Posted by BeckyNY on 2/10/06 11:51pm
Msg #96206

I think this may top any bad day!!!

This is going to sound like something right out of a horror story, but believe me it’s not.


Appointment time was confirmed with the borrower no problem and she asked me if I got my directions - again no problem (now at this point she is thinking I got my directions from the bank and I did not know that's what she was talking about). I pulled the directions from Map Quest, and got into the area earlier than expected 8:00 am. The area I was going into is known as Zoar Valley (very steep hilly winding turns with canyon walls up to 500’) Because I never had a reason to venture into this area I didn't know at this time that I was headed into the heart of Zoar Valley. I've only heard of it.

This will give you an Idea of where I went.

http://www.angelfire.com/pa2/STONEMANGUITARS/zoardeath.html

It’s very interesting! More than I knew about the area and I am only 30 minutes from here. I've heard a lot of people talk about the area but never had any reason to go in there.

I turned onto the borrowers road and proceeded toward their address. As I continued on something didn't seem right. I was going down an extremely steep road into the gorge of Zoar Valley with guard rails on each side along a 150’ cliff and the width of the road was only big enough for one vehicle. Because of this and the snow I was not able to turn around or back-up the road. When I got to the bottom of the gorge I noticed that the bridge to cross the creek and continue toward the borrowers home on the other side of the ravine was closed. I turned around at the bottom of the gorge and proceeded to return up the road. As I got half way up my vehicle started sliding backward on the ice. I continued to slide backward bouncing from guard rail to guard rail with my truck (4 wheel drive was locked in too). After several attempts to return to the top of the gorge, I decided I didn’t have any choice but to get out and walk. (and there is no cell phone service in the gorge) Now here I am in a suit with high heals, no jacket (I usually don’t wear it because I get in and out of the vehicle so much) hiking up an unplowed road packed with about a foot of snow (I found out afterward that two people died there last year hiking up that hill). I slipped and fell two times and one of those times both my high heals went flying about 10 feet from me and now I’m in only nylons laying in the snow looking up at the sky. At that point I was crying so hard and so upset I think I actually said out loud “oh god, just take me now”. In addition, when I got to the top of the gorge I noticed that there was a road closed sign but did not notice it while I was driving because someone had turned it and moved it over to the side. I walked for about a mile before I came to a house. By the time I got there I was a mess (emotionally) and physically. The elderly couple let me in to use the phone. The first person I called was the borrower (it’s about 9:30 now) The borrower specifically asked me if I used Map Quest and I told her yes. She got very mad because she knows the area and she specifically told the bank that who ever they send do not let them use Map Quest because the directions take you to a road that is not only closed for the season because of the danger zone but the bridge has been out for about 5 years.

My husband left town this morning for a fishing trip up to Canada and of course he also had to take my Father and Brother and Brother-In-Law with him. I finally got in touch with my brother in law on my husbands side of the family. He got there about 10:30. He also tried for several hours to get me back to the top.

After being very unsuccessful we hiked back up to the top (AGAIN!) to call a tow truck. To make matters worse as soon as I told the towing companies where I was, they came right out and told me they will never get back up the gorge and could not help me and they had no suggestions other than looking for a farmer with a really big tractor.



So that’s exactly what we did, we went from house to house and farm to farm looking for someone with a really big tractor. Finally we came to a farm house with a “ really big tractor”. The owner agreed to help us. He said he has pulled many people out of that road. As we all returned to the location of where my vehicle was There were three state troopers stopped at the top of the gorge with all their lights on and everything. Amazingly this tractor got down the gorge, and was able to pull my vehicle back up with no problems. AND he charged me!! Now I'm a debit card person and never have any cash on me - my brother-in-law paid him for me.

Of corse the trooper had to take my drivers license to check to see if I have any warrants our or anything and when he hands it back to me he say "Welcome to Zoar Valley"!! I replied (as I was still crying) "If I never see Zoar Valley again in my life I can care less" He just kind of chuckled. I've lived in this area for over 35 years and never really seen this side of Western New York.

I was in contact with the borrower the whole time, but by the time I finally got out of the area it was 2:30 and I was a mess. Needless to say the closing did not take place. The borrower was very understanding and she said she can re-schedule for any time, just let her know.

Now to add to my already very bad day, I have three packages in my truck that were to be sent out from last nights closings and all my other closing for today did not take place.



Do you think I am still entitle to my trip fee?? ha ha!

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 2/11/06 12:00am
Msg #96208

Becky, you poor gal, I was with you every step of the way, and you still could find humor, you deserve the award of the year.

Reply by Jenny_CA on 2/11/06 12:08am
Msg #96210

I feel so bad for you....it is such a blessing that you are now safe at home, someone up above was watching over you. Be safe.

Reply by Notary_MA on 2/11/06 12:35am
Msg #96213

To funny!! So how much would u charge to go back there? n/m

Reply by TitleGalCA on 2/11/06 12:52am
Msg #96214

Becky, not only do you top "any bad day" but you get the winter reward! Wow, kiddo - I don't know how you have the wherewithal to post this, after what you went through.

As Lake Arrowhead said, I know what you mean, and my hat is off to you. Girl, if you can do this, you can do anything.

Take every cent you earned here, and charge double for hazard pay. Wow.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 2/11/06 1:22am
Msg #96223

Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how .....

did you enjoy the play?
Glad you are ok
I guess there are advantages in living in the flat, boring mid-west.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 2/11/06 7:16am
Msg #96239

OMG Becky!

