Jenna: Storms during first trip to Okla.

Hamlin, Texas – Early Saturday afternoon, Dad, Taylor and I left Hamlin to make our first trip to our next stop in Hooker, Okla. On this trip, Dad drove the semi, which pulled the combine and grain trailer, and I drove the car, which sort of serves as a flag-car and scout. Taylor tagged along for the ride.

Loaded in Hamlin
The combine loaded and ready to go in Hamlin, Texas.

The trip was going well until we began to run into storms in the northern panhandle of Texas. After hearing about strong winds, rain and hail to our north, we decided to pull over about 15 miles south of Perryton, Texas, and wait for the storm to pass.

Waiting it out
Pulled over south of Perryton, Texas – clouds to our north.

Passing storm
Waiting for the storm to pass.

We got back on the road, glad to have averted the storm – but there were more to come. As we neared Perryton, it was raining so hard we could barely see the road, so we pulled over at a truck stop on the outskirts of town. Dad parked his truck and hopped in the car. As I tried to find my way out of the parking lot, I couldn’t tell the hard surfaces from the ones underwater and, at one point, we nearly floated away. I threw the car in reverse though and was somehow able to get back on hard ground and escape. It was crazy!

We stayed the night there in Perryton, where storm-cells continued to roll through throughout the night. When we got up the next day, the streets had flooded. They received over six inches of rain.

Flooded streets
Vehicles attempt to make their way down the flooded streets of Perryton.

We hit the road and finished the trip to Hooker. Thankfully, it stopped raining while we unloaded the combine, but shortly after that, it poured. After grabbing a bit to eat, we turned around and headed back south to Hamlin. We got back around 8 p.m. last night.

Church
On Sunday morning, we passed by this church in Bryan’s Corner, Okla. – just 15 miles north of Perryton. Strong winds and rain caused the roof to collapse Saturday night.

Bins
A grain bin demolished in Bryan’s Corner, Okla.

Since we’re not in any rush to head north again, we’re going to stick around here today (Monday) and will finish the rest of the move tomorrow.

Here’s a video from our weekend adventure.

Jenna Zeorian can be reached at jenna@allaboardharvest.com. All Aboard 2010 Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and DuPont Crop Protection.

 

3 Comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.