Tag: snow
Cold Weather Musings – Checking in from the Eastern Tundra

Cold Weather Musings – Checking in from the Eastern Tundra

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Hey, Everybody-

Just checking in with a hello.

Here on Long Island, we were treated to 2 feet of snow when the storm Juno came rolling through town last week. Last night we received a few more inches of fluff which are now being followed up with freezing rain. Temperatures are set to drop into the teens tonight. My whole world is turning in to a block of ice.

This is probably the point where someone will chime in that I could (should?) be riding the Ural around. But, I just haven’t felt like it. ::shrug:: I’ve been keeping myself plenty busy doing other things.

Doing “Other Things”

Did you know there was stuff to do besides riding motorcycles? 😉 Lately I’ve been shoveling, running and riding my fat bike.

Sunday was the last 5K for our local park Winter Run Series. Though I can run any time I want to, I always enjoy running an event. I’m kinda sad that’s over. The Summer Run Series of 8 races doesn’t start until June. That’s practically 300 years from now.

It probably won’t be a shock but I’m not a fast runner, but I’m steady and committed. When I first started running I was 39 years old, crazy pudgy, completely embarrassed and not sure if I could do it at all. My first weeks at it had me huffing and puffing, unable to run for 1 solid minute. Pretty sad, huh? But I kept trying and fell in to a routine. Now I’m about to turn 41 in a minute and I’ve come a lot further than I ever imagined I could. I just registered for my first half marathon. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

For the past few weeks I’ve also been reading and checking out podcasts about meditation. In my never ending quest to chill the fuck out, I’ve been listening to the soothing sounds of a lady who I’m sure has hairy armpits leading me down to the path to relaxation. Last week I think I might have had a breakthrough in thinking about nothing. Either that or I fell asleep.

Planning on not Planning was the Plan

Even though I thought that maybe making plans wasn’t the thing to do, I’ve been daydreaming up a storm about all the places that I’d like to go this year. Will I follow through on them? Well, that will probably be a mixed bag of yes and no.

Lately I have had these crazy fantasies about riding to work on Fridays with my top box packed with little more than a couple maps, a toothbrush and clean underpants. Then when it’s time to slide down the dinosaur at quittin’ time, I’d just sail off to points west of here. Which is pretty much everywhere. Then I’d saunter home on Sunday feeling like a shiny new penny with glorious tales of the road. That could just be a fantasy, indeed. But those fantasy-seeds have a nice way of turning into flowers sometimes.

I’d like to ride through more of rural Pennsylvania this year. It would be terrific if anyone had any routes, loops or suggestions of places to visit. I’m all ears. I’d like to wander the two-laners in the Keystone State.

Six More Weeks of Winter

Our pal Punxsutawney Phil is predicting 6 more weeks of winter. Maybe I’ll roll the Ural out, maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll just spend the next few weeks continuing to stuff my brain full of unplanned plans. Who knows?

What have you been up to lately?

Stay warm and be happy, friends.

fuzzygalore fuzzmop sign
We are the Fuzzmops. Welcome to our house.

 
Snowpocalypse – Blizzard Drives Long Islanders Mad

Snowpocalypse – Blizzard Drives Long Islanders Mad

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Here where I live on Long Island, we got pummeled by nearly 3 feet of snow on Friday. One of the first questions everyone in my circle of friends asked was ‘Did you take the Ural out?’

snowbound in the garage for now

No, I haven’t. From Friday in to Saturday the county asked that all non-emergency vehicles stay off the roads.

With echoes of Hurricane Sandy – response here on Long Island was bungled. In some crazy breakdown of infrastructure, it is now Monday morning and the majority of roads in our county still remain unplowed. Highly taxed residents are outraged.

Abandoned snowbound cars sit silently littered on our roadways. These cars have to be dug out and towed away before a plow can clear those areas. Residential side streets are a mess with some random system of plowing having taken place. Some larger side roads were plowed through once, creating large barriers of snow to smaller streets that are still unplowed.

The Long Island Expressway, our largest artery, was shut down for snow removal from Sunday morning at 9am until 7am Monday morning. A 6 to 8 lane highway! That blows my mind.

my car, burred under snow

Kenny and I walked to the supermarket which was surprisingly open on Sunday. Adventurous (or stupid) drivers were out creating gridlock, maneuvering around car-filled snowbanks, stuck vehicles and accidents. They were doing a whole lot of honking and not a lot of moving. The two of us were able to walk faster than people were able to drive.

Tensions were very high on the road. Exasperated people idling in their cars were asking us why the traffic was stopped as we walked by. Oh, I don’t know… we had 3 feet of snow and no plowing? Maybe everyone who doesn’t need to be driving should stay the hell home until the roads get sorted out?!

We saw someone curse out a snowplow driver who was trying to squeeze through a blocked intersection. Brilliant.

Many people panic in the face of crisis and just can’t seem to find a way to make the best of a bad situation.

I’m glad to report, we’re still smiling.

Keep calm, carry on.

 
The Snow Ride that Almost Wasn’t

The Snow Ride that Almost Wasn’t

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After watching the forecast on Friday night, I was so excited about the idea of riding the Ural in the snow for the first time. There is something so peaceful, so beautiful about the world when that first snow starts to fall. I love the muffled quiet as it blankets everything around you. There is a light that emanates from the fluffy stuff, even after dark.

ural at the beach

All day on Saturday I waited and waited for the snow. I rode along wishing for flakes but all I got was soaked by the winter rain. I did get to glide through some huge flooded puddles near the beach, though.

And I did see a soggy snowman.

ural with mr millenium the snowman

It seemed that the snow just wouldn’t be coming so I went home. Kenny, being the angel that he is, hosed down the Ural and slipped it back in to the garage.

After the sun had set, I heard Kenny say, “here comes the snow” while looking out our front door. I would be able to head out for my first Ural snow ride after all!

Before venturing out onto the main roads, I did a lap around my neighborhood to get my snow legs. There wasn’t any other traffic around as the flying pumpkin thumped along. It was just us, a lone headlight burning a path through the swirling gusts.

ural in the snow by christmas tree

I didn’t ride anywhere special, just looped through our town and down by the beach. But I carried in my pocket that excited feeling of doing something new, something different. Isn’t that one of the greatest feelings in the world? It will never be my first Ural snow ride again, so I took my time relishing each mile.
Winter Motorcycle Riding Pictures

Winter Motorcycle Riding Pictures

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When the first snow of this winter fell, Kenny went out to see what it felt like to ride in it. Being that neither of our DRZs have studs in their tires, it was just a quick run around the neighborhood. You know – for scientific purposes.

As an observer there was something beautiful about seeing the orange glow of his headlight slowly making it’s way through the whirling snowflakes. While the snow started to accumulate the world outside had a very flat, muffled sound. There was no noise except for the gentle thump of his engine.

He would be the first to admit that riding on the snow without studs is, well.. probably not a great idea. Your mileage may vary.

ADVrider has a winter riding picture thread you should check out. There are some great photos of motorcycles in the snow. Enjoy!

Frosty ZX6R seat in Yellowstone Park

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