Yesterday was my birthday and it was also the day I had my tax appointment with our CPA in Palm Springs. I figured that after I dropped off Miss Ellie at kindergarten, I would simply drive to his office, about 15 minutes away.
NOPE.
First of all, it was POURING. And, I mean pouring since 2 am. Here in the desert that means lots of flooded streets and intersections.
However, I was NOT prepared for the amount of water out on the streets. And, the street which I chose to drive to the accounting office was nearly completely flooded. Out of the 3 lanes each way, only 2 were passable (but...OF COURSE...there were always THOSE drivers who think it is fun to splash water all over everybody else's car!)
When I got to the last intersection before heading up a small hill near the Palm Springs airport, I knew I was in trouble. My brakes were wet. I was first in line for the next green light and water was RUSHING down the intersection. A school bus came barreling through the intersection and I thought "That is DANGEROUS!" Then my car started scooting from the pull of the water. The only place I was going was out into the intersection and I had a red light. Fortunately when it turned green, I made it through...phew! However, by that time my brakes were in worse shape. I had my foot all the way to the floor in hopes that I wouldn't be moved any further and it simply wasn't working...I was drifting. But, I made it to the tax office. I figured the hour there would give my brakes a chance to dry...NOPE!
I knew I couldn't return home that way (down Ramon Rd.), so I headed west to Highway 111 in downtown Palm Springs. By 11 a.m. the streets were... HORRIFIC! I've NEVER seen them so full of water and we've lived here now 45 years. I drove by 2 washes and they were both tumbling full of water. The second one was ready to crest the wash. Quite a few people had stopped their cars to get out and take photos.
Then some IDIOT in a white Infinity blew by me and splashed water ALL OVER my windshield and I was completely blinded. I couldn't see a thing and my wipers were going as fast as they could. They just couldn't keep up with the water that was dumped on my windshield. I literally had to stop and pray that nobody was behind me (nobody was, fortunately.)....I was so shaken that I had to pull over, stop at Michaels, and spend an hour inside the store. And, I was low on gasoline. I mean, WHO wants to stop for gas in that storm???
But I had no choice, so I bought $20 worth. By that time, I was cold, I was tired, and I was wet from all the rain. All I wanted to do was make it home safely, which I did, FINALLY. It took me 2.5 HOURS to drive from Palm Springs to Palm Desert, which is normally a 45 minute drive (of course, I DID spend an hour in Michael's).
Then I settled in my chair to watch the news. Palm Springs Unified School District closed all its schools. People were told to "shelter in place". I got hold of our daughter and explained to her that there was NO WAY I could drive back to pick up Miss Ellie from kindergarten, since my brakes were wet and I was exhausted. Schools closed at noon and our daughter picked her up at 3 p.m. since she had to stay with her own students until they were all picked up. She stopped a couple times on her way home to take videos of the water rushing down the main wash, tumbling to the Salton Sea.
And, it was my birthday! Lovely day, eh?
Turns out, this storm was the 3rd most rain in a single day since 1943. I believe it.
