This post could be titled "When a good drive goes bad".
I rediscovered some wonderful winding and twisting roads today by a local lake. These roads are so twisted that they are fun even at 35-45 mph. Next I saw a large deer. Pretty cool. Later I passed the ruins of an old estate I once lived in about 20 years ago. The castle-like structure was damaged by a fire after years of neglect. I noticed some trucks in the drive and stopped to chat with a developer who is restoring the place. I was treated to a tour and then returned to my car as heavy rain began. I opened my trunk to grab my jacket and umbrella. Just as I opened the umbrella I heard a hissing crack and boom simultaneously. A thin arc traced from the shaft of the umbrella to my other hand that had just released it. I also felt a sharp tingle in my left foot. Lightning had just hit the utility pole directly above my head.
On the trip back home my A/C failed, I got a third gear "grind", and had to dodge a roll of carpet quickly in the rain that blocked two lanes on I-20. My car didn't seem quite as loud (since my ears were still ringing).
But for some reason I'm still alive...

 

Holy CRAP!!! WOW!

Man, glad you are OK!



I'm interested to know what happened to your car because of that. Are your ears still ringing?!

Yikes!!!

 

Oh my!!!!

Glad you're still with us brother.

 

My ears have stopped ringing but my left "pointer" finger is a bit numb. The car was not hit to the best of my knowledge, I'll see in the morning. That was too close!

 

Man, u r one real lucky guy!!!If I was you, I would go out buy a lottery ticket or hit the casinos because u r on the lucky streak...

 

I took a pretty good hit by lightening when I was 18 years old. It was a weird feeling and not something I'd care to repeat. I felt the hair all over my body start to stand up and I knew it was coming but there was nothing I could do about it. I heard the sizzle and felt it running all through my body and it felt like it lasted forever before it quit. My previously wet hair was dry and frizzed out from my head and my vocal cords were paralyzed my about 20 minutes, otherwise I was shaken but okay.

svann, welcome to the small club of lightening strike survivors. I'm sorry you had to join us but very glad you were able to.

 

Got strike by lightning! Man. how often is that.
I'm glad that you're still breathing.

 

You're lucky to be here to tell us about it. Since the car sits on rubber tires, it shouldn't be affected.

 

I think it was just a "leader". The main bolt fortunately discharged into the utility pole beside me. The sensation was like a strong static electricity spark but the arc was several inches long. I didn't notice any hair raising sensation before the strike as my hair was completely soaked but it was a bit frizzed out afterwards.
I've had two close calls prior to this incident once near an open widow and the other on a beach in Florida. We had a healthy respect for lightning in Florida beause the news reports lightning deaths there a couple times a week during July. Since I sail around with a 27' lightning rod for a mast I have been forced to shore many times to avoid electrical storms. I have known others who have taken far worse hits and lived to tell about what they remembered afterwards but they had no recall of actually being struck.
The storm hasn't let up here yet, and we can certainly use the rain but I don't plan on tempting the lightning gods again soon...

Stefan

 

WOW!

Ladies and Gentleman - the luckiest person on earth!

He is alive after the wrath of nature AND he has an S2000