people!!! These photos are so beautiful. I love the one of the country road. You have had a pretty snowfall there.
ReplyDeleteWhew! I'm so glad you were listening to that little voice and paying more attention than the dumb dog that was trying to herd the truck like a sheep.
ReplyDeleteJust slowing down makes a lot of difference...in life and well as in driving. Glad everyone was okay.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous snowy scenes! Really enjoyed them.
Lucky dog for sure..you must have sent the snow this way..it rained first then snowed..it is a slippery mess:(
ReplyDeleteFirstly, absolutely gorgeous photos Jen! Secondly, funny thing about the people is, if it had been them driving and someone was walking down the road and didn't move, they'd be the ones cursing... sometimes you have to worry about the human race! Glad both you and the dogs were safe! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this had a happy ending. winter driving is such a pain but how beautiful the scenes are that you've shared here. Stunning!
ReplyDeleteWe have just a dusting of snow over here. Looks like you've got quite a bit more already.
Happy Holidays, G
I simply do not understand people who will not get out of the way of an approaching car or people who let their dogs run free even in the country. Your photos are so beautiful, Jen. I wish we were getting snow, but too warm here this month.
ReplyDeletexo
Laura
That had to be a heart pounder Jen .. I would have been sick with worry too. It is too bad some of the dogs out there have no fear because they just don't know they can be killed by what they think is a fun time chasing trucks/cars.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos ... they came out beautifully !!
Joy
Dogs are stupid sometimes, that's for sure. There was a house on a country road we used to travel that had a dog and it would race out of the yard at a full gallop to chase the odd car that drove by. It scared the wits out of us the first time he did it.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for being so careful. You saved yourself and some others a lot of heartache. Gorgeous pictures!
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