Sunday, April 24, 2011

One Week

On Saturday, April 23rd, our lovely Vermont winter returned. It is one week before I leave for my trip and it is cold, raw and snowing - AGAIN. This year brings a late spring to Vermont - last year we had an early spring. In fact this time last year we were mowing the grass! Go figure. Today, Sunday, April 24th it did a 180 - the sun was shining much of the day and the temperature warmed to a spring-like 60 degrees. I spent Saturday indoors prepping gear, lists and printing route descriptions for climbing areas I hope to check out. Today, the weather allowed me to pop the top and start cleaning and packing the van. It's hard to believe I will be pulling away from here and heading west in exactly one week. I am excited and anxious - leaving here will indeed be bittersweet.
Saturday, April 23rd

Sunday, April 24th

Thursday, April 21, 2011

It's Snowing - Again

April 21st. Cold. Raw. Blustery. Snow. California, here I come!!!

Friday, April 15, 2011

John Deere to the Rescue

With all the snow in Vermont this year I was feeling quite convinced the melt would be too slow to get the van out of hibernation and over to the shop for her pre-trip tune.  My "colleague/friend/boss" lives just a couple of miles up the road from the barn and is quite adept with his John Deere as you can see in the video.  What would have taken us many back-breaking hours to shovel was dispensed with in a matter of minutes. Thank you Rick and John Deere!!!