Update: Thanks once again, to everyone who hit the tip jar in the past day. The support of readers here continues to amaze me, and you’ve helped ease some of the financial sting of losing my little road warrior. Your generosity is deeply appreciated – (as are the light hearted remarks in the comments thread).
On a more serious note, please take a few moments to think about what you would do in a similar situation. I have an evacuation plan as part and parcel of those long trips to dog shows – and it helped, especially when it came to getting the dogs we had with us out of their crates and to safety. The electric windows were inoperative, so getting vehicle doors open quickly was imperative. Luckily the water wasn’t too deep and the van only partially submerged.
(Original post continues below)
Things may be slow here for a day or two. We took an unexpected detour on the way home from a weekend fishing trip on Hwy20 south of Drake. No one was injured – outside of my dead, wet van.
As you might imagine, I have a lot on my plate in the next few days and blogging will have to take a back seat.
OOPs? Did the van get launched with the boat?
Surely there was a better parking spot nearby!
That sucks, Kate. Glad everybody is ok.
On the bright side, now you can get a 4×4. And get -twice- as stuck next time. 🙂
“blogging will have to take a back seat.”
Interesting phraseology, given the circumstances.
But the fish. Did you get any?? Seriously glad no injuries, except maybe your pride…heh
You’re gonna need a better boat.
Trolling for slough sharks?
Glad you’re OK.
Texting? 😉
Sleeping. I was the passenger, so avoid the embarrassment factor.
Seriously though – if any of my trusty readers were considering hitting the tip jar in weeks to come, now would be a great time. My van’s a write off, and has to be replaced asap. (Excluding those of you who donate regularly, of course!)
So Blogging took a back seat to mud bogging? I’d suggest something with more clearance next time if you plan on a repeat trip to the mud.
Glad you’re safe and nobody was hurt.
Please post a story regarding how you turned your minivan into a submarine as soon as you can as we all want to know how you came to rest at the bottom of a bog.
Glad to hear that you and yours are OK. Maybe it’s time to upgrade to an Amphicar?
What a lousy way to be awoken! Regarding the replacement I have one word for you. Toyota. Reliable as a doorstop, good resale value and took not one cent from the taxpayers of the US or Canada. There will be a hockey league in hell before I buy a Chrysler or Govt Motors vehicle.
Good to hear you’re ok, especially after what happened to those kids in Saskatchewan who collided with a semi and drowned in a roadside swamp.
Perhaps, you should replace the van with an Argo? 🙂
You’ve got to take those GPS directions with a grain of salt….
So glad you are ok…and these humorous comments are just because we know you can take it 🙂
I don’t do pay pal…so check is in the mail.
Speaking of back seats – are those suicide doors?
So happy that you are safe, as I assume is the driver. The van can be replaced with some excellent suggestions above.
Glad everyone is OK – years on an RD 350 and it’s a car that always gets ya – stay safe Kate.
You can buy a brand new dodge caravan for around 21k out the door vs 30k+ for a toyota. That’s a hell of a lot of repairs. The dodge has really improved big time. Either way though a minivan is a piece of trash. The best deal around right now is people dumping their large v8 suvs. I bought a nice 2009 monster for under 20k privately.
While I can certainly empathize with wanting to drown a Chrysler, I would have exited the vehicle prior to my attempt.
Well, Ms. McMillan, I am glad that your dogs are OK, and that you are undamaged. Next time take a bus.
You are lucky, actually. It is not a good thing to be asleep during an auto crash. A friend came to an untimely end that way, a number of years ago. The seat belt inflicted lethal damage on her internal organs. Had she been awake, the greater tension in her abdominal muscles, and their tensing further during the crash, probably would have saved her life.
‘Glad you’re OK, Kate.
glad you are all OK
it is traumatic but as long as family and dogs are OK the rest is just a nuisance
Oh, poor van. I’m glad you guys are okay.
You know why this happened? Because the bastards haven’t gotten around to inventing our hover cars yet. Or their hiding them.
I was promised hover cars.
Oh, cr*p. I spelled “they’re” the wrong way. I have to kill myself now. It’s the grammar Nazi code. Think of me fondly from time to time, dear Dead Gophers.
Who is the sub commander?
Kate, please let me make a plug for a Suburban as a replacement vehicle. Don’t mess around; get the 3/4 ton model with 4-wheel drive. They are very roomy, easy to drive, and comfortable as Hell on long road trips. And they will plow through 2 feet of snow if that is what needs to be done.
