Another Snowstorm!

Another Winter Storm Warning and another half foot?
At noon the snow seems to be changing to rain. It's almost 33 degrees. But earlier today it was all snow and coming down heavily. At my 8 a.m. reading, I had 2" of new snow and 7" on the ground. It depends on where you take your reading because I just shoved this yardstick through the snow on the north side of the house and it reads 6" even after an entire morning's snow. It's accurate for that spot, of course, but I expect on average we have closer to 10".


So, what does it look like here? This shot, taken at the end of our driveway and looking back at the house, shows how deep the snow lies. I have a shovel-width path to the street. It's visible in this picture.



Standing in the same spot as the last shot and looking north on Clayton Road, here's what I see: white which goes on forever. The road has been plowed but there has been little traffic. All area schools are closed.

Another shot looking back at the house. This picture would fit on the front of a Christmas card, I think. If only I sent them.

Below is a shot looking back our driveway. The little dark spot in the snow (almost dead center) is what you can see of my 20" NWS rain gauge. It's sticking up out of the drifted snow ... barely.

This clump of pines is at the northwest side of our property. The two "T's" at the left edge of this shot are our clothes line poles. Beyond is a 40 acre field, alternately planted in soybeans or corn.

A shot of our back porch shows the bales of straw I mentioned a few days ago from a little closer angle.

So at 1 p.m. we are now at 33 degrees and I can see the snow still slowly falling. I suppose additional accumulations will be less for the rain mixed in. Tonight we're to have higher winds, to nearly 40 mph, so I expect tomorrow morning to be a true winter wonderland. If the drifts pile up as I expect, we won't be going anywhere soon.

Wandering Wheels Trip (Part Five)

They're There!

.....Congratulations to Bob & Mike.....

February 9 (2:30 p.m.):

Just got a text message from Key West. They've arrived! Bob says the trip logged out at 417 miles. But, as you can see from the picture above, they're at the extreme southern point and can't go any farther.

Bob's already had a look at Hemingway's house (the outside, anyway).

February 9 (Day 9):

And so the final day is begun. Bob and the group spent the night in Marathon, just above the bridge, and they should be on it as I type. Today's ride will total about 44 miles. Tonight they'll stay at Boyd's Key West Campground, enjoy a final evening together and then prepare for the trip back to Cocoa Beach. They'll have part of the day tomorrow to enjoy Key West and I'm hoping Bob sees Ernest Hemingway's home at least.


As Bob begins his ride this morning, Key West is reporting 72 degrees a little before 9 a.m. They have fair skies, a chance of showers (only 20%) and winds from the south at 15 mph. That'll be a bit annoying as they peddle but they're now pedaling nearly west, not south, so they'll have a side wind.


February 8 (Day 8):

Bob's sent a text massage just after 3:30 p.m. that they were already in camp for the day. Another 30.5 miles on the odometer and a total of about 360. They're staying at the Knights Key Park in Marathon tonight and then tomorrow, it's on to Key West!


Just in front of them is the famous Seven Mile Bridge. Bob sent this picture:



So, tomorrow is the last day of pedaling. It's still 44 miles to where they'll stay in Key West so it'll be a decent day's work. The weather looks to cooperate with a high tomorrow forecast to be 77. The winds will be light (10-15) from the south. Tomorrow night, there's a 40% chance of showers but they should be safely in a tent before any rain falls.
On Wednesday, then, they'll be transported back to Cocoa Beach and their waiting cars and trucks.

Hungry Birds

There's nothing better for a photographer who likes to take pictures of birds than a nice, fluffy snow. Suddenly the natural source of food for the birds is buried and the feeders we hang near our house becomes much more attractive. Take this female cardinal for instance:


She is usually quite skittish about my standing on the other side of the window and watching her feed on the suet. Even today she made it clear that she would have preferred that I back away. But when I didn't, when I was still there every time she landed, she decided to stay and eat. A hungry bird is a photographed bird.



This shot (above) is particularly appealing to me for the way she has her tail feathers spread fan-like. She's merely balancing, of course, but it shows the true coloration so much better: russets, oranges and deep shades of red. The male may be the more striking but the female cannot be overlooked for her spectacular shades.



Here she can be seen with snow attached to her beak. Everything on that side of the window is snow-blasted. It's a harsh, hungry world today.

The pair of Downy Woodpeckers were feeding, too - both the male (here) and the female. They are mostly frightened by the Red-bellied Woodpecker for his great size but they are not in the least afraid of me. They will always stay and feed while I am there. This nearby maple tree serves as a sort of staging area where they'll wait if need be until the last bird moves on. After a short patience, they'll move over to the suet anyway.

