Driving in snow

Northstar wrote:

Fireflair wrote:For those who have lived in cold or hot weather... Enjoy!

http://www.homebuilt.org/cmdrdata/jokes/04/0171.html

This was fun but what a weenie.

We've lived in Illinois and then Wisconsin since 1979. Our driveway is 122 feet long. Either I or my husband shovels it by hand, no snow blower. I did this just yesterday. I'm 64.

He forgot to mention the mosquitoes with 'Lockheed' printed on their wings.

In deep winter, it looks like Dr Zhivago lives in our house.

Absolutely beautiful.

But, yes, quite cold. And in summer... it can be very hot and very muggy. Did I mention the mosquitoes?

Do you live in the area where mosquitoes require a human sacrifice every week?

TN4994 wrote:Do you live in the area where mosquitoes require a human sacrifice every week?

Or have to carry weight in your pockets so the mosquitoes don't carry you off to feed later.

No, but here they weigh about what a deer does, they're really, really, stupid and extremely persistent.

Their more intelligent cousins are referred to around here as 'Deer flies'. They are far more intelligent, and will dodge- after biting the snot out of you- at the wave of a shadow.

and I thought I'd be happy leaving the southern corridor... what 15 years can teach you.

Caliban wrote:And there is on more highly significant factor: please be sure the loose nut behind the wheel is securely fastened.

It never ceases to amaze me how many folks seem to forget how to drive on the dreaded white stuff ( or even the liquid stuff!) between seasons.

I live in western Wisconsin, and the first snowfall around here means 'stay the **** off the roads.'

Absolutely

See, it's the blood loss from the mosquitoes' depredations upon people that causes these memory disorders.

They could all move to Washington State or Oregon, few mosquitoes, but... you get to play 'princess is on the glass mountain' due to snow beginning as rain, then freezing, on steep hillroads even in the city. Freezes, becomes black ice. Then snows on it disguising the black ice until you start to slide... Whee!!!

Also out there -Pacific Northwest- when the sign in the mountains says 'Road closed due to snow' ... they mean it. Paradise on Mt Rainier averages 60 FEET of snow a winter. They suddenly stop plowing... There is a wall, literally a wall, of snow where they stop. They mean the 'chains required' signs also, unless you feel like doing a slalom in your car off a curvy icy mountain road and down a couple thousand feet.

Then there is North Cascades highway, which is not plowed from October through at least April. Think The Alps. With less people. Driving that in late autumn... do you feel lucky?

TN4994 wrote:

Northstar wrote:
This was fun but what a weenie.

We've lived in Illinois and then Wisconsin since 1979. Our driveway is 122 feet long. Either I or my husband shovels it by hand, no snow blower. I did this just yesterday. I'm 64.

He forgot to mention the mosquitoes with 'Lockheed' printed on their wings.

In deep winter, it looks like Dr Zhivago lives in our house.

Absolutely beautiful.

But, yes, quite cold. And in summer... it can be very hot and very muggy. Did I mention the mosquitoes?

Do you live in the area where mosquitoes require a human sacrifice every week?

Yes. I would like to volunteer all politicians for this duty but they run away.

TN4994 wrote:

Northstar wrote:
This was fun but what a weenie.

We've lived in Illinois and then Wisconsin since 1979. Our driveway is 122 feet long. Either I or my husband shovels it by hand, no snow blower. I did this just yesterday. I'm 64.

He forgot to mention the mosquitoes with 'Lockheed' printed on their wings.

In deep winter, it looks like Dr Zhivago lives in our house.

Absolutely beautiful.

But, yes, quite cold. And in summer... it can be very hot and very muggy. Did I mention the mosquitoes?

Do you live in the area where mosquitoes require a human sacrifice every week?

Northstar wrote:Yes. I would like to volunteer all politicians for this duty but they run away.

Ha! None of you know nuttin' about mosquitoes.

I live on the East Coast. During mating season you better not even s-p-e-l-l the word fishing. Much less exit your auto to try it. The mosquitoes around here are Clint Eastwood fans. They watch you when you drive up. With their hands on their hips they buzz a collective "Make my day."

I was once bitten on the toe by a mosquito through a pair of Reeboks. Leather sneakers!

