Rantings and Ravings

By Sun Advocate

The closure of Highway 6 last week forced me to take an unexpected detour to catch a plane. With a choice of two ways to go around the closure, I chose to drive up through Indian Canyon and through Heber. I left shortly after the closure so the traffic was horrendous. The normally quiet drive through Indian Canyon was packed and the line of semis was incredible. To complicate the whole thing, we drove through a driving downpour on top of the mountain and through standing mud on the road. It was a real adventure.
I had a motel in Lehi as my flight left early the next morning. I tried to get something closer to the airport but the Outdoor Retailers Convention had every room in Salt Lake City that was available under $200 a night booked. I figured I would head down Provo Canyon into Lehi. Provo Canyon was closed for two days due to road construction and I was forced to drive into Salt Lake and then battle the masses of rush hour traffic to get back down to Lehi.
I returned home the following evening. The canyon was still closed and I decided to return the way I came, up Interstate 80 and across Highway 40 and over. It took me over a half hour to go four miles as I got on I 80. Once I was through the bottle neck, caused by an accident that everyone had to slow down and look at, it was smooth sailing. The drive home was very pleasant. I was actually glad to have been forced to take a detour. I really enjoy the scenery we have all around us in this state. Because I have had jobs that have required extensive traveling to all parts of the state, I have driven many roads through out our area. It always amazes me how few people from the Wasatch Front have ever driven through the eastern part of the state. If you would list towns like Altamont, Ferron, Cisco, Monticello or Sigurd, many people would not have a clue where you were talking about.
Now I actually hate driving. I consider it a necessary evil of our society and I avoid it whenever I can. However, I am glad to see and explore all the corners of this great state of ours. When I drive the same way to the same places, over and over again, I just quit seeing what is there. As inconvenient as the closure was to us all, I am grateful for the forced detour in my life. I was in a bit of a rut anyhow.