Who needs to pay for entertainment while there are creatures like these?

Wandering Wheels Trip (Part Four)

February 7 (Day 7):

The weather's looking pretty good for today's ride. In the GOES satellite image, taken after 9 a.m. this morning, you can see clear skies off the southern coast of Florida. The riders are already beginning their trek down the keys so they are in that "open" area.


Here's a map of today's route which will take them from Key Largo to Long Key, a distance of about 30 miles. Ah, a short day!
About 4:30 p.m. Bob called and said all was well, that the ride was windy and there was open water on both sides of then. He said he was amazed at the shades of blue in the water. It is in the mid-60's. I could easily hear the wind gusting during the call.
He said he'd try to get a few pictures fired north if he could. And within half an hour, when I came upstairs to my PC, there they were.



And here they are. First, here's Mike at rest on a bridge. As today came to a close, the group had logged about 330 miles with 70 or so to go.

Here's another view of a manatee being fed. Bob said he got the chance to give one some lettuce and that the animal's whiskers tickled his hand.

And here's Bob himself. He doesn't look quite so unhappy as in the earlier shot, does he? Of course look at that sky! Clear and sunny with a nice breeze. Who could ask for me (except maybe a calm day)?

This sunset picture was taken last evening (02/06/10) while the group was eating at a restaurant in Key Largo. Couldn't be prettier, huh?

And here's a final look at Robert. With almost 83% of the distance behind him, he has reason to smile. Think of it: he's just 120 miles from Cuba! How about that astronaut-type beard? He looks like he's been aboard an Apollo spacecraft just back from a moon voyage!

February 6 (later);

Bob called and the group is in for the day after a 47 mile ride. They're spending the night at a private residence. He said they were all going out to eat later (in a van). That beats pedaling!
He sent three pictures from today and yesterday. This is of a manatee being fed.


Then he sent a picture of the African Queen. Remember the 1951 movie with Bogart and Hepburn. This is the boat from the movie. And here's how Bob got to see it.



Finally, this is a shot from where they camped last night.

Bob said his cell phone needs charging and I suppose he'd rather eat than send me pictures so we'll let him be for the evening.

February 6 (Day 6):


We got a call from Bob last evening on his cell phone and he said he was in camp but too tired to send pictures. He was hitting the sack. Maybe I'll get more later today?

He had completed a 57 mile day and was facing a ride of 47 miles today. But today will place to riders into the Keys:

Now the ride is one with water on both sides of the route and they'll be open to whatever wind is blowing through. Key Largo (the destination) forecasts a west wind at 15 mph. As I type this (10:30 a.m.), it's 71 degrees there.

Snowstorm!

First, cries of Winter Storm Watch and then a move to a Winter Storm Warning. I pay attention but I also take the forecast with a grain of salt. It's often wrong.
Yesterday I was pretty sure it was going to be wrong.
Throughout the day the temperature hovered just above freezing and what fell - a mix of sleet, rain and snow - quickly melted as it hit the ground. At bedtime, we had very little snow actually building up on the ground.
But during the night I heard the northeast wind pick up and the rain gutter, which is too near my ear, slow down its constant dripping. I know it had cooled somewhat, but had the rain turned to snow?
It had!


This tree is beside our barn and it is blasted in wet snow which is weighing the branches down. I worry about the power ... but so far, so good.



This close-up shot of a pine shows how heavy the snow was. There's an even 9" on the ground at 8 a.m. (the meltdown figure is a whopping 1.04").

These two trees mark the south end of our property. Just beyond them is Sam's lane, unseen and buried beneath the drifts.

Here's a view of the rear of Pinehaven. The straw bales that you see at the corner of the house are designed to add an extra layer of insulation for our bathroom pipes. It never hurts to be proactive. The snow will add yet another layer of insulation so I am glad for it.

I swept the satellite dish clear of as much snow as I could (the rest is thoroughly frozen onto it). We didn't have any DirecTV signal last night and it's no wonder. When I looked at the dish this morning, the front surface was flat. There would have been little reflected signal getting into the antenna.

Mom's concrete bench on the back porch has deflected snow into a drift. The snow came from the northeast which is approximately the direction this photo was taken.

I took this shot yesterday (02/05/10) to show how the snow was sticking to NE-facing surfaces. This is the corner of our garage.

