End of Winter

A late winter day at the Tennessee Welcome Center.

I put on my winter gloves and the shell of my winter jacket this morning and was glad that I had both of them. As we left Mount Vernon before 7:30 a.m., I thought that the damp 19F cold would persist throughout the day. A new ice age.

Nothing remarkable about the first hours of our drive, except for the snow and frozen lakes in areas that had suggested spring only a year ago. We saw many red-tailed hawks, usually alone but sometimes in families roosting in trees, faithful sentinels of the highway, looking for the telltale tracks of voles under the snow.


A lovely spring day in Atlanta.

 

I was looking forward to the Tennessee Welcome Center where I had seen my first robin last year, chirping cheerfully among the daffodils and crocuses. The somewhat grumpy attendant told us this part of Tennessee usually enjoys 50F at this time of year, but many days below freezing may simply be grating on her nerves.

Finally we entered the Eastern Time Zone where we jumped an hour to 2:30 p.m., mid-afternoon 
already. By the time we got to Atlanta, temps had soared well about 50F, and we made it quickly through the downtown area in the HOV lane, a quick hop away from our destination for today, another Comfort Suites in Macon, Georgia. Same layout as last night's room in Mount Vernon; newer hotel.

We're tired but not exhausted. Looking forward to real warmth tomorrow.

Florida pics.

An Early Start

Still winter!

Bob doesn't sleep well before a day on the road. He gave up at 4:00 a.m., only an hour earlier than I usually get up so I was soon out of bed myself. We were on the road by 5:30, an hour earlier than last year.

We travelled in below zero F weather for several hours, from darkness to full sunlight. The sun rose over Menomonie, Wisconsin, cold and bright. As we drove east, the snow cover increased and I admired the monochromatic landscape of shades of white and blue-grey. Last year, we lost winter weather on our first day out. Not so today. It is still winter in Mount Vernon, Illinois. We're listening to winter storm warnings, but we seem to be ahead of any snow and sleet.

I actually did some driving today, maybe 240 miles or so. I was afraid of the trucks at first but, in the end, did fairly well. I've improved a lot over the last four months! Who knew this bitch could learn new tricks?

Florida pics.

St. Paul to St. Pete

Same route, new year.

Florida pics.

Winter Weather Blues

Weather Forecast February 25, 2015

I usually enjoy winter weather, especially when we have crisp Minnesota days with plenty of sunshine. Clearing snow is a great way to start the day and I've had plenty of it since I retired, maybe even too much last year when I was out with the shovel nearly every day, sometimes in frigid cold and bitter wind.

But this year! The winter started on November 10 but December was dark and dreary and we lost all our snow by Christmas. We picked up a little snow in January but February has simply been long and cold (nearly 10 degrees below "normal"). We've had several days without much sun and even I, a lifelong northerner, have been reluctant to spend much time outdoors.

I give up. Time to get to Florida!

Florida pics.