While on a work related trip up Hwy 25 in NE Wa toward Northport, approximately 10 miles from Canada, at 60 mph and about 15 min before my destination, a funny thing happened on the way toward the Canadian border.

Driving along happily in my 88 240 DL wagon, listening to Eddie Vedder's Ukulele Songs at high volume, I noticed in peripheral vision off to my left, a medium sized moving object at the top of the cut bank about oh, 35 to 40 feet above the roadway.

"ATV" I thought, with some alarm, knowing how quickly and unpredictably the usual drivers of these terrain vehicles move about. Reflexes went on moderate alert.

Within a nanosecond or two, this object slid/moved/plowed down the side of the cutbank and into the road, and without further notice, the maw of a moose was visible in my driver's side window.

Just before she (? no antlers) T-boned me and my rig, s(he) realized the error and veered off to the left. I saw the white of the right eye of the beast. It had a beard. Without any thought, I jumped on the accelerator. Yeah, it was fight or flight, and flight was the option that came up. In a 1/0 world, my choice was RUN.

Okay, the 240 does not just leap into action. There was no time to reach for the functioning overdrive switch. Pressing on the accelerator required a second or two for result. The moose had time to gallop alongside for a few feet.

Finally, or at least within a nanosecond, or it seemed like forever (time is relative,right?) the cutbank was no longer a barrier, and moose high tailed it into the woods.

I think I passed a 35mph sign at about 70 but within a few feet had put on the brakes. Overshot my turn by a couple blocks but circled back around. Arriving breathless at client's house, brushed off the usual hi hello how are ya pleasantries and requested use of the facilities stat.

Other than that, my 88 240 wagon drove me over 1500 miles in a week's time of visiting nurse work in uber rural NE Wa, counting the trip over from the coast and back. Spun like a top. Used no oil that I can detect. Got me home with nary a sputter. I even ventured a side trip on the way home on a scenic but remote road I really had no biness going down alone,but hey, I don't get over on the dry side that often.

Do they even make cars like this any more?
And I hope I'm not jinxing it by telling this tale.

I wonder which one would have won, the moose or the wagon?