Winter is in the rear view mirror despite the 29F thermometer reading this morning. Winter is behind us, the snow is melting and the salt, shovels and scrapers can be put away. Plows can be removed from trucks and winter tires can be removed. Winter is definitely, absolutely, positively in the damn rear view mirror.
The winding ride into town this morning confirmed these sacred riding beliefs as the sun beat down on the earth and the little voice in my head whispered, “Winter is finally over.”
Long shadows from the rising sun under a clear sky make it easier to believe the cold is in retreat despite passing frozen ponds and snow still piled against snow fences. A close eye on the ambient temperature display on the Vespa’s instrument cluster confirmed the obvious when it changed from 29F to 30F — it’s getting warmer!
No sign of snow anywhere in town. Or at least I did not allow myself to see any. No students in shorts and t-shirts either but I told myself they were still asleep after a rough Saturday night.
If there was anything that indicated a crack in the armor of denial it was the steam rising from my Earl Grey tea at Saint’s Cafe. If I really thought winter was in the rear view mirror I would be drinking ice tea right?
On the ride home and through the day I continued to believe that winter is gone, forced into a hasty retreat by planetary motion and force of will. Before you know it we’ll all be looking for shade to roll our machines into so we can apply a nice coat of summer wax…
Ha-ha! This post made me chuckle.
Winter is over, darn it. On its own, or by Steve’s declaration: Winter is over. Do you hear that, winter? You’re over! Done! Finished! Fin! Adios! Sayonara! The temperature jumped a whole degree, from 29 to 30, winter… You’re through!
Great stuff, Steve.
It’s over. Finally. Sort off. Now just some cold and wet to put up with until the hot and miserable arrives…
One more time Steve, I think being a native to this region there will be a onion snow, or better yet we’ll witness Robins deicing wings before they go looking for worms. I know it’s been a long winter, But 63 that was a winter around here.
Love the Read.
Yep, one more to go. There are always 3 snows after the robins come back north. Some years you have to stretch the definition a bit to ‘those 3 flakes that just fell’ and others it’s a bit more obvious.
Me? I call winter over after the trout fishermen get snowed on during opening day.
Trout fisherman are hearty souls. I’ve seen them working in pretty miserable conditions. Makes riding a scooter in the cold seem pretty tame.
Lots of signs of spring. We have crocuses pushing up through the winter detritis — that indicates spring. And the dogs are tearing up the wet, dormant turf in the yard, another springtime event.
And as you say, robins….
Maybe where you are it is, Steve. Here, just outside of Binghamton, it’s 17 degrees, it snowed pretty good yesterday and this morning. The snow on my lawn is still a foot and a half thick. I’m guessing that Winter didn’t get your memo here.
Jim,
Being late to respond to comments but it has allowed the weather to temper a bit. Wet and chilly forecast up your way — much the same as us. Before long things will turn green and coats will be a dim memory…
Clearly a distribution problem with that end-of-winter memo. -30C with wind chill here this morning and a foot of snow on the ground. Going to be a long spring I expect.
During those times I remind myself that it’s great to be alive…
The pictures are so beautiful and real.They take you to the place were these are taken.
Thanks Rajesh for the kind words about the photos.