The Annual Coping with Winter Thread

[Greenbare Woods]

We have had the longest and coldest winter in recent decades.  We have had "below average" (below freezing) weather since mid-November.  We have had much more than average amounts of snow, none of which has melted.  We still don't have any above freezing weather in our 2 week forecast even though our average daily high temp this time of year is above freezing.  And now its become very icy with freezing rain on top of snow.  Cloudy, cold, freezing. 

We rely on propane gas delivered by trucks for our house heating, hot water, and cooking.  The gas truck hasn't been able to navigate our driveway.  We turned off the heat and are using the last 5% of our reserve for laundry water.  Another electric water heater in our back bathroom is our emergency.  I hope my firewood holds out until the snow begins to melt. 

Spring will come.  Its been a bad winter.

[John P]

Bob, you must be using up all the cold before it gets to our end of the country. In New England it's been a very mild winter so far in 2017, with just one snowfall and most days (nights, even)  being above freezing. It can't last! But my wife and I have both got nasty colds. She says we should buy stock in Kleenex.

[ric]

look on the bright side , spring has definatly arrived ,  we sold a lawn mower on fleabay at the weekend, ive tested it on a small patch of grass outside the back door... i sleep easier knowing its still working as it goes out the gate

and were off to fuerteventura on saturday for a week chillin,  (or lightly roasting)  on the beach at esquinzo.   

[Davie]

Not been bad over here in the central UK. Some frost, some misty mornings, and lots of cloudy days. We've had one morning with a dusting of snow - not enough to do a snow angel!

We once had a visitor from Cheyenne, Wyoming on a day when we had a massive snowfall, of at least half an inch. As is our custom all the schools were closed. He commented that it would take at least three feet back home before anyone really worried. ... and no we can't understand why everything grinds to a halt with a sprinkling of the white stuff either!

Davie 

[Peter S]

Bob, you must be using up all the cold before it gets to our end of the country.

That's what we have Scotland for.

On a more serious note, Davie, we can't cope because we're not used to it so we're not geared up for it. Last time we had even moderate snow round here it was noticeable how many drivers didn't know how to handle a car in the snow - they hadn't had the chance for about ten years to get experience. On the other hand, when my son lived in Denmark a few years back the snow was so normal he had summer and winter tyres for his car and changed them with the weather.

[Davie]

You are quite right about drivers being unused to cetain conditions. I once worked in an office block. We were quite high up and we overlooked a car park which was on a slope. I'm afraid we took pleasure watching drivers cope with the slope after a snow fall and watching drivers put a rug under the non-drive wheels and others sliding about all over the place. I suppose we had to do something to brighten up the day.

Davie 

[jbeegoode]

Its been mostly crappy here AND for a while. The dirt road is trashed and the water has been flowing across it for days now, which I've never seen. More rain expected. Sunday it was kinda nice, the wind died down, it go to low sixties that afternoon. We went out to the sweat in robes, sat down and a friend came by. Next thing I know we are all sitting around naked basking in the sun. After a couple of weeks the sun's heat was sooo luscious! Spring IS coming and you'll all love it.

Hopefully, ric (The Tan) will attest to that in a up and coming trip report.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

We bought some land before Christmas and since then we've been out to the site most weekends, staying in a small camper and working on a small camp. The nights seem long, but we deal with it with a campfire when the weather cooperates. Otherwise, it's into the camper for a card game, a movie, or early to bed.

I feel an inner peace when I walk the lane late in the evening under the dazzle of the night sky.

I can hardly wait for warmer weather to arrive, but then there will be bugs.

../Alf

Tell us more. Trees, grass, hills, acre, two, or more, or less? Nearby neighbors, nude potential? Can we come visit? Wildlife? What kind of camp are you making? Rustic wood structures, tent, firepit, composting, anythiong that you might elaborate? We are talking about gettaways in National Forests and a portable camp set up. Tent with warm stove, shower, airbed, rugs, 4x4 back into the site and hike everywhere nude.
Curious....
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

Bob, you must be using up all the cold before it gets to our end of the country.

That's what we have Scotland for.

On a more serious note, Davie, we can't cope because we're not used to it so we're not geared up for it. Last time we had even moderate snow round here it was noticeable how many drivers didn't know how to handle a car in the snow - they hadn't had the chance for about ten years to get experience. On the other hand, when my son lived in Denmark a few years back the snow was so normal he had summer and winter tyres for his car and changed them with the weather.

It snowed 6 inches in Paris when I lived there in the sixties. We were out of school all week. There was no snow removal equipment and the locals were sliding around dangerously.

In Michigan, it took three feet and drifts up to the roof to get us out of school. I remember one night riding my bike in the freeze around our shoveled driveway naked...early secret naturism and adjusting to the seemingly everlasting cold.

It is seriously dangerous to drive up Mount Lemmon when there is snow, just because of...well, you might imagine how well desert drivers do on ice and snowy sloping roads.
Jbee

[ric]

back in the mists of time when i was at college we had a saturday at the local police skid pan, basically an oily patch of concrete and a couple of old bangers on bald tyres,   getting on towards the end one of the two coppers running the place actually said it was a nice change to  have a group who had a bit of a clue about what they were doing  when they arrived... we were agricultural engineering degree students , all of us having agricultural backgrounds and used to driving all sorts off road since we could reach the pedals.
most of their clientel were motor clubs typically with size 13 lead boots either on the gas or brake.

most drivers just dont experience different surfaces/weather or different vehicles

[Davie]

When I was working nights and it had snowed and was icy I used to take the Police car and use one of the local car parks to practice skidding. You shouldn't get yourself in a position were a skid occurs but I think most of have. I found it fun and with the passage of time useful. Even a low speed skid on an icy surface can be handled better with at least some experience. I do wonder if the local vicar whose house overlooked the car park ever saw me racing round his car church car park?

Davie 

[eyesup]

This has been an odd winter so far.

The yearly avg. rainfall for southern Nevada is 4.19". Since the winter solstice we have had 4.54" of rain.
We have had more cloudy days of cold and wet weather than I can remember. I have been here since 1986.

I have gone naked hiking in the cold and as long as it wasn't windy and/or cloudy it was a good day.
Not so much this year.

Strange days indeed!
Duane

[eyesup]

Davie, maybe he didn't want to say anything as he and the other clergy may have met on each appointed day to watch from the windows an wager on any number of possible outcomes.

Entertainment that cost nothing. 

Duane

[nuduke]

Hello Alf!
Nice to find you are still around and reading us!
Like Jbee, I'd love to hear about your new land and whether it is a haven of naturist recreation.
You always were an inveterate camper - I used to love your camping reports.  Is this property a means to an easier form of camping?
John

[Greenbare Woods]

Winter report from Spokane, WA, USA.  Snow and more snow since November.  Colder and wetter winter than normal.  Nothing but more cold and snow in the 2 week forecast into February. 

I go out barefoot in the snow briefly, but naked and snow is too cold for me. 

Bob