Raiyn
Well-Known Member
I grew up in a small town in northern MN, you get trained what to look for when it comes to critters and night driving when the bulk of the roads are two lane blacktop cut through a forest. My late father taught me well.Driving after dark in this area is not recommended unless you don't mind a 4 to 5 thousand dollar insurance claim on your vehicle.
We were up visiting my father in hospice February of last year as we all knew it'd be the last opportunity to see him before he passed. My better half and I had spent the week visiting and running errands for my mother so we decided to go to one of the larger towns nearby for dinner and a movie just the two of us.
On the way back, well past midnight, about -25°F, one of only two cars for miles, that training I mentioned paid off. We were about a 1/2 mile or so back from the only other vehicle for miles ahead when we saw its brake lights fire and shimmy. I knew exactly what that meant and backed the rental minivan down to 10-15 mph. Creeping along, I spot a deer and bring the car just before it pops out about 3 car lengths ahead. Of course, being a "deer in the headlights" it freezes smack in the middle of the lane for a second and bounds off. Remembering years of night travel I knew better than to just go as a moment or two later a second deer bounded out after its buddy.
There's a reason I do the driving when we're in MN, if it's not the wildlife, it's the ice and snow.