Saturday afternoon. Some work in the morning plus other errands. All weekend the weather is promising snow, ice and strong gusts.
The windchill makes it all feel as though its minus double figures once more.
Before turning out the boys I mention to 'Jackie' that we could leave them in. I know they won't like the winds, and 'Mr F' certainly won't appreciate it. There is some food out there but it will be wet by now. If very hungry they will eat that but only if it is in a wind protected spot. When it is this cold, all they want is to get out of the wind.
'Jackie' thinks we should let them out at least in the morning. At that moment the sun is trying to get through and I too ponder that it will be better for 'Mr F' to get out there and move his legs. One of us can bring them in within a couple of hours or so.
We turn the boys out. 'Mr F' was looking for grass while the boys were playing. Meanwhile 'Jackie' and I were mucking out and chatting. She then had to attend the lambs and as I looked up to watch the boys, I saw 'Mr F' gallop about quite frantically. It was a kind of 'get me out of here - I want to get away from this wind - where is food' kind of gallop with angry bucks in between. The boys a little surprised at first of course joined in. I thought there is no point in keeping them out there like this, it's only going the get more blowy with loads of snow showers. If there was loads of grass and some form of shelter they could stay out but this wasn't very pleasant. Besides, 'Jackie' wants to keep her fields in good shape and three crazy horses, even though 2 may be little, turfing it up all the time won't keep it nice. We decided to bring them back in. As we turned up they came running to the gate "Oh gosh Oh gosh get us in |PLEASE!" 'Mr F' can be quite dramatic about things ... Mind you, he had a good little work out for 10 minutes or so.
The strong gusts and snow showers continue all morning and afternoon. I right now sit in my car typing this. My little mobile hotspot allows me to be online anywhere and it is very fast indeed. Certainly faster than the broadband at the place where I currently reside. The only place where I get to write undisturbed (with no-one around that may require my help) is either the car, the stable or the fields. Come spring summer, sitting in the grass watching the horses and sheep while writing is most relaxing.
As I am typing, the strong gusts gently rock my car. It's very cosy, the odd spell of sunshine keeps re-heating the car. The views from 'Hill Farm' are far reaching and I can see new snow showers approach in shape of thick, foggy clouds.
Cosy inside ... provisions on dashboard ...
Another snow shower on the way ... but it's not enough yet to cause any hassle, the winds blow it through so fast it doesn't have time to settle.
Then, some two hours after writing the above text, snow fall has been more consistent and soon covered everything in white dust, including the horses in their stables.
As I make my way home, the snow showers are becoming more frequent and longer lasting. The forecast may be right after all ... it looks as though we are in for a load of snow over night. I may yet once more get to play in the snow with my car.
The next morning I was greeted by more than 5 inches of snow and much more than that where the wind has piled it up.
It's certainly more snow than 2 weeks ago and I am curious to see how my car will perform. It has just gone 6am and the roads are untreated. I also cannot see any other tyre marks. Great! More grip for me. Getting out the drive no problem, driving on untreated roads and lanes also no problem despite there being some considerable drifts in places. Again it is light snow and I can just push my way through it with the car. In fact will all being white it is impossible to see what is deep and what is not. The car drives perfectly and doesn't skid. About 3/4 of the way there I hit a crossing (just country lanes). It is the first of two and both are exposed to the winds and usually have drifts obstructing the route.
I can just make out some drifts but they only seem about 40cm deep. The road behind is clearer. I drive at some speed through the drift, knowing that I am not likely to meet any other cars at this time in the morning. As I turn to go up the hill I see that the road ahead is basically clear. Great, one of the farmers must already have been through with the snow plough. It being uphill I try and get some speed so I an have a run up and around the bend at the 2nd crossing. Well, the clear road suddenly stops and I am facing a meter high drift ... too late to stop. The windscreen gets covered in white and I have to get out the car to clear it all off. Only now can I see that no tractor has been up and that it was the wind that blew the snow off the roads and piled it up right across the roads. I manage to get my car out of the heap of snow and reverse backwards until I can turn the car. Best not challenge things too much, no point in being stuck and holding up anyone that might come and clear the road.
At that moment I receive a text from 'Jackie': "Don't bother driving up, you won't make it." Good old text message delays! I drive my car a short distance back down the lane and park it in a quite sheltered lay-by. I can now clearly see through what I had driven just earlier, and I am impressed with this little car. It never even skidded. I park it safely in a lay-by just near the short cut (foot path) up to 'Hill Farm'. I leave enough room so other cars an still use it to make room for oncoming traffic. I leave a note on the inside of windscreen with my mobile number.
