As most kite enthusiasts watch the weather report on the news to see when the wind blows, and where the wind blows, and if the wind blows, I have been watching.
As for the rest of the kite enthusiasts who watched the weather report to see when its going to snow, where it's going to snow, and how much it's going to snow, Im sure we have all been doing that also.

Only because I went back to Wildwood and JIBE last year and drove the wonderful roads and byways of a country unlike the west coast, I understand. Now when I watch the news and I hear the weather report of another front moving through, Lake snow effect, nor Easter, I love Google speak and type, I can now on vision in my mind those roads, those places, and those people that are in the front of the news report. Snow in Atlanta causing multiple car pile up, 100 car pile up in Philadelphia, thousands of people out of electricity because of the ice storm, I can now relate, understand, and have pity on those who live there. Not that I didn't have pity before, but now I can relate and understand why some of the problems occur.
while the East Coast is mostly flat and relatively closely built together, the Pacific Northwest is mostly Hills and trees and snow, ice, has a different effect.
In either case I have found that a majority of the public does not know how to drive in adverse weather conditions on both coasts. I for one grew up in the mountains and learned to drive in the snow and adverse weather conditions at a young age. Both of my sons were taught to drive in the snow without chains and when they figured that out we drove to Seattle in the torrential downpour rain that frequents the city late on a Friday night with all the hills and not so good local drivers they learned to drive a stick shift car.

I have talked to a few of you East Coasty's and I do feel sorry for the day after day snowfall that needs to be delt with. You guys have been hammered this year and I want to hope the best for all of you.
As for you guys out snow kiting everyday :P we are talking of water shortages here this summer because of the lack of snow.
My heart and prayers for those suffering this winter, and my jealousy for those snow kiting.

it's cool...suns out now...and driving yesterday thru brooklyn was awesome i wish you could have been there

Yeah we are finally having Winter again. I for one love it and will take all the snow we get. I don't mind driving in it at all!

Now if I could just find ski boots I would be out kiting right now!

I've been away from home working and experiencing the drought conditions in the bay area while my home kite-spot is apparently the best it's ever been.

I hope all the east-coast & southern folks are dealing with this weather well, and being safe.

Atlanta's been hit pretty hard. You all may remember my post from a couple of weeks back, when it snowed and iced over and my 25 minute commute took me 6 hrs. Now snowpocalypse has hit a second time, and nobody took any chances... I just came to work for the first time in a couple of days, and other days earlier this week (and today) have been abbreviated.

Thanks for the kind thoughts Jeff, it is well received. I didn't grow up or learn to drive in this type of stuff, but I've been in it enough to know how to drive. Plus, Atlanta is just north of the piedmont, so it is PLENTY hilly,... At least enough to make it difficult to navigate with a 1/4 to 1/2" of ice on the ground. I think too many people (including the local Gov't) got caught off gaurd 2 weeks ago, and everybody just decided not to risk it, so pretty much EVERYTHING has been shut down for at least Wed. but many places on Tuesday and Thursday also.

Since I don't own a snowboard or skis, I was seriously considering kite sledding... But I don't own a sled either ... Plus I was much too busy building snow men with my girls and sliding down the hills in our neighborhood with the neighborhood kids' sleds or Rubbermaid container lids having a blast with the family.

Thanks again for the thoughts buddy.

Here's what I was busy with...

Looks like fun. Enjoy it while it lasts, my kids are teenagers and are "too cool" to go sledding with dad.

yeah, tough work indeed. :D miss work to play, hey I do that all the time.
I go break the grandkids out of daycare and we play all day.

Yeah,... It's really tough work:



SEE

I would say that looks like a look of torture and the one in pink looks like she's enjoying herself, I think she needs a warm hug.

LOL

That's actually what she looks like when you tell her to say "cheese"

Winter in the South, South Carolina to be exact, is usually mild and short compared to our Yankee friends, and is a big reason why I live in the South.:bisou:

Out of power for 6 days! No phone or internet for 6 days. and NO PKF.
Tree limb through the sun roof.
Half of my majestic 50' high magnolia tree in the front yard laying on the ground.
A huge mess of broken tree limbs from my 70' pine tree in the back yard.
The neighbors power service down and laying across the road, having to clear debris out of the street so we could get out.
And what's going to be a monster gas bill next month because we had to keep the house warm using the stove and gas fireplace logs. OMG moment when I open that envelope.

That being said, rain that freezes instead of turning into snow is what we fear the most.
"Ice storm" is a better term for what our "snow" really is.

The South is not prepared to handle winter ice and sleet/snow weather. I think we have 2 snow plows for the county. We don't have tire chains and use very little salt.

Ice accumulations of up to 2" covers everything and that's what causes the damage.
Long needle pines, Cedar trees, Magnolia trees and majestic live Oaks just can't handle the weight so they break, split and drop limbs.
And sandy loam soil does not hold a large tree as well as hard soil and therefore many many trees just lay over.
The dropping limbs do most of the damage, taking out power lines and damaging cars and homes. Thanks for the insurance but a large claim will increase your payments and deductible.

This storm was 10 years after a similar ice storm we had in 2004. Just as bad or worse.
I didn't have to go into my prep-per stash but was thinking about it.
Some areas of the town were not as effected as my side and they were up and running the next afternoon so we were able to get whatever supplies we needed.

Lowe's and Home Depot sold out of chain saws and generators within hours. A fellow from Florida was selling generators on the side of the road really gouging the prices but sold out. A 1500 watt for $1K was a rip.

But the weather yesterday was 71 degrees and sunny and today it's going to be 79 and clear!
The ice is gone and everyone is cleaning up their yards and driveways. There must be a hundred tree trimming crews in town from all over the U.S., and several big crane trucks lifting huge trees off houses and roads. And the buzz of chain saws is everywhere and it starts about 6:00 am everyday. Hundreds of big trucks full of debris rumble down the streets all day long.

Well, we survived this ordeal. Didn't get to fly and buggy during the chaos but the rest of this week is looking real good and we should get some buggy time.

I'm so glad this mess is over. My house is warm all over, the hot water is working again, the internet is back on and so is my T-Mobile, home and business phones are working now.

We are getting to normal. What ever that is? Are buggy pilots and power kiters really normal?:P

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

LOL That's actually what she looks like when you tell her to say "cheese"

No Spence, she has to say "Cheezy" :smug:

Quote: Originally posted by cheezycheese

Quote: Originally posted by soliver   LOL That's actually what she looks like when you tell her to say "cheese" No Spence, she has to say "Cheezy" :smug:

Rofl

I wonder what she would look like if I told her to say Chesboro

@ myaikencheeks: Glad things are getting back to normal, ice storms are the worst.

Our snow has melted leaving behind a muddy mess on the fields I use. We've got a 6" layer of wet ground over probably a foot thick layer of frozen ground so the fields aren't draining quickly.