Snow.

Posted on 17th Jan 2016 by essiep

2°C, heavy snow overnight.
One year ago, was filled with excitement about my cyclocross bike. It was ready for collection and I couldn’t bear the wait. One thing that I didn’t get to do was ride in the snow.
There is snow outside as I write but I can’t ride on it. I am laid up with a feverish cold and chest infection. Everything aches and all movement has to be slow. Even a few laps around the green would do it. I’m in no fit state.
However, I had a busy morning doing loads of chores, including installing 3 bird boxes, planting hostas and shopping.
Then in the afternoon, dreadful illness. It’s that pattern again, a surge of energy before the ill feeling takes over.

It’s quite slushy snow, all dripping as it melts. It’ll be gone by afternoon.

Boots on the ground.

Posted on 30th Jan 2015 by essiep

-1°C, Clear sky, snow on the ground.
Work: we are taking a whole yeargroup to the park for DofE training. The cold will be a problem for some.

Some kids were well equipped, walking boots, a hat and decent coat. Some in chunky boots did however, wear ankle-socks with them. They give with one hand and take away with the other. Sigh.

Molwynian snow crossing.

Posted on 6th Apr 2013 by essiep

-3 to +9, clear blue.

Crossed the ridge from south to North. Walked for 8½ hours with a few breaks not counting photo stops. Most of it was on snow. A new experience for me, the technique seems to be – dig your heels in on the way down. There were few of The ice slides I had feared but I did change the route. It’s a bit like walking on soft sand, except that the support is less predictable. Sometimes the snow supports your weight, sometimes your foot plunges in deep. Deep enough to reach your bum a few times.

Gwynant morning.

Posted on 6th Apr 2013 by essiep

-3°C, clear, calm.

Coldest morning that I have ever woken to in a tent. The water bladder is a slush-puppy inside and the tap is frozen. I cleared it but it’s glazed over again now. However, it’s a dazzling beautiful morning and I am comfortable in my quilted coat and ski salopettes. It’s dangerous on the upper slopes of Snowdon, so probably best to walk on the Molwynion just south of here. The ground should be less marshy between snow fields.

Stucked this time.

Posted on 23rd Mar 2013 by essiep

-2°C, heavy snow.
It stuck overnight, we certainly did not expect this much. Yesterday we hoped for a snow day but got slush. Today, the third day of spring, it’s proper snow, about 3 inches deep. Easterly wind is lifting this dusty snow, it’s drifting.

Britain braced for snow drifts in coldest March weekend for 50 years (metro.co.uk)

Winter marches on.

Posted on 21st Mar 2013 by essiep

4°C, grey,
Drawing on: snow forecast for tomorrow, winter is stubborn this year. Yes, we have been spoilt by a string of early springs. Nearly Easter, but the magnolia is nowhere near in bloom.
Temperatures have topped 4°C over this last few weeks. At least I can ride to work, the ice is relatively minor.

Heavy Snow says the Met office. Winds will average 15 mph, so some drifting likely.

Oh snow.

Posted on 10th Mar 2013 by essiep

2C, light snow, heavy north-easterly,
A thread of snowy weather hangs over us. We have been warned of severe wind-chill, but its slippery surfaces that worry me. Why? Because I have the fizzy legs.

There are persistent thoughts of mountains creeping into my mind. A longing, but wait until Easter my boy.

Roof shedding.

Posted on 12th Feb 2013 by essiep

1°C, dry cold.
Top temperature was 1°C today, mostly, surfaces were dry but ice was slow to melt. I rode in today with little to worry about, bar one thing.
Many drivers don’t clear the snow heaped up on their cars. They drive around with a white layer that looks like a new mattress or the sugary topping of a grotesque christmas cake.
As the car heater warms inside, the layer of snow becomes loose. It takes some nerve to leave the snow up there: at any moment it can drop onto the windscreen like an avalanche with no warning.
More likely though, the ice mattress will fall when the car turns, brakes or pulls away. Cars do this of course, on parts of the road where I, as a cyclist, need grip the most. Places like the apex of a bend, a roundabout, or a junction; they are the really critical spots. These are where the lumps of ice lay today.
I really hope the police start to enforce the law that promises 6 points on the lazy selfish drivers’ licenses.

Worst drive home.

Posted on 18th Jan 2013 by essiep

-3°C, heavy snow.
That was the worst drive home I can remember. It took one whole hour to do the first mile. There was almost grid-lock in all the built up areas because of this snow. I could see gritting lorries but the road was coated in a lumpy layer of glassy compressed snow.
In all the Journey took 2 1/2 hours. Just for security, I pulled over to get extra petrol on a stretch of road where the car was doing 9 mpg.
This land does look lovely though.

Looming snow.

Posted on 17th Jan 2013 by essiep

-2°C. Snow soon.
A cold week with a front that wants to push it away as much as we all do. There will be snow, but probably not enough to close work I think. There are many hopeful souls out there though.
I’ve been on my turbo, that signifies the end of the longest lived cold I can remember; the despair. 17th of January and I have not ridden a bike this year yet.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

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