Unbelievable? But true!

Mosquitoes here on the East Coast will suck the blood out of you as any. But these'll bite the shit out of you to do it! Set-to-bite time here, is one of the lowest I've seen.

Northstar wrote:
Do you live in the area where mosquitoes require a human sacrifice every week?

Northstar wrote:Yes. I would like to volunteer all politicians for this duty but they run away.

Cthia wrote:

Ha! None of you know nuttin' about mosquitoes.

I live on the East Coast. During mating season you better not even s-p-e-l-l the word fishing. Much less exit your auto to try it. The mosquitoes around here are Clint Eastwood fans. They watch you when you drive up. With their hands on their hips they buzz a collective "Make my day."

I was once bitten on the toe by a mosquito through a pair of Reeboks. Leather sneakers!

Unbelievable? But true!

Mosquitoes here on the East Coast will suck the blood out of you as any. But these'll bite the shit out of you to do it! Set-to-bite time here, is one of the lowest I've seen.

Meh. If you think those are fun, try the ones along the gulf coast- they all have Chuck Norris tattooed on their wings.

And I,too, would almost volunteer the politicrats to feed the mosquitoes.... except I happen to think better of the bugs.

Caliban wrote:

Northstar wrote:
Do you live in the area where mosquitoes require a human sacrifice every week?

Northstar wrote:Yes. I would like to volunteer all politicians for this duty but they run away.

Cthia wrote:

Ha! None of you know nuttin' about mosquitoes.

I live on the East Coast. During mating season you better not even s-p-e-l-l the word fishing. Much less exit your auto to try it. The mosquitoes around here are Clint Eastwood fans. They watch you when you drive up. With their hands on their hips they buzz a collective "Make my day."

I was once bitten on the toe by a mosquito through a pair of Reeboks. Leather sneakers!

Unbelievable? But true!

Mosquitoes here on the East Coast will suck the blood out of you as any. But these'll bite the shit out of you to do it! Set-to-bite time here, is one of the lowest I've seen.

Meh. If you think those are fun, try the ones along the gulf coast- they all have Chuck Norris tattooed on their wings.

And I,too, would almost volunteer the politicrats to feed the mosquitoes.... except I happen to think better of the bugs.

Mosquitoes don't bite politicians because they don't wish to infect their bloodlines with indifference.

Blood doesn't run in a politician's veins because it didn't get elected. Only indifference. Mosquitoes can't live off indifference.

Lord Skimper wrote:Suppose I should add don't spin your tires, accelerate slowly and steady, if your wheels spin back off the go pedal and and re adjust. This usually means you have bad tires or tires not good for the conditions. Spinning your tires can be fun but when they catch you can end up crashing. I almost hit a house when spinning my tires I hit 100 mph while going about 20. Then they caught and I almost hit a house. Suffice to say I carefully drove off the guys front lawn and haven't done that since.

Starting in second or third gear will let you start on slippery sections. With automatics this is often made to be outside the power band.

Spinning your tires on packed snow or ice will generate friction heat that will melt the top-layer of snow/ice making it even more slippery, which is bad. So when applying power in slippery conditions, ease of the accelerator if your wheels starts to spin.

If you have RWD car and an automatic gearbox, try to use the highest gear you can manually set (ie. 2 or 3) when starting in slippery conditions.

If your RWD car doesn't have a diff-lock and you are stuck with one wheel spinning madly you can apply your emergency brake a bit which will work a bit like a slip-diff which will make both wheels get some power which usually will help you get rolling.

When driving in snowy conditions with high winds that build up drifts on the road, be careful when driving through them. In some conditions the drifts can be almost rock hard and you WILL wreck your car when hitting them unless traveling slowly.

cthia wrote:
Mosquitoes don't bite politicians because they don't wish to infect their bloodlines with indifference.

Blood doesn't run in a politician's veins because it didn't get elected. Only indifference. Mosquitoes can't live off indifference.

Mosquitoes also do not bite Lawyers. Professional courtesy of one blood-sucking species to another....

Mosquitoes (and snow) aren't major problems in North Alabama....but try stepping on a Fire Ant nest....I guarantee, you'll only do it once (if you survive the first time.....)