As I arrive at 'Hill Farm', 'Jackie' is already on her tractor with the plough, clearing the drive up to hers and all the way to the crossing further along the country lane.
It will take her a while, the drifts are worse than they were 2 weeks ago. As I get to the stables, all I see is white, inside and out. The swirling wind has blown the snow all over the straw, their haylage and the water. Good thing is; 'Mr F's water has not frozen. My anti-freeze system still works.
It's Sunday and a day off for me. I would normally go to my usual writing spot but it won't be accessible as it is even more remote than 'Hill Farm' and all up hill to get there. Plus I would have to go on roads with much traffic and no doubt there will be several cars that have got stuck.
So instead I camp out at 'Hill Farm', in my little car, parked outside the boys stable and do some writing on my laptop.
Then, some two hours after writing the above text, snow fall has been more consistent and soon covered everything in white dust, including the horses in their stables.
'Mr F' quite glad not to be out in this ...
'Rookie' .... he doesn't care much about wind, rain or snow.
'Mr F' ... snug and warm under his rug
As I make my way home, the snow showers are becoming more frequent and longer lasting. The forecast may be right after all ... it looks as though we are in for a load of snow over night. I may yet once more get to play in the snow with my car.
The next morning I was greeted by more than 5 inches of snow and much more than that where the wind has piled it up.
It's certainly more snow than 2 weeks ago and I am curious to see how my car will perform. It has just gone 6am and the roads are untreated. I also cannot see any other tyre marks. Great! More grip for me. Getting out the drive no problem, driving on untreated roads and lanes also no problem despite there being some considerable drifts in places. Again it is light snow and I can just push my way through it with the car. In fact will all being white it is impossible to see what is deep and what is not. The car drives perfectly and doesn't skid. About 3/4 of the way there I hit a crossing (just country lanes). It is the first of two and both are exposed to the winds and usually have drifts obstructing the route.
I can just make out some drifts but they only seem about 40cm deep. The road behind is clearer. I drive at some speed through the drift, knowing that I am not likely to meet any other cars at this time in the morning. As I turn to go up the hill I see that the road ahead is basically clear. Great, one of the farmers must already have been through with the snow plough. It being uphill I try and get some speed so I an have a run up and around the bend at the 2nd crossing. Well, the clear road suddenly stops and I am facing a meter high drift ... too late to stop. The windscreen gets covered in white and I have to get out the car to clear it all off. Only now can I see that no tractor has been up and that it was the wind that blew the snow off the roads and piled it up right across the roads. I manage to get my car out of the heap of snow and reverse backwards until I can turn the car. Best not challenge things too much, no point in being stuck and holding up anyone that might come and clear the road.
At that moment I receive a text from 'Jackie': "Don't bother driving up, you won't make it." Good old text message delays! I drive my car a short distance back down the lane and park it in a quite sheltered lay-by. I can now clearly see through what I had driven just earlier, and I am impressed with this little car. It never even skidded. I park it safely in a lay-by just near the short cut (foot path) up to 'Hill Farm'. I leave enough room so other cars an still use it to make room for oncoming traffic. I leave a note on the inside of windscreen with my mobile number.
As I arrive at 'Hill Farm', 'Jackie' is already on her tractor with the plough, clearing the drive up to hers and all the way to the crossing further along the country lane.
It will take her a while, the drifts are worse than they were 2 weeks ago. As I get to the stables, all I see is white, inside and out. The swirling wind has blown the snow all over the straw, their haylage and the water. Good thing is; 'Mr F's water has not frozen. My anti-freeze system still works.
Snow piled up by winds and the snow plough ...
For some reason, 2 of the 20+ ducks where determined to hang around despite the ice, while the rest of them as usual disappear to somewhere less hostile. They have to do a lot of swimming to stop it from freeing over ...
The wind has piled up loads of snow in front of the boys' stables ...
It's Sunday and a day off for me. I would normally go to my usual writing spot but it won't be accessible as it is even more remote than 'Hill Farm' and all up hill to get there. Plus I would have to go on roads with much traffic and no doubt there will be several cars that have got stuck.
So instead I camp out at 'Hill Farm', in my little car, parked outside the boys stable and do some writing on my laptop.
No comments:
Post a Comment