Quest to the Southwest - Chapt Fourteen - Wash

"So you think I can drive out?" Martha had been awake for hours. She watched several cars take the gravel road out of the park, but she wanted to wait for the ranger station to open before she ventured out.

"There is water in the wash, but we drove through it this morning. What kind of car do you have?"

"It's a little Honda CRV, it's 4WD but not very high off the ground."

"No problem, the rule of thumb is water no higher than half way up the tires."

"I've never driven in water before. I'm pretty scared." Martha didn't say I'm terrified, but this is what she felt.

"Just take it slow. Don't panic and go fast, that's when you'll hydroplane."

"Will you drive out there tonight and see if I am still parked there, afraid to go across?" Maybe joking would make her feel better.

As Martha took her fear in hand and headed out she tried to think about how great this visit to Chaco had been, take her mind off the road. For the most part the gravel road was fine, occasional patches of slippery red mud, kind of like driving in mushy snow. A white sedan was coming the other way, toward her. It slowed and a woman poked her head out, waving her arm. Martha rolled down the window.

"You can't get out, the wash is full of water."

"I talked with the ranger, she said I probably could get out."

"I watched a couple trucks go through, there was an RV parked, they were deciding if they should try it. Is there any other way out?"

"No, no other way, the other way is worse. The ranger said usually if you wait the water goes down, but judging by those clouds I think it's still raining up stream. I'm going to try it."

Martha was committed now. Three trucks passed her on the road, they zipped by at double her speed. Hopefully she would get to watch someone cross, maybe this would build up her courage.

It wasn't long before Martha arrived at the wash, passing the three signs which warned of driving through if any amount of water was present, no one patrolled this road and other dire events. There were no other cars or trucks in sight. The RV must have made it.

Martha stopped the car and stared at the water flowing down. How did someone judge how deep it was? How would she know if it was half way up her tires? She looked down stream. If she was washed down she would be stuck in mud, not a giant pool or anything. She unfastened her seatbelt, put her cell phone into her pocket, slung her purse over her shoulder. No, if she was drowning it might strangle her. She took it off and placed it next to her.

Well, I said I wanted adventure, didn't I?

She crept forward, putting the car in low gear, although she had no idea if that made any difference. She kept to the center of the concrete, awaiting any sign of the car floating. The trip across the short passage took hours, her life flashed before her eyes, she prayed, told all her family members she loved them and repented all her sins.

Twenty seconds later Martha was on the other side of the wash.