Sunday, January 5, 2014

Yes, it's cold......

It truly is though we've seen as well as felt all of this before.  The State's schools are closed tomorrow, some businesses already advising their employees to "call in" their work functions.  At least the news reports are saying....."we haven't seen this for almost 20 years".....Actually it's 17 but why quibble?

Far too often, accompanied with a large sigh from me upon hearing the reports saying......"we haven't seen anything like this since 2011".......I simply have to roll my eyes.  How can anyone not wonder about our short attention spans?
-8.5 °F
Feels Like -18 °F

So, it's established that it's cold outside.  It is a beautiful day here, the sun is bright and the blue above doesn't even hint at clouds being present.   As far as I'm concerned, that gives me all of the license I need to remember warmer days in warmer places.

A number of years ago, I drove to central Colorado to retrieve our daughter who'd spent the summer at a Music Festival high in the Rockies.  The direct route, good ol' I-70 is very well known to me and that was the reason I followed only part of its route and added to it with side trips and variations.  Those variations included Nebraska #91 and #2 into Alliance.

An August day, east of Cheyenne, WY, this on I-80.....that 'other' Big Road.


Steamboat Mountain, CO.....


Near Toponas, Colorado......


What it may look like today, though this photo was from February, 2011, photo courtesy of Jeffrey Beall


Coal, lots of it, from the Powder River Basin


Glenwood Canyon, a section of I-70 that I've always enjoyed, old 2-lane or new 4, the mighty CO River adjacent looks peaceful right here.


My overnight room at Snowmass, which was then quietly waiting for colder temps and piled moisture.




21 comments:

  1. Well, it's not that cold, or is it? We've had these temps in Alberta but I can't recall school closure or skipping work… But if it isn't safe, don't travel if you don't have to, that's for sure.

    I like your idea of putting up pics from previous road trips. Thanks for sharing those road memories with us.

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    1. So many locations put up with these temps and deal with them just fine. Kids at bus stops are part of the justification for the schools; the businesses are trying to be flexible since there will so many kids alone at home which is not the norm for a Monday.

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  2. We only get school and business closures when it gets too warm and the roads get lots of ice. We still have outdoor recess at -25°F (throw those kindergarten kids out there, they'll be fine).

    We used to have an outside dog and he did fine at -50°F. We brought him in once and spent the whole time standing by the door whining to get out.

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    1. I believe part of the issue for us is that we want to forget what it's like outside and most of us don't spend time there. Too many of us dress like we're in Atlanta, ready, rather not ready, with no reserve or allowance for extra minutes outside. Cars normally so reliable that "what can go wrong?" is the common approach to preparedness.

      In other words, we do it to ourselves. There are many people here that didn't grow up here and/or forgot what they knew.

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    2. Richard we keep the kiddies in at -25C (we're not as tough as you are in Alaska!) But, as much as I hope for, we never close schools for snow and rarely for ice (though the buses may not run.) I say this as the rain (soon to be, no doubt, freezing rain) is pelting the rooftop.

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  3. Can't wait to head West this spring.

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  4. Coop - loving the memories (aka dreams.)

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    1. I so enjoy traveling out there but am losing interest in speeding my way through. I have high hopes that my next trips west will be at a more relaxed, gentler pace.

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    2. I hear you ... and to that end am looking for some gentle, friendly, 2 lane highways that I haven't traveled before and that I don't have to rush through - if I don't want to.

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  5. Here in St.Louis it is -7F with a windchill of -33F. Nothing much is stirring. I think maybe 12in of snow would be on the ground if not for the wind. Lots of drifting. Your comment above about "many of us dress like we're in Atlanta" would be true here as well. This weather is truly exceptional for us and I'm grateful to be staying home. Truth be told, I don't even own a snow shovel. I've been spoiled by being away from Real Winter too long. Since the side street are never plowed here in the City. I'm not sure I'll be even able to get out tomorrow. We'll see. Until then, yep, a good day to think of adventures past and plan for future ones.

    Stay snug.
    ~k

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    1. Keith, I'm home today. We were given the choice and I've taken it. Peg's employer had already given them the option, our notice arrived late last night just as I was heading to the land of nod. I have work that I can do at home and will as the saying goes, "get more done here than I would have there".

      By the coming weekend, we'll have melting, a temp swing of 50+ of those F degrees.

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    2. I'll add that I awoke to -28 and can only extrapolate about the W/C. The official reading for us was -20 and that corresponding wind chill was -44.

      So far, we're warm, dry and well fed.

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  6. Good idea to remember those warmer days.

    Below average temps and snow come in every once in a while. But we seem to forget it when we are spoiled with warmer than average temps.

    I blame the short attention spans on the internet and smart phones.

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    1. I agree about our electronic technology, also our vehicles are so much better, fuel burning, ignition systems, etc. Gramp in his younger days had to drain the water out of the Model A every evening and pour hot water into an empty radiator for every use. Imagine how different it would be if we had to harness up the team, have those hot rocks heated and wrapped for our 30 minute ride into town.

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    2. That's funny you mention this regimen because when I lived among the Amish for 7 years they do "harness up the team" to go anywhere. Not sure about the hot rocks part, but maybe!

      I am tough, but I've stayed home because the idea of driving on pure ice among idiots does not appeal to me. Nor does hypothermia with temps -7 F here and wind chills of -30 F. I've had enough flat tires, dead batteries, etc. in the last ^ months to be smart enough to stay home.

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    3. I'm with you Deb; I no longer need to prove that I'm able. Experience CAN lead to prudence.

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    4. Meaning we old folks are a lot smarter than those whipper snappers! :=)

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  7. Coop:

    We have a similar problem as you. We seldom go lower than freezing. We hover a bit below then above each day so it freezes at night and melts the next morning. Most of us here do not have winter clothing. We make do with our summer stuff and just layer more on so when it gets cold we are not really prepared. As you say, we hop into our cars and hope we make it to where we are going. No thought is made for the event your car would be disabled along the way forcing you to walk in the cold, possibly for miles.

    Like riding, you prepare for the crash but with driving you don't prepare for the long walk in the cold

    I wished I could work from home but I need all the info in my files, and they are at the office

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast




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    1. At some of my former jobs, design work (computer) was 50% of my task. Now I mostly just run the machines, so as a rule, working from home is out of the question.

      I'm learning new CAM software and today am spending time finally going through hours of tutorials in the warm comfort of our family room.

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  8. Coop, cold is cold is cold... until you hit -40 (C or F, it's the same thing). I'm not talking about windchill -40, I mean the real thing.

    All types of stuff stops working at -40, mostly machines, cars, trucks, buses, if they aren't left running that is. At -40 the old oil-damped radio controls in the car virtually refuse to turn. Clutches move s-l-o-w-l-y, and all the rubber bits want to stay in whatever configuration they have (fan belts, tires, etc.).

    Fortunately, in my lifetime, so far, we've only seen that once. And once is enough.

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