Saturday and Sunday sunshine

Tree growing out of a log on Lake Whatcom

I took this picture on the walk with the ladies (and one man) this morning on the North Shore of Lake Whatcom. It was cold when we started out, but the sunshine and the briskness of the walk warmed me up quickly. I really needed this walk, because yesterday afternoon I was involved in a car accident.

Coming out of the parking lot of a rather large shopping center, I tried to turn left into pretty heavy traffic and thought I was clear when BAM! I collided with another car. We both stopped to take an assessment of the damage and fortunately a policeman was going by and stopped to write up an incident report. We both have coverage and I've already reported it to my insurance company. My car has bumper damage but is still drivable, but the young woman could not open her driver's side door so she had it towed. I've since learned that auto body shops are not open on the weekend, but first thing Monday I'll get my car appraised and schedule it to be fixed.

I've been driving for many decades, and this is my first accident. Unfortunately for me, I pulled out into traffic and will probably be issued a ticket (also my first!). Everyone is all right, although the young lady (exactly fifty years younger than me) was as shaken up as I was. I drove my car home carefully, but after a look under the hood I realize that I can drive it around safely as long as I don't get going too fast.

My poor car

It also was a lesson in how quickly everything can change. My insurance company will be taking care of the details, but I'll be paying for this in more ways than one for a long time to come. It's good that nobody was going any faster than we were. It's also a good lesson in how dangerous these vehicles can be. I hope this makes me a safer driver.
:-(