Stuck with Mora (literally, that is!)

OK, so I knew the lot at the Madison Road entrance to the Rockland Preserve wasn't plowed out--but there were car tracks going into the snowy parking lot.

The last time I walked from that part of the Preserve was the morning the blizzard started, way too much time to be away from my favorite walking spot! So I decided my Honda Civic Hybrid could make it in (which it did with absolutely no problem).

My lack of good judgment came when I decided to turn the car around and be headed "out" before Mora and I began our walk. It took about two turns before I was totally stuck in the hard snow. So, I did the only intelligent thing, get Mora out of the car for a long hike on the snowy, peaceful trails.

She was happy, and I enjoyed the hike, too, when I wasn't wondering how I was going to get out of the lot. Well, it wasn't a perfect walk. At one point Mora got a stick stuck in her mouth, and both of us worked a bit to get it dislodged. Did that keep her from breaking and chewing sticks on the rest of the walk?? Well, she is a dog!

I had a bright idea as we climbed a rocky hill with lots of loose stones. Luckily, I always carry a few "doggy" bags in my jacket pocket, (and I don't mean the ones for food leftovers!), so I dislodged several small stones and gravel and filled up the bags to put behind the tires of my stuck car.

After an hour on the trails, we headed back to the parking lot. As we approached the lot, Mora found the furry carcass of some medium sized animal and proudly brought it down the hill. I tried to convince her that a dog biscuit was yummier than a mouthful of fur. My convincing powers were aided by the fact she was standing still and I could get her leash back on.

The carcass left behind, she jumped back into the car while I began to scrape away some of the snow with a thick branch I found in the woods. Next, I put the rocks and gravel behind the tires. Forward, backward, spin!! I tried several times to get rid of more snow (hard to do without a shovel), and my tires still kept spinning.

I finally did the hardest job of all--call my husband and admit that I was stuck! Of course, when I told him my plan to go there this a.m., he asked me if I had my AAA card with me! He kindly said he'd bring some sand and shovels, but it would take a few minutes before he could leave. I decided I'd try one last idea, chipping away at the snow under the car with my small ice scraper. So, chip away I did! (Yes, on my knees!) Too stubborn to give in to such a small amount of snow, I made one final try... forward, backward, forward, BACKWARD!! It worked!

Luckily, the Preserve is only four minutes from our driveway, and I met Robert on the road just as he was heading down our way. It was still good to get back to Rockland, although I guess I'll wait a bit before I head that way again.

Moral of the story! Wait for lots to be plowed, carry a shovel, and don't give a Honda Civic super powers!