July Storm Part 2: No Way Out
Driving down Whites Ferry Road on the Maryland side of the ferry, it was clear to us that this was an exceptional storm, which had made a huge amount of damage. We carefully picked our way from side to side of the street to avoid fallen limbs and trees. One large branch fell down in front of us.
Our original plan was to head west towards 15 to look for a place to eat in Frederick, but all the roads were blocked by fallen trees.
We tried 2 different roads towards the west, but couldn’t get through. We saw a transformer explode. Finally, we reached a point where Whites Ferry road was blocked, too, so we decided to cut our losses and head back across the ferry.
The Potomac was calm again, but covered with floating leaves and branches. We chatted with some of the other people on the ferry and learned that River Road was partially blocked, but probably still open.
I was concerned that we’d be stuck on the other side of the river. Although there were some trees down, which slowed traffic, the road was open. The traffic light at route 15 was out, but we waited it out, and finally ended up in Leesburg for a late lunch, about an hour and a half after the storm came through.
[an alternative version of the River Road video in Shockwave.]