Shadowfax-ST Blog

Day 2 Commuter Mayhem (Yawn). It was morning and although the snow had lingered overnight and had crisped up the Sun broke through the stormy-hued clouds and broke the cold snap's grip on the hedgerows and trees. It presented a steady thawing trickle of water droplets splattering noisily onto the steeled ground and gave hope to all creatures fancying a trip out to earn a crust, or two. "I'm riding", I thought. I got the long-johns ready. It began to snow; just a flurry but it heralded the end of the Sun's brief influence in time to see the kids off to school (miserable every other bloody school in the Land had closed except theirs). I swapped Shadowfax's keys back for the Lanny. My enthusiasm was low; this was going to be a long and slow trip and I was bound to see bikers left, right, and front as I became ever more steeped in bloody traffic. I dug the Lanny out of this latest smattering of snow flakes. On the road the latest snow layer had already turned to a...

Bikeless Commute The view out of the bedroom window at 1am was well lit; snow lay all across the back gardens in an iridescent-seeming blanket that captured every nuance of noise presenting a silent still life suited best to a European Christmas card. ("Hrmf!") At 7am my boss called describing the difficulty shed have on the trains from Devon to Surrey; should I even attempt the commute myself? I looked out front; more snow and a snowy-icy road but the main throughfare looked clear. A cyclist crossed the scene to confirm movement on two wheels not only probable but possible. Shadowfax remained under his cover and made no comment. ("Hrmf!") Morning snow The online and TV news were saturated with snow. Google Map's Traffic Layer showed red (stopped traffic) across the region from Southampton with its closed airport to Portsmouth with its cancelled bus services. The A31 at Farnham was described as being at 20mph and the A31 at Hogsback was closed. I began to realis...

Weather Warnings I've ignored most weather warnings this winter but there's something unsettling about the ones being issued tonight. It snowed (briefly) today and large flakes settled without a problem; some even staying settled long enough to consider checking their Russian papers for a work permit. Worse, there are videos of snow-COVERED motorways and descriptions of the gritting crews expecting to break out ploughs - down here in Hampshire! Even the Motorways may not be safe? I'll leave my final decision on whether to ride, or not, to the morning but I am acutely aware the weather changes dramatically on entering and exiting the Meon Valley: just those few miles' difference can result in my being stranded at work if the snow continues throughout the day, or worse stuck on the side of the road incapable of maintaining forward progress. (I've put the Mrs on stand-by to come collect me (with the snatty new trailer if I come unstuck, or stuck depending on your point...