Before I even climbed out of bed this morning, I heard machinery stop in front of the house (thus nearest my bedroom window) and I got up to see what was going on. It was a neighboring farmer, D.R. Coffman, come with his tractor and snow blower to dig us out. Dear man! Think of the beauty of friendship, the quality of neighbors, especially one who lives a mile away, with nothing more on their mind than assistance.
Will we get out today anyway? I doubt it. It's too nice to stay in and warm.

I did make one trip to the roadway and that was to bungee-cord on our mailbox which had been knocked off its post by a snowplow (twice, in fact; I did this late yesterday, too). The battered mailbox is back in place, through a bit bent and crumpled, but ready for a mail delivery. I doubt it, though. What happened to the motto "neither rain nor snow" ...?
And so we have had our first - and only - substantial snow for the 2009-2010 winter season.

Here's a shot our my "favorite" second floor window, facing the meadow to the north.

And this (above) is a shot out the south-facing living room window. Look especially at the tree in the distance and how flocked it is with snow. The branches are many times their original size.

This shot is taken out the front living room window. In the foreground is an ornamental shrub now thick with white. In the distance is a pine. It conceals the mailbox which is still holding its place on the post. Still no mail.

Wandering Wheels Trip (Part Three)

February 5 (Day Five):

It's another long haul today, about 57 miles, but it's warm (80 degrees at 2 p.m.) and merely overcast. I've been watching big storms coming on shore in the northern part of the state and there's an angry line of thunderstorms still out in the Gulf. The Miami office of the NWS is calling for a 70% chance of heavy rain tonight (mostly after 7 p.m.) so Bob and Mike should be in from the day's ride.
Mom, Dad and I put this picture together and I'm sending it to Bob soon. Mom made a sign that says "Hi Bob" and we'd thought he'd enjoy a piece of home. Here at Pinehaven, it's just 33 degrees and we're under a Winter Storm Warning. What? Anywhere from half a foot of snow and up before tomorrow morning arrives. Considering that, what's a little rain?


Today's route takes the group from Dania to near Miami. Tonight they'll bed down at the Miami-Everglades Campground. I wonder how loud the storms will be through the tent fabric?

February 4 (continued):

First, a picture taken at a sidewalk cafe where the bikers had lunch. Its located in Delray Beach.


Then a picture of the skyline in the West Palm Beach area.



Bob even managed to take a picture of the mountain of lasagna he had for lunch!

Finally, here's some of the bikers crossing a bridge ... somewhere near the coast of southeast Florida.

February 4 (Day 4):

Below is today's map, a route of about 65 miles - the longest ride of the trip - from Juno to Dania. Tonight the group will stay at the Mt. Sinai Methodist Church.

The weather, at least, is cooperating, though breezy. An east wind, gusting to 20 mph, might require a little more pedal power. At least it's a crosswind. At noon, the temperature is 75 but the skies have gone to mostly cloudy.

Wandering Wheels Trip (Part Two)

February 3 (later) ...

Pictures just in from Bob after arriving at the destination. First shot is of parasailing at the beach. Finally, a sunny, warm day!


Tonight the group is staying at the Oceanview United Methodist Church at Juno. Bob said he and "Big Mike" will be camping out on the grounds. Here's a picture (below) of their Fellowship Hall. Today's ride totaled about 50 miles.



This is a shot of the bikers as they wheeled through a Cypress grove.

And finally, a picture of a lone Great Egret who seems to be looking a little more than cautiously at the photographer!

February 3 - Day Three

I haven't heard from Bob yet today but we had a nice talk last evening. Today's ride takes them from Fort Pierce to Juno. Here's a map of today's ride:


How's the weather? Fort Pierce was predicting sunny skies all day but the noon report is cloudy. I pulled up the current GOES satellite picture and it looks clear in the vicinity of the ride.
Tonight they'll stay in Juno (near West Palm Beach). Today's ride was slated to be about 30 miles.

February 2 (Day Two - continued):

Pictures arriving mid-ride which places the group perhaps near Oslo. But earlier this morning, this is a shot of the group leaving the Vero Beach Kamp (actually at Sebastian). It looks a little cool - and a little damp - but they'll warm up when they get to peddling.


Bob sent pictures during his lunch stop and here's a close-up of the chow wagon. I can't say how the food is from 1200 miles away, but the gals sure look enthusiastic!



And here's the same full-frame shot so you can see the entire wagon.

Finally, Bob said he took pictures of dolphins cavorting in the Atlantic. This was shot from a bridge. Look closely!

Bob also said the group has managed to stay dry thus far today. I looked at the NWS radar before sending a text message back and there is rain and storms to both their north and west. The rain out to the west is moving their way. But with just 20 miles to go today. they might make it. And if not, the journey in the rain won't be too long.