Measurable Snow!

Yay!

I just plowed about 3-4" off the driveway.

Took the plow shoes off - if the gravel's not set in its ways yet, oh well...

That means I didn't leave 1-2" to ice up, it's mostly down to the ground. Didn't look like I got that much gravel scraped to the side. I think the shoes dig up more when they slice down into the ground, because the last time I picked up a lot more.

I'm going to switch hats and write a bit of the course extracts for PA PIMS - maybe the course extract itself - then plow the nature center and come back and finish the course instructor and student course extracts. Probably need another round of plowing this afternoon or evening.

I'm going to take Rachel along for the ride if she wants, on account of school being closed. Justin does have class today, so he won't be able to go. Rachel hasn't been yet, and Justin went on our first not-quite-enough-snow attempt in January and on the actual-snow-fall the last time out.

Anywho, time to code...

Great News! More Snow!

When I got back from plowing out the nature center, it looked like we have almost as much snow in my driveway as we did this morning! More plowing! Coolness!

For the most part, plowing at the nature center went well.

Made it up the hill, did the parking lot, stacking snow 4-6' high (there's a natural hill there, so it isn't *all* snow... maybe just 4' of it...) Made a pass down the hill with the plow in a V. Made it back up, and cleared stage left, angling to the left. Attempted to get back up to take care of stage right. Made it half way. Started going sideways. Started going backwards. In drive. In 4 wheel low. In first gear. Yoikes.

Backed it up, mostly under control, and, after trying several spots, finally got purchase and made progress back to where I had stopped, about 3/4 of the way up. This is when we really had the backwards-going-forwards thing down and it got scary. Need chains. Backed up to a cross street, turned, and went down.

Took care of the flat street with a V pass, then out stage left, and back in stage left to get both sides. Cleared the small parking area, did a stage right coming out, then cleared the intersection at the hill and finally cleared the intersection of the private gravel roads with the township road. It curves there, so the town plow guys leave a big island.

Fun, although Rachel didn't seem all that impressed (even when we were sliding down backwards! =)

Winter Improvements

One more thing that we had a bit of trouble with - maybe even worse than lack of traction on the hill - was the windshield wipers slushed up again, as they did with the last storm. Thick wet snowflakes just cling to the wipers. They melt enough to stick, and then they stay.

I scraped each blade clean before we left, and we didn't even get to Millers Market before we were down to maybe 10% visibility. Almost ran someone off the road because I couldn't see. I stopped at the township yard and had to scrape them off again. They stayed clear after that, mostly because the snow was shifting over to more of a sleet or rain.

After filling up the rear tank, we stopped off at an auto parts place to see if they had a particular device I had heard of - they didn't, but as soon as we got back, I ordered some Slushbusters. I think next year I'll make sure I put heavy duty winter wipers on as well - visibility needs to be clear through those windows, especially when I'm aiming a plow at people.

Or, rather, avoiding aiming it at them. =)

As for the slipping and sliding business, I think an Onspot system might be in order. Maybe not for this winter, but certainly for the next. Chains are about one order of magnitude cheaper if you just look at material costs. The difficulty is that installing them is a pain. Justin and I have had personal experience installing chains on the snowblower, and that was difficult enough. And they only slipped off a half-dozen times. Chains on a truck would need to be put on and taken off repeatedly, in less than ideal conditions. There's been a lot of times the road to the nature center was clear and dry and the gravel road there was not - which would mean installing and removing them all the time. I'm thinking time spent swapping chains on and off - as well as a higher replacement cost (replacement cost for the Onspot chains are an order of magnitude less than the cost of another full set of chains) - would easily exceed the difference in cost between the two.

Not to mention, flipping a cool safety trigger switch vs. crawling around in slush and snow on a highway roadside during low visibility winter weather conditions.

Anywho, that's a high priority for Fall 2008. Unless I absolutely can't get up the hill next time I plow, I won't consider it for this season.

By way of tattermuffin...

( Pictures of my LiveJournal Friends )

Try out this Meme

Brought to you by NardVille

rusalka

rusalka
by Everett A Warren

August 24, 2000

walk with the river
along the shore
safe and dry
while she tumbles by

roots of old willow
twisted down the banks
drinking deep of darkness and the flood
decay for a soul and wisdom for blood

warnings he speaks
in the shakings of his leaves
if it’s hope she whispers, be wary of that lie
false words she speaks while she tumbles by

long strands of hair
tangled amidst the roots of old willow
her laughter like a rainbow, moist and full of light
rather be wary, says she, of a rotten willow’s soul dark as night

sing with the running water
hopes and worries wash over branch and stone
lost with all the tears you cry
while she tumbles by

the face beneath the flow
promising eternity
grasping cold, wet, and alone
to chill the heart that dreams of home

dance with the river
caught in her torrents and carried to the sea
past outstretched hands and many a tear-filled eye
helpless as you tumble by

Copyright (c) 2000 Everett Ambrose Warren