Monday, March 9, 2009

VICTORY!!! (sort of...)

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in the Pioneer Valley -- mid-fifties, sunny, blue skys, snow melting away...

I had managed to get the Victory Vision out of the big garage the day before, wrestling its sizable bulk over a stubborn, slow-to-melt hump of compacted snow and then across about fifty feet of soft, muddy dirt. But it was worth it.

I took a lovely ride on the Victory yesterday, keeping an eye out for the treacherous layer of sand still on the roads (residue from winter sandings by our Highway Department, a must for safe travel in these climes during the snowy part of winter), and enjoying what seemed to be -- finally! -- the arrival of spring. I stopped beside a beaver pond on the way to take this shot of the Victory with evidence of the large volume of snow still hanging around.



I rode up to Shelburne Falls to get coffee at McCusker's, after which I strolled over to the "Glacial Potholes" viewing area. I always like to look at these rock formations, especially when there is dramatic water flow happening.

Here's a panoramic view of the dam and most of the glacial potholes, along with some of the winter ice still clinging to the rocks. (I recently discovered a very useful "photo-stitching" tool for the Mac called "Panorama Maker 4", which is probably the best of all such tools I've tried so far. I used it to create this image, as well as the one from a few posts ago of part of the UMass campus.)



All well and good, and I rode home yesterday envisioning riding to work today on the Victory. But... here's what greeted me outside my kitchen window this morning.



Arrghhh!!! At least it is not a huge amount of snow... and warm temperatures are forecast for the next several days. Still... aaarrgghhh! -- PL

9 comments:

Jim Lawson said...

I agree- that heavenly 2 day taste of warm weather has got me all horny for Spring...

Can I say that?

P. Bing said...

Wow, that picture of the Potholes is fantastic! It's been far too long since I've been out that way, I really should make the trek out once the weather finds its feet.

Speaking of that, I share your primal scream at the snow that hit us this morning. As if losing an hour of sleep wasn't bad enough, waking up to a Winter Wonderland certainly didn't help me get out of bed this morning.

Stephan @ The Turtle Van said...

First of all... LOL @ Jim

Secondly: What ever happened to the Spyder Pete?

Unknown said...

Do you know how cruel it is to be upset that you rode your bike in March and now can't because of a snowfall?

I'm in central Canada over here and won't get the chance until late May probably.

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos, especially the potholes. And what a great view you have from your kitchen window. It sure beats the view of my patio and fence outside of my kitchen.

Hey, I may be heading out to Springfield, MA in a couple of months to speak at a librarian conference. I'll e-mail you details as it gets closer. It's been awhile since I've seen all you Mirage guys.

Bookgal said...

Hey Stan, is it MLA? If so, and if I dont get laid off in March, I will most likely be there!

PL said...

" Stephan @ The Turtle Van said...
First of all... LOL @ Jim

Secondly: What ever happened to the Spyder Pete?"

The Spyder is registered and ready to go. I had new Corbin saddlebags installed after the end of riding season last year, and I am looking forward to trying them out. -- PL

PL said...

" Stan said...
Beautiful photos, especially the potholes. And what a great view you have from your kitchen window. It sure beats the view of my patio and fence outside of my kitchen.

Hey, I may be heading out to Springfield, MA in a couple of months to speak at a librarian conference. I'll e-mail you details as it gets closer. It's been awhile since I've seen all you Mirage guys."

That sounds great, Stan! We'd all love to see you. Maybe you could stay an extra day or two...? -- PL

PL said...

"Ross said...
Do you know how cruel it is to be upset that you rode your bike in March and now can't because of a snowfall?

I'm in central Canada over here and won't get the chance until late May probably."

Thank you for illustrating the truth of the adage that "Everything is relative". I am reminded of that old saying which goes something like this: "I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet."

Believe me, you have my sympathy! Here's hoping your riding season starts earlier than May. -- PL