Sunday, January 26, 2014

Snow, A Weekend Of

The snow is one thing.......the blowing during and after the storm is what gets us.

Thursday evening and Friday evening started everything off, about 3" of the fluffy moisture combined and it was pretty when seen through the right eyes and from the proper perspective.  I've got to be careful because I'm getting perilously close to losing proper perspective.

We all met in Red Wing for dinner after work on Friday and since no plans had been made for the hopefully lazy weekend other than getting Lauren to the airport so that she could get back to USC after her holiday break, we sat around all Friday evening and watched videos in the 'nice and warm'.  I wasn't feeling the best anyway, so some hot tea and quietly watching the flat screen made for a comfortable evening.

There was talk of going out for lunch on Saturday to one of our favorite places down the river a ways, so by 9AM I was outside and had the plow truck warming up to open up our parking area and driveway.  I was only on my 2nd (of very many) passes when the front wheels dropped over a substantial edge into some very solid, icy snow, the front blade hung up on a couple feet of previously plowed drift with my rear tires on the very icy driveway.

I was stuck.  I was really very stuck.

The '46 Ford 9N wouldn't start, even with lots of prodding, the first time THAT's happened so I shoveled.......and shoveled......and shoveled.  NPR's Car Talk was on in the truck and they were just finishing up their 11-12 show when the truck finally extricated itself.  I spent another 45 minutes getting the rest of the parking area and the long driveway clean, tired but very relieved to have it all over with.

Saturday's version anyway.

We had another couple of inches last night with weather warnings of bitter cold and of course my nemesis, blizzardy winds for this evening and Monday.  Those winds started late morning and I was out with a nice cushion of time to get the area cleaned once again before Peg and Ben took Lauren to the airport.  Much of the driveway was level full of snow with the blowing and getting everything ready so that they could 'escape' proved to be another big task.  Originally planning to be part of the send-off party, I elected to stay home so that with a half hour of warning, I'd be able to once again remove the drifts so that Peg and Ben could get back IN the driveway.

The large 'disturbed' area in the shadow between my hips and shoulders is where the truck was over the edge yesterday morning.


This is what 3 hours of blowing left us; the entire driveway was bare, side to side when they left.


Here's the Action shot.......


From inside The Beast up on the road, ready for another up-to-the-hood push of snow.  Those spots on the windshield are mud from yesterday's stuckness.  There are huge drifts on the lee side of the snowfence, again affirmation as to the fence's utility.  The low spot (ditch) actually has remained drift-free this winter.  If we get too much more snow, the fence will not be tall enough to do much good for the small area it covers.


I am feeling better today but not looking forward to tomorrow.  Weather predictions for the day are dismal, both the temperature and the winds. But, tomorrow is tomorrow.

This evening I made reservations for a weekend riding trip.....that will happen in late August and mapped out some Routes on roads I've not ridden before.

Spring will arrive, hopefully in time.

14 comments:

  1. Coop - you're right, it's the wind that causes the problem, not so much the snow itself...but without the weather what would we have to talk (complain) about all winter long (okay, so we could plan motorcycle trips ... good for you. Can't wait to here where.)

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    1. You are right, the weather does give us something to 'discuss'. I simply had to retreat to trip planning today, a crutch that was sorely needed. Outdoors today wasn't so cold though still miserable. We'll have a blend of cold and miserable tomorrow but it sounds like more than enough of our entire continent is putting up with this. Stay warm and safe!

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  2. I'm not looking outside until morning light. The wind came up early eve and I know what's going on out there...

    I've lost one of my favorite dogs to walk- but this time he's gone to a new home in Minnesota! A brave and kind dog, an Alsatian. He won't mind your weather at all.

    Take care.

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    1. Martha, you've got it right...I can't even bear to look outside tonight. I'll either stay home tomorrow or go in late; a very nice gift would be to discover diminished winds after sunrise. I opened the driveway this afternoon and barely 20 minutes later, it was impassable again.

      Welcome to MN Alsatian!!

      Be careful over there tomorrow, most if not all of the schools in the southern half of the state will be closed tomorrow. Dogs and their Walkers should wait a day.

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  3. More and taller snow fence? A Caterpillar 980H ? You have a serious winter driveway issue.

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  4. I saw something the other day on the way home (Hwy 50 - Notorious for drifting) and that was that one of the farmers went out in to the field and essentially created 3 parallel driveways upwind of his real one. It looked like a very effective way of installing 3 snowfences, the ridges all catching the windblown flakes.

    All of our driveway should be raised, like real roads so that the snow blows up and over. Maybe someday.

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  5. Coop:

    what a long driveway you have to clear and the wind ! Have never been in blowing snow. Our snow, when we get it, is too wet to blow.

    August will be here before you know it. Hard to believe that one day, the snow will be gone

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. Bob, our driveway is over 300 meters long and parts of it seem to be more cantankerous than others. I'll start wishing for May and let August slowly follow.

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  6. Some blowing snow that is. I am clinging to my cup of tea while watching this.

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    1. It was extra 'special' blowing that day Sonja; those wind speeds are not typical for us. Following a no-snow day or even a day with some warmer, melting temps, the wind can't find enough loose snow to pick up and move around. Big winds following light and fluffy snow make the worst combination.

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  7. Ick blah. I think I can handle cold and snow, but the damn wind is what gets me. Just one of the reasons we could never live at the coast - the wind.

    Can't you just hunker down and stay inside? I didn't think so, life must go on even with that weather - or is that despite that weather?

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    1. Hunkering down would be the natural instinct......our deer up in the woods do it and still seem to be thriving. Just possibly we all should take their cue??

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  8. I'm sure you remember that I am a steelworker,with all the heat that entails.You will never ever hear me bitching about the cold.I can't say I love winter,but I hate being hot.Too many years of hardcore sweating!Although I never seem to lose my belly.Warmer weather is ahead my friend.Might post a RTE at the end of April sometime if my schedule permits.
    Scott

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    1. Scott, thanks for the reminder that the temps we're comfortable with break down to being personal. There are reasons I don't live in heat and humidity.

      These are prime months for ride plans......keep me posted.

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