babyblog

Snowmageddon

Since Thursday we've been pelted with snow pretty much non stop. At the point this photo was taken we probably had about a foot of the stuff and we've probably had another foot since.

By Toronto standards, not terribly significant. By Seattle standards, *big deal*.

For a start, they don't have many snow plows and they don't have any salt. All of the roads have a thick layer of ice where cars have packed it by driving over it. The plows that have been on the main roads have spread some form of grit which makes it dirty but really doesn't help much.

Another reason snow here is a big deal is that, unlike Toronto, it's very bloody hilly. So combining the sheets of ice that pass for roads and the fact that they are steep inclines or declines, is a recipe for disaster. Oh and let's not forget that nobody here has the faintest idea how to drive in this kind of weather! Cars are abandoned everywhere, you see people going ridiculously fast and spinning out of control, and generally speaking the world grinds to a complete halt.

Of course we love extreme driving so we have been out in it a lot! We put snow chains on the car and managed to get up the drive (no small task) and out onto the road and down the hill the less steep but longer way... not too many people out in it though. We saw people walking for the first time ever. Shops are much quieter than they ought to be for this time of year, not the best time for a snow storm!

Last night we were under threat of a power loss akin to that of 2006 where it was out for 5 days thanks to a major windstorm incoming. This year at least we have a backup plan - our caravan! The caravan has batteries and propane and we can heat and light and run it comfortably for 3 or 4 days without needing any power. Should it go on longer than that we have a generator to continue to power it indefinitely, so G went out & stocked up on petrol just in case - given that last time petrol was sold out for 50 miles. I went out for emergency food supplies which amused the cashier at the supermarket (frozen pizza, chocolate, diet coke) and some duraflame logs should we fancy sitting around the fire in the house, and we were all set. Needless to say (and thankfully!) it didn't happen, but we are nothing if not prepared!

The kids have missed 2 days of school and are now off until the new year. G hasn't been to work since Wednesday but is hoping that I will drive him in for a few hours tomorrow... he can't take the truck as it won't cope in the snow.