The weather has started warming up here. We had a fairly normal winter this year with -50℉ or so as the lowest temperature. Just cold enough to prevent us from using our propane for a while. Assuming we don’t have any sudden long cold spells for the rest of this year we still have firewood left this year. According to my tape measure I started this winter with 4.3 cords of split dry firewood and we also had a full 300 gallon heating oil tank. I checked the heating oil last weekend and I still have half a tank and we have about a cord and a half of dry wood yet so all in all we aren’t doing too bad. Most of this winter was spent working out in the mornings before school and attending to our usual vocations during the day. One difference this winter was my experiment to see how deep into the winter I could ride my bike to work and back. I finally settled on -30℉ as my low temperature cutoff. Anything colder than that and I’ll find alternate transportation. In spite of cold weather chain lubricant it starts to get hard to pedal around that temperature. Most of the information I could find on the internet defined cold weather as anything below +40℉ so I was on my own most of the time.
The Iditarod came through Galena this year again, due to poor snow conditions in the Alaska range the restart was in Fairbanks. Because the route from Fairbanks is so much faster, most of the teams came through within a couple of days. I had to be in Fairbanks on the weekend they came through so I wasn’t able to post any pictures this year.
Right now we are waiting on warmer weather and dealing with the slippery road conditions that always accompany the rise in temperature. My running has been confined to treadmill sessions lately, not because of the cold but due to the slippery roads. Strangely enough it is easier to run on the ice when it is below 0, as it approaches freezing the ice gets really slippery. I was doing my normal five-mile workout run in Fairbanks and slipped and fell just as I was getting back to the hotel, managed to get a pretty good cut on my face but that was about all. The gravel is starting to show through in places around here so I should be able to run outside again soon. I don’t have much trouble riding my bike on it for some reason as long as I take it easy on the curves and corners. One benefit of riding to work in the early morning darkness has been that I have been able to see some really nice aurora displays for the last several days as I head in.
The next big hurdle for us is of course breakup. Latest news has the ice in Galena at 48 inches thick which is above normal for this time of year. We still have a long way to go before the ice goes out so we just have to keep an eye out and see how it goes.
That is about all for now, we finally got a Saturday where neither of us has any pressing concerns so we are planning on relaxing and taking it easy today.
Were you able to take any pictures of the aurora displays?
Not really, when I ride in every morning I am mainly concerned with getting to work. If you want to take photographs of the northern lights you need to use long exposures and have your camera on a tripod. Been so busy this year I just haven’t been able to get out and do that. Our schedule is so tight with work and exercise that I need all the sleep I can get.
I understand! It must be awesome to be able to go outside and see it though. I bet you will be happy when the river thaws. I would be having cabin fever! LOL! Do you know when your next trip back will be? I would love to come and see you while you’re hear if you have a little extra time. Take care!
Not really sure when I’ll be back that way, Lynn will be down to visit this summer. I plan to be doing the usual, cutting firewood and and working. Come visit Alaska, plenty to see and do, its a big state!
Sounds like you have a big “Honey Do” list! LOL! Just let me know when you do come. It’s been a long time!