Liz and I made the grocery run today trying to beat the extreme cold that is expected to make the next week or so miserable. We wound up climbing a steep, blind, hill behind this gent. I am not sure that he was asleep, but he certainly wasn't worried too much about his driving. This is a main state highway and traffic bangs along at 55 through this area. He was doing maybe 2 at a very slow walk. His horse was tired and just plodded along, ears flopping, head nodding, almost asleep himself. We weren't in any big hurry and just pulled in behind and followed at his speed. It was certainly not safe to pass him as you couldn't see either around the curves or over the crest of the hill. I was actually kind of tickled to nab a couple of pictures of the rig.
However, there was a regular horse's pattootie behind us who was champing at the bit like he was on the way to the hospital (which if he had his way we might all have been). He ripped up behind Liz and kept jigging out into the other lane like he wanted to pass. (For you locals this is the big hill by Sowles. Not a place to pass unless you want to get up close and personal with a Wal*Mart truck traveling fifty MPH in the other direction.) He was quite irate at having to follow us and the Amish man up the hill. After a few more yards the horse driver noticed the trucks behind him, jiggled the reins and hurried the tired horse on up the hill. As soon as it was safe to do so we passed and went on our way with the impatient fellow right behind. We lost maybe half a minute of time from our trip.....had we tried to pass I suspect it might have been more. I enjoyed the quirky juxtaposition of modern and not quite so modern in meeting a horse drawn wagon on a state highway, which I suspect the guy behind us missed completely.
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15 comments:
Wouldn't it be great if we had the time to go to town that way? Personally, I'd love it!
It's sad people feel they need to be in such a hurry all the time. They miss alot in life :(
Probably thinks the horse drawn don't pay taxes and can't imagine the road was there before Automobiles. Stess levels are a wonder, what television show would he have missed by waiting a bit?
Hi. I'm sure the contrast between "now" and "then" was interesting, but I don't believe the horse and buggies should be on the road. Just like bicycles should not be on the road with motorized vehicles. The buggies and bikes only incite the less patient drivers to make dangerous moves, then innocent people are injured or killed.
Great shots, 3C. I see the same selfish, impatience on this side of the river. It's like the attitude some young people have towards old people. "I have important things to do. Get out of my way!"
And I'd like to ask Susan Rose just where the horse and buggy should go, if not on the road: through the snow-covered fields, perhaps? This isn't a joy ride for the Amish. It's their only mode of transportation.
And I don't believe slow vehicles "incite" anyone, although they might expose their innate selfishness.
I love your storyboard! If it wasn't so darn cold, I would love to be the person in the horse and buggy. Stay bundled up, gonna be cold for the next little while.
Ya got to respect the amish. As a truck driver I have learned to just slow down and enjoy the ride... :-)
yeh, where are they suppose to travel is a good question...it's their way of life and so be it! i personally enjoy having them in our area...they're nice people,self sufficient as well as they can be with a huge love for our Lord...very nice folks.
Wow! Is that ever a timeless winter scene!
I just wish that he had been awake and kept the horse moving. Darned critter just about stopped a few times. I didnt wanna get killed by the idiot behind me.
That is a darn cold way to travel. I would rather be stuck behind him than the manure spreader that I run into here once in awhile.
I don't know why everyone seems to be in a hurry. I know I hold traffic up but what is 2 or 3 minutes in the larger scheme of things?
Deb, lol. I've done it back in the day...although I rode my horse to town to pick up a few things rather than drove
Earl, it was so dangerous because he was being foolish. And impatient. It's a treacherous spot even without the horse in the equation. Lots of accidents there all the time because people can't wait to get to the top of the hill
Susan, there certainly are issues with horses and traffic, although by law they have every right to use the highway. They are supposed to have bright orange reflective triangles for slow moving vehicles and they kinda sorta cheat with those not so orange ones.
Akagaga, if NY wasn't in the tank worse than most states, I would like to see them put a third lane in that spot for slower traffic. There is going to be a bad event there I'm afraid.
Candy, thanks for visiting and for your kind words! I am dreading the next few days...guess I live in the wrong place because I sure hate the cold. lol
Ed, I tolerate them on the road pretty well myself although I do wish they would properly light and sign their wagons. It is terrifying to meet them in the dark and not see them until you are right on top of them. I am a slowish, carefulish driver and I have nearly hit them in the dark...
Anon, I am of two minds on them. It is certainly a good thing that they are keeping land from being developed, but their hunting habits leave something to be desired. We have caught them trespassing and poaching on us, out of season and unwelcome. I don't like that disregard of other people's rights and property in anybody.
FC, thanks, I thought it was kind of neat
Liz, I fear for the buggies full of kids you see there....with tractor trailers speeding by about a million mph...too hard to see around the corners
Apple, I couldn't agree with you more.
Hunting and trespassing has become a big issue I believe with a number of their neighbors. i believe there has been a significant drop in the local turkey population from what I am hearing.
Great post, I would rather see a horse and buggy doing something necessary, than a bicyclist going for the burn. That's all we have around here. :(
Stay warm if possible.
Wow,
I am amazed at the controversy sparked by something as common as Amish (locally)and tailgaters (worldwide). Good pictures though!
XOXO
Joce
NYV, that is very true. We hear a lot of horror stories. Not too bad here yet, but they bought the farm behind us so....
Nita, thanks you stay warm too. Sure is a wintry sort of winter!
Joce, me too and thanks!
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