Echo, your story about the wind reminded me of James Michener's Centennial where the woman went crazy and kept muttering about, "the wind and the dirt." Not that I think you're going crazy, but I can understand where you're coming from.
My six hour trip became 10. I'm in Scottsdale now and barely functioning. Off to bed. Zzzzzzzzzz......(Well maybe just one little glass of wine first.)