You get the award...for the year! Whew....

Psst....you write really well...fact of the matter is I didn't want the story to end, right there with ya girl!

Reply by MB_NC on 2/11/06 7:36am
Msg #96240

Re: OMG Becky!

Hey Becky~

I lived in Syracuse for 30 years! I know exactly how you feel. I got my van stuck down at the bottom of a borrowers driveway one night (he forgot to tell me to park at the top..oops). That was 2 winters ago...and my last one there! Now I am in the NC mountains and we are getting our 1st snowfall of the year today...maybe 3 inches...YIKES.

Good luck to you the rest of the season. I always hated winter time closings..at least here when the snowflakes start to fall, the town shuts down! It's great!

Reply by cmd_NH on 2/11/06 9:51am
Msg #96271

Re: OMG Becky!

I'm so glad everything turned out okay. I live in an area where there are a lot of roads that are rough, one car lanes and mountain terrain. And a lot of them are miles in the middle of nowhere, few and far between houses. Winter roads can be treacherous. I would have been in tears also.

Reply by Mary Pierce on 2/11/06 8:00am
Msg #96242

Wow that sounds worse than my latest wierd signing. I had a signing where the borrower said to make a right at the first intersection which I did. I was driving up a road that was wide enough for just one vehicle. No guard rails and on one side was a steep bank with all sorts of junk along it and the other was a steep drop off - I finally realized I was on the wrong road and drove further to find a place to turn around. It was muddy and very slippery even with my 4 wheel drive. I finally turned around, came out to the end of the road and there was a huge van parked blocking the end of the driveway. I sat there and blew my horn and finally a guy with a rifle came out and told me that I was trespassing. I rolled my window down enough to tell him that I'm sorry but I think I made the wrong turn and that I was looking for "tip top" which is a small mountain near me. He said well it ain't here. Now picture this it was dark and he was walking around my jeep with a flashlight looking in and holding his rifle. He said a lot of people sneak back here and steal things. I explained to him that I was just a notary looking for tip top. He asked me if I saw the no trespassing sign and I told him I didn't. He walked away leaving the van there and I thought oh my god I'm dead or maybe he is going to call the police. He finally came out and moved the van and I was on my way. I didn't waste anytime. I finally found the borrower. It was the 2nd intersection, not the first. Turned out I told my father-in-law about it and he knew the man. That guy scrared the living daylights out of me.

Reply by Becca_FL on 2/11/06 9:57am
Msg #96274

You poor thing. I'm sure glad things turned out okay for you. Wow, what an ordeal.

Reply by Bonnie_CO on 2/11/06 11:39am
Msg #96321

You win the award for toughest signing!

OMG Becky! I am glad you got out of there safely! That is really scary! Surely after that everyone will understand!

Reply by Anonymous on 2/11/06 11:49am
Msg #96323

Re: You win the award for toughest signing!

We run into road blocks, bad weather, traffic, night driving. That's why we should get paid more, for putting our lives on the line.

Reply by Sheila Ursin on 2/11/06 11:47am
Msg #96322

I had a bad day in January that I thought was so bad but after reading this, not so bad. I was in a rural area with winding roads and went one house to far and tried to turn around in someones driveway that was covered in ice. My car with front wheel drive wouldn't go in reverse over ice so I tried to drive over their yard to get the hell out of there. A huge snow drift prevented me from getting out of their yard and the homeowners came out and pushed me out (thank god) I made it to the borrowers home (right next door) and they were not upset that I was late and they happened to be elderly and they were putting on their clothes to come out and pull me out with their truck. I had been in contact with them the whole time from the cell. I was upset and crying but I pulled myself together and closed the loan. I could not have closed under your circumstances. I would have been a total mess! I take the wrong roads all the time that are closed too. Mapquest doesn't have that info and the borrowers and/or title company never seem to tell me untill I call the borrower from my cell and tell them the road is closed near their home. They always say, "I forgot about that"

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 2/11/06 12:41pm
Msg #96339

To Sheila regarding roads-

One can go to SOS in CA, we have commuter links where one places the road number and checks for road closures etc., also I have placed CA highway patrol in my favorites for hot spots up to the moment. My hubby can call me when he is stuck in traffic somewhere, I can then check that route and let him know if it will be clearing soon or he needs to consider taking an alternative route. It can be helpful however not always right on target. I'm sure your state also has something like this.

Reply by Rebecca Jones on 2/11/06 12:04pm
Msg #96328

Thank you all very much for listening to my story and sharing yours. These are the days I miss my desk.

Everything happens for a reason and I guess I learned the following…


• Mother knows best – heed the ago old advise: always have clean underwear on (which I did at least at the beginning of my journey) and “bundle up, your going to catch a cold”.

• When a signing company calls and says “We just can’t seem find anyone to close a loan that is only 30 minutes from you”, I should probably be asking WHY.

• My price for that area just went up! And, yes I am going back to close the loan.

• When Map Quest tells you to turn left at the cemetery and continue for 1.2 miles until you drive off the cliff, there should be some degree of common sense used.


Have a great weekend everyone.

Reply by Rebecca Jones on 2/11/06 12:18pm
Msg #96335

Oh, and it's probably not my husbands fault when he calls later that day to tell me how good his fishing trip is and to see how my day is going!

Reply by Jenny_CA on 2/11/06 2:09pm
Msg #96377

That's funny. n/m