Fear - Living in it - Living With it

Living in fear can literally mean the end of sanity and being able to live a healthy life style.

Angels on the Pass left fear.

Facing the pass again left fear. Snow? Ice? Black Ice? More mechanical problems? Self confidence - that was on the line -

The phone call and or message was almost dreaded, but it came - as the driver knew it would. Ready to go again.....................

A day's stressful drive, a nite of little sleep disturbed by loud and boisterous party. A long drive to be in place on time. Pre-trip inspection complete and no more excuse to face the challenge.

But so many doubts now left one in fear of making the right - or the wrong decision. Set them aside. Face the job at hand.

Even in the darkness, patches of fog lay on the mountain and was that snow on the trees and bushes and rocks or just an illusion? Was that ice, or black ice or the illusion of both on the glistening surface of the road?

Daylight revealed a scene gray and indistinct. Heavy fog shrouded the entire valley. There was a hint of cold moisture in the air and yet none showed on the windshield. A phone call reported that fog shrouded the Bay area. The day did not look promising.

A discussion with a mechanic elicited remarks about the last attempted run. The repair order had been looked over closely and discussed with a known mechanic during the later part of the week previously. The discussion clarified and confirmed the matters discussed.

By the time the coach began it's ascent of the mountain, the sun had begun to break away the heavy curtain of fog. The distant peaks were still hidden from view, there was still a chill in the air, but the fear of ice, snow and black ice began to evaporate with the wavering mists.

Mile after mile until the spot of the last break down dropped behind.The first off ramp was ahead when power slipped and the driver turned out onto a parking area. Moments after the brake was set, the engine fell silent. Wait and restart. And again. And each time the engine caught, ran and shut down. Minor adjustments and another attempt was made. The engine temp spiked and the engine fell silent. Another start and this time the temp plunged toward normal. A hundred feet forward the coach slowed as the temperature spiked yet again and the driver pulled off the road just as the engine fell silent once more. More checks and restart. Temps back toward normal. One more attempt - the temp held, then spiked and dropped again without power loss.

At last - the summit. The driver pulled over to the side to take a long breath - now facing a 6% grade for seven miles. Set aside the last repair report, don't think of what was or what could be or what if - thinking like that will only freeze one in place. Set aside the negative input from all over and all around. Concentrate on positive things. Let everything else slide away and move forward.

The gear lever was pushed forward to second gear, the park brake released, the foot brake released, the accelerator depressed - the coach moved forward toward the down side of the mountain pass. Engine temperature holding, both air gauges showed good air pressure, oil temp and oil pressure good. Listen to the engine, watch the gauges, the speedometer. The retarder appeared to be operating normally. By using lower gears and the retarder to control speed, use of the brakes is held to a minimum.

The trip down was not as harrowing as the driver had feared and it wasn't long before a level of confidence returned. Before the end of the day, the trip ended successfully.