In spite of the light dusting of fresh snow today, it still feels like Spring. The nice thing about snow around here is that it covers up all of the junk (junque?) that Alaskans tend to accumulate in their yards. And junk collection seems to be universal.
Others have posted recently about the stuff (a euphamism for junk) that we all seem to collect and Alaskans seem to excel at it. It may be due to the ridiculous shipping costs that we pay to get anything up here. And even in these days of Amazon Prime, some things cost a small fortune in shipping.
The temperatures have been floating below and above 0°F but overall, pretty nice. Especially on the long, sunny days. This fresh dusting isn't too slippery to ride in but does add some entertainment. As Chris L from
EverydayRiding had mentioned in one of his
videos, it is really easy to move the rear wheel from side to side just by shifting your weight from one peg to another. Especially on days like today. Even with the studded tires. Obviously, this doesn't work on dry pavement but on fresh snow, look out!
I gave northerners a backhanded compliment when I said the difference between WI hillbillies and southern hillbillies is that the WI hillbillies put their junk away. Guess that doesn't work in AK. You need more Germans.
ReplyDeleteBut in the winter, it's all buried under the snow and everywhere looks clean and tidy.
DeleteI did notice what you mention when I was in Alaska. I also noticed lots of old cars just rusting away.
ReplyDeleteLots of old cars and trucks, way too rusted to be restorable. But not all. I don't know if you visited the Fountainhead auto museum while you were up here but it has a pretty good collection. Almost all drivable.
DeleteRichard:
ReplyDeleteTechnically it isn't Spring snow yet. Not until after the Spring solstice. So it must be a late Winter snow which is Spring-like.
Snow makes everything look bright and new
Speaking of shifting weight, I guess you are getting less movement of your wheels now, but less traction . .
bob
A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast
No, it has been looking and feeling like Spring around here no matter what the calendar claims. Winter is dark and 40 below. Not like that at all.
DeleteNo wonder I have less traction ;-)
I do like how a fresh layer of snow makes everything look tidy and clean. Around here, the snow around and on the roads gets grungy pretty fast, but cruising around when everything is sparkly white is pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI'm still done with winter. ;)
I may be done with Winter but still not done with snow yet. On the way home today, I had rough running on the last 1/4 mile but no water in the carbs when I got home. And I could smell raw gas for about 1/4 mile before it started.
DeleteRichard it like that up in Prince George & points a North lots of junk & nobody seems to care. There are quite a few junk spots on the island here too and it seems the further you go into the 'sticks' it gets junkier, unless you look in my driveway and happen to notice the two 70's era Beetles laying dead I the driveway (husband projects) ugh! So what the deal with the bike? Smelling gas can't be a good thing when riding. I agree with Lucky, I am tired of winter even though it's mostly rain here. The ground is so saturated that my sloping downhill backyard has little lakes on it and it's not absorbing at all. Done with Poocha have wet puffy paws and she is too I think. So let's get the spring party started.
ReplyDeleteThe whole junk in the yard thing though not universal is pretty wide spread across any demographic you can come up with. It is even more common in rural Alaska. It really has to do with how much everything costs and not wanting to throw something away that may be useable in the future.
DeleteAt the "transfer stations", locations to dump your household trash, there are armies of people picking through and salvaging junk to add to their collection.
Sounds like you are learning to have a lot of fun on three whees in the snow, whether you want to or not.
ReplyDeleteCue the music.......slip sliding away.........
Still having a lot of fun riding in the snow. Now, I just need to get the bike to run consistently...
DeleteI wonder, given the beautifying aspect of a coating of snow, if that inspired the use of the term "a coat of white wash" to hide ugliness on a temporary basis? How's the junk pile growing at that guy's front lawn on the highway leading to UofAK by your neighborhood?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good theory.
DeleteAll of the junk piles seem to be growing. The number of old cars at that location is only growing not shrinking.