Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Winter Wonderland


Yesterday the forecast was for snow but my morning commute was actually icy but clear. At the end of the day I rode through the Seahawk game traffic (My office is a couple of blocks north of the football stadium and last night was game night). By the time I crossed Mercer Island, a few flakes were coming down and once I climbed up to Newport Way, which skirts the northern flank of Cougar Mountain, the snow was coming down in big heavy flakes.

I felt like Andy Hampsten on the Passo Gavia in 1988. Except, of course, I was going a hell of a lot slower than Andy did. And Andy didn't have to worry about dozens of SUVs slipping and sliding along the same narrow road. I might have had about the best traction of anything on the road and my traction was minimal at best. Fortunately, most of the SUV drivers seemed to quickly learn that their advertising induced confidence was misplaced and aside from seeing a few Explorers fishtail widely and wildly through some turns the ride home was pretty much without incident. As soon as I could I got onto lower traffic roads and trails. The snow was coming down thick and wet enough that it would form a layer on my helmet and then when enough mass accumulated a big clump would whooph off in a solid sheet.

It was dark and I was too busy to take pictures last night, but I snapped a picture of my porch this morning. Temps are still below freezing here and all the schools are closed. I normally spend one day a week working from home on documents and things. I figure I used up all my luck on the ride home last night so today I'm staying put with my computer and a cup of hot coffee.

8 comments:

Tammy said...

Good call buddy! I got my coffee riiiiight heeeere :) Unfortunately, it's my last cup... today was supposed to be grocery shopping day! No way I'm venturing up to the nearest grocery store (on top of Juanita Hill!)... What a mess out there!

Glad you are safe. I did think of you last night.

Tammy said...

Hey, can I steal this pic for the December Cycle U newsletter? I could link your blog as the ref :)

Kent Peterson said...

You're more than welcome to the picture, Tammy. Stay warm.

John Calnan said...

Well done, Kent.
Jim Carson snapped some snowy commute pics yesterday.
They are visible here on Flickr.

Anonymous said...

It's so fun to triangulate a day from different people's posts. Another Washingtoner commuting back home:

http://langston.livejournal.com/213870.html

Anonymous said...

I opened my Boston Globe this morning and what should I see on the second page but a photo of people trying to free their spun out cars in Issaquah, WA. Issaquah....the brain slowly checked for recent documents....Light bulb! Kent's bike blog of course! I went upstairs, surfed on over, and there you have it - a tranquil scene, bikes, snow, bathed in that winter storm light that you best enjoy shaking ice boogers off the end of your nose and which you can't see at all waiting for a tow truck.

Warm socks and safe travel!

Anonymous said...

My commute home over yonder: http://www.43things.com/entries/view/1400605#comments

Mr. Anderson said...

I love that picture. Isn't snow wonderful?