Near Death and Rawhide

Our trip to Arizona was originally meant to include a jaunt to Los Angeles, but that got scrapped. In the end, it turned out to be a good thing as, after the Canyon and Sedona, we were pretty tired of driving long distances. We spent Saturday morning heading to a place called Rawhide, which is a recreation of a Western town.

On the way there we almost got into a very serious accident. We were heading down the interstate and were starting down a one laned exit ramp when another car cut in front of us. At first, I noticed the car, but did not realize how slow they were going. Dea gasped and only then did I see that we were a second away from plowing into this car in front of us with 70 miles per hour impact.

I slammed on the brakes, the tires screeched and rubber smoked.

Funny what goes through your mind in a millisecond. I remember thinking, "Wow, we're going to really plow into this car!" and I could see the damage we were about to inflict. Dea said the thought that crossed her mind was "I should have gotten that rental car insurance." Funny, huh?

Anyway, as the tires screeched and smoked, the car in front of us moved to the right slightly and our car veered ever so slightly left toward the cement wall of the exit ramp. When the car stopped skidding we found ourselves with literally less than an inch on either side between the wall on the left and the opposing car on the right. The car in front of us continued down the road, apparently oblivious to the event and I sat, my heart racing and my legs feeling like rubber.

I continued down the road and the tires had a minor, rythmic thump in it from the flattened surface that was left in our skid marks on the ramp. When we got to the western town I got out of the car and confirmed my suspicion that, other than the burned rubber, the car was unscathed... nary a scratch. We all grabbed hands and thank God and our guardian angels for their divine protection.

With that we headed into the western town. It was a very cool place. We saw a quick draw show, had our picture taken in western gear and ate at an old fashioned saloon.

After the excitement from the drive to the town, the slowed pace of the western town made for a very relaxing morning.

The quiet western store.

Some scary cowpokes.

Gabe and DC take a ride.

Trick shooting behind him using a mirror.

Bang.

Dem der varmits are busted.

Gabe as a prospector.

Bang... again.