Evacuation!

The power was still not on when we woke up this morning. We checked the road conditions and found out that Black Road was closed due to a mudslide that took out trees and the power line. We figured that explained the lack of power. But we needed to get to the valley today for a medical appointment at 8:00 AM.

With Black Road out, we are left with only one option...route 35 to Bear Creek to Highway 17 Northbound. We found out that Highway 17 Southbound was closed due to a slide. That meant that if we went to the valley, there was a chance we would not be able to get home. So we packed our bags, prepared to be stranded in the valley.

We did not want to be the first people down route 35 because it is a one-lane road. With the wind and rain as bad as it was, we were certain the road would be a mess, possibly impassable, unless a road crew went out first. We arranged to get to the doctor later in the day. Around 11:00 AM we set out to go to the valley. 

The one-lane road was littered with debris—rocks, branches, and mud. Trees were down but someone had used a chainsaw to hack just enough of each tree away to allow passage for a car. At one point, we had to “shimmy” under an over hanging tree that was about to fall over. When we got to Bear Creek, it was closed due to a high-power electrical line over the road.

We headed to Summit Road and took a chance by driving past the “Road Closed” sign. We got to one extremely narrow lane due to road slippage and made it across without falling off the road.  We found some locals who said the county just opened that lane this morning. They also assured us that if we continued, we would end up on the highway. 

Part of the road was so flooded that ducks were swimming in it. We stayed on the high side and managed to get to drier ground. The road started downhill and we eventually ended up on Highway 17. 

When we got to Los Gatos, I took some packages to the post office, and found out that the mountain mailmen have stopped delivering. "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, but mudslides NO" is their motto. 

It was a pretty exciting ride!