You don’t have to contribute to Government Motors; buy a well-maintained older model, and save yourself the depreciation hit. There are some good deals to be had on ex-RCMP ‘burbs from Crown Assets Disposal. I got an ’08 for $6600, and it has been a damn good rig.
I assume you will be referring to the driver as Teddy now, as in Teddy Kennedy..
“I have to kill myself now.”
Well, for you that shouldn’t be a problem, but I forget- are you a ‘biter’, or a ‘squeezer’?
And I actually do think you have warm, or at least tepid blood coursing through your lengthy veins. :~0)!
I hear this thing happens once in a while in Saskatchewan… somebody puts a turn in the road every so often to keep the drivers awake.
Seriously, glad you and all are okay.
Biter.
I want one of these. It’s a stinger. Aren’t they pretty? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_jellyfish
That technique works better in the winter when the slough is frozen.
Good that nobody was injured.
Well, maybe tepid was overly generous.
And yes (gulp), quite pretty.
Tip jar tickled.
Stay safe.
Ok, I’m going to be an ass: “Riding in Kate’s van is like inviting 20 random prairie sloughs into your car”
I’m sorry. I’m hitting the tip jar now.
Oops, got busy. Donation on the way.
So is the replacement going to have a manually operated sun roof/escape hatch?
Do atheists accept that “miracle like” things happen on this plane of human existence?
Well done Fair lady!
Long live “Small Dead Animals” Canada’s conservative blog, AND BLOGGER!!!!!
a Floater; Volkswagon Karmann Ghia, recollection’s from a misspent youth.
I told you that bloody van wouldn’t even make a good anchor…
God be thanked for protecting you, Kate.
Cars can be replaced. You could not. Our Lord’s wisdom is infinite, and it cannot have escaped Him that the Dominion, and Christian civilization, could better spare many another.
May He continue to bless and keep you and all you hold dear.
(May He spare you in particular from the tricks of Saskatchewan Government Insurance. I don’t doubt the NDP’s catspaws at SGI have been notified of your forthcoming claim and have already come up with any of a number of trumped-up excuses to summarily deny it.)
Glad everyone made it out safely.
I am interested in your evacuation plan as I too transport dog(s) in a similar van. My plan involves a heavy hammer and Knipex hand size Co-bolt cutters for the crates if needed and a jerry rigged sling with rope. Also, I always have a couple of movers’ mats in the car if needed. The cutters are expensive but they cut stuff like it was butter….they are truly that good and speed might be vital.
I’d appreciate any tips you have.
PS…when filling the van with gas and the dog is inside, I always make sure all doors are unlocked in case there was a gas fire.
I will be hitting the tip jar shortly. As a business owner, this time of the month can be difficult with staff paychecks putting an enormous strain on my reserves. I have to give most of my customers 90 days to pay but I still have to make payroll every 2 weeks. But rest assured, I will be tossing a bit your way once the smoke clears. You deserve it.
I’m just glad that you and the mutts got out without injury. And as far as the van goes, do not allow the insurance co to convince you to fix it. Once a vehicle has been submerged it is toast, unless you feel like chasing gremlins forever.
Do they make vans with ejection seats yet?
About 5 years ago a friend ended up in a slough and thankfully his car was an old thing that had manual windows and he was able to roll them down to get out. Given that as an experience I found a wonderful device at Princess Auto that is an emergency siren/red light (and can be wound up manually), and it includes a pointed steel end to break through windows and a cutting edge to cut through seatbelts. It now hangs from the shift console and it within arms reach in case I need to use it. It wasn’t expensive – not sure if I’m eager to use it or not! But I’m ready.
Must be a new sport that Kate is starting up in Saskabush; ‘Slough Surfing’…!
Delighted to hear you and cargo are safe and sound, but what kind of wax do you recommend for slough surfing?
Psalm 85:11
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
Or in this case “Faithfulness will spring up from the slough…”
Cheers
Hans Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
Thanks everyone. My evacuation plan is pretty simple. The crates ride facing a door, with a collapsable wire exercise pen strapped to the front. In an emergency, the pen comes out to a safe location and dogs go into it, then the crates are removed if time allows. Love the bolt cutter idea though, think I’ll invest in those.
My husband, the hunting dog trainer, has the best vehicle in the world for a doggie lifestyle that involves a lot of travelling: a Honda Element. They don’t make them anymore, but you can get a fairly new used one privately. Awesome vehicle, you can hose it out, it’s a 4 wh. drive, and takes very little gas. On the other hand, if you don’t hose it out, you can call it the Smelement! Glad you are safe!!