The third day of Spring looked more like the first day of Winter.
We woke to more snow and I was forced to take the car to work. I decided to take the long way to work so I could enjoy the sunshine and snap a few pics of my commute.
This turn is one of my favorite parts of my commute. It's a left turn from the southbound lane of Peoria Road and east onto Tangent Drive to welcome the morning sun, I ride through the trees and the road winds about a quarter mile to the next bend.
I cross this little bridge and the road opens up from the canopy of trees to the vast expanse of farmer's fields. Normally green with grass or filling the air with the aroma of meadow foam, this morning it was beautifully blanketed with snow.
The great thing about having snow around here is that nearly everyone is afraid to drive in it so the majority of the population stay to the main thoroughfares leaving the back roads all to myself.
Oh darn, a detour. Oh well, I guess the long way to work just became a little bit longer.
This stretch of road sure brought back memories of driving through Northern Alberta.
Back to the main road and nearing my office, this is not the way to clear snow from the car. Wait until they stop at the first traffic light and all that snow on the roof slides onto their windshield. Nothing is more fun than standing in the middle of a busy intersection brushing cold, heavy, wet snow from the windshield. (I'm a quick study).
So where does all that snow go at the end of the day?
My usual route home involved yet another detour, this time it was back to the main road and all the hustle and bustle of the commuter traffic.
I sure hope to be back on the bike tomorrow... but it may just be the canoe.
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Very nice images from your day! I love that spot in the road with the trees, and the other scenes of the road. I've never been out there during a snowfall. Really changes things.
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful morning today with sunshine and the mist hovering over the fields. The Santiam River is about as high as I've seen it (at Jefferson), and there's a lot of standing water. I'd forgotten how waterlogged your area gets. Perhaps you need to get one of those amphibious vehicles?
Here's to Lucy being back on the commute tomorrow!!
It was a beautiful drive and the detour turned my commute from 12 miles to about 18 miles and it didn't bother me a bit. I knew there was going to be flooding as it had snowed non-stop all day Wednesday and wasn't accumulating until the temperatures dropped Wednesday night.
DeleteI did ride Friday, although I was forced to use Hwy 34.
Wow thats your spring huh. Not nice for motorcycling at all.
ReplyDeleteWe don't even get that in winter here. Year round motorcycling weather here.
We get pretty mild winters here but this climate change has brought snow at least once each winter the past three years. I am able to ride year round but for a handful of days usually in January due to freezing rain.
DeleteTroubadour:
ReplyDeletelovely snow photos. Luckily we missed the storm as we didn't get any, perhaps you got our share too. It sure seems you get a lot of flooding down there, must be the high water table.
I liked that Alberta looking road photo. looks so barren and desolate. Would be good to make a print and hang it somewhere.
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
The Willamette Valley is an old river bed of clay soil so when it rains it doesn't drain well and gets muddy and stays muddy. In the summer the ground is dry and hard as concrete.
DeleteI have family in Valleyview, Alberta and this stretch of road reminded me of that area. I should print it and give it to my mom.
Beautiful pictures. I especially like the ones in the trees with the fog. Though it looks like it's flooding again.
ReplyDeleteThank you, that little bit of road doesn't look like much on most days but it can yield some fantastic scenes in the spring and fall. There is a newly remodeled house just on the left I would have loved to own.
DeleteSimply gorgeous! As someone that also loves driving down the less traveled snow filled roads. I am floored by the water levels and flooding at the end of the day. Normally I would say the water would make for beautiful spring flowers..but too late. ;)
ReplyDeleteI was tempted to drive down to the water's edge but I got in trouble once with a vehicle down there and wasn't going to do it again.
DeleteLovely set of pictures. The ones with the fog in the trees are marvelous. We actually had a lovely day for riding for a change, and the weather forecast for the weekend looks promising.
ReplyDeleteI saw your photos, thanks for sharing. It looks much drier in the lower mainland than it does around here. Saturday was beautiful, although we weren't on the bikes it was nice to feel the sun on our faces.
DeleteLove the third picture. Wow, you guys are still having snow? we didn't see any snow since the beginning of the year. Rain today and tomorrow though, it sucks, last week was beautiful and from Monday it will be sunny again.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We have had snow a couple, three times this year but I think this is it, Spring has finally sprung. Although the forecast is for more rain all next week, Saturday was beautiful and sunny.
DeleteTroubadour your pictures are beautiful. It was totally worth the snow because the pictures really are stunning. I do however hope you get tiger riding weather back soon.
ReplyDeleteThe sunshine definitely made it worth the snow, I'm glad I remembered o grab the camera as I don't normally have it with me in the car. I did ride Friday so I'm a happy boy.
DeleteGreat pics of your commute...really liked that second pic. I could picture a sidecar rig parked in that particular shot.....
ReplyDeleteDom
Redleg's Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
Dom, it was a beautiful morning and the roads were perfect for a sidecar as traffic was non-existent so you'd be able to stop in the middle of the road anywhere along the way. In fact I did.
DeleteI'm amazed at the way many people clean the snow off their cars here, or rather, don't clean the snow off their cars. There is no way they can see. Driving blind is not my idea of a good time. And, you are exactly right about leaving all the snow on the roof. The car cabin warms up. The snow loosens and comes forward at a stop. Again, blind. Not to mention the poor windshield wipers trying to work and just straining the wiper motor. Yes, you touched one of my rant nerves.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos.
~k