Winter Blues

[rwdsr]

Yeah Salty, I got the same blues, I thought just maybe based on the past years, I might just get a nice day to put my new (to me) 16 on the water.  But it has been below freezing here in middle Tennessee ever since the day I brought it home.  I finally did what Bob23 does and put a blanket over her and put her in the barn.  But I'm gonna be contacting you three overthere on the eastern side of the state in just a couple of months to get together for a sailing adventure.  I'm starting to make tentative plans to go to the Lake Carlyle meet in July.  Incidently, that's why I no longer live in Ohio.  I was born, raised and grew up there till I went in the army and when the wife and I started talking about where we were going to retire to, we didn't even consider Ohio.  That and the other thing is that all of our in-laws and outlaws are there and this way we know when they are coming and when they are going home............  I don't suppose you remember back in the late 50's - early 60's, you had to license your boat, your trailer, and - the motor!!!  Yeah, and I decided real early on that I didn't want no part of that.  It snowed here today and I think got all the way up to 17 degrees.  Come on spring!!!!!!

[bmiller]

When winter comes to the rockies most people just switch pastimes. Personally I ski, lots. In fact I work part time on the Copper Mountain ski patrol. My job is to haul flatlanders off the hill when they get hurt/sick/tired/crancky. Monarch pass and ski area is just 35 miles away also. We go there for fun, not work. Another high mountain pass is right out the back door, Cottonwood. A buddy has a couple sleds and we zip up there for skiing or fishing the high mountain lakes. Anybody else here ride snowmobiles?

However, Pooka is right outside with her winter cover on. I have to walk by going to the shop, it's tough to see her all closed up and frozen. I keep a small electric heater inside and will turn it on occasionally. Then I go inside and look at the Defender catalouge, or check in here from my boat. Or just look at yachtworld and dream. My wife thinks it's silly for a grown man to sit out in his "fort". Seems perfectly natural to me.

Oh and I nearly forgot. We leave for the Virgin Islands in a couple weeks. We chartered an Island Packet 350, just my wife and I. That ought to cure the blues for a bit.

[Potcake boy]

Gentlemen - I'm glad you hadn't made plans to be in Florida this week, you would be quite disappointed.  Key West broke a 150 year old record for low temps - the nude bars probably closed on account of the weather - where's global warming when you need it?  Next week however back into the 70's here in SW Florida.

If any of you decide to make the trip here to SW Florida I will be happy to share the local knowledge I've acquired.  I also have some acquaintance with the Upper Keys, and could describe a nice cruise there.

Of course there are taxes of every sort here as well, enough to take you to the brink.  Then there is always Costa Rica - nice weather - hospitable culture - a Central American paradise.  If we can just get enough Americans to move there, it'll be just like here - taxes - taxes - taxes!!

Ron

[mrb]

 Salty19         First you didn't drink enough beer. If you had, you would not have gone outside to relieve yourself.
Second, don't worry about the cat as sounds like he had already finished grocery shopping.
Drink a few more beers and go back to sleep.

Melvin

[newt]

As for the mountain lion, here we got them coming down to eat our cats and dogs. If you can hear them killing something, then you have a little time. Either shot it or move it. Generally if it is eating livestock a rancher may shoot it. If I am camping in their territory I move it. And I keep my old hound dog and my wife's cat inside at night.

[B.Hart]

  It's 35 degrees and raining with ice this Saturday morning here in central Florida( they said it's snowing in gainfully on the news) I know all this is nothing to all you yanks, but usually December is great sailing but it has been miserable for over a month. We were 24 degrees Thursday morning.    BILL

[nies]

Good morning, 19 below zero in beautiful downtown Hayward, Wi.........if that's not cold enough they have to tell us the wind chill , 30 below zero....you ask why do you live there?.....I don't know........Phil

[brackish]

My job is to haul flatlanders off the hill when they get hurt/sick/tired/crancky.

Oh and I nearly forgot. We leave for the Virgin Islands in a couple weeks. We chartered an Island Packet 350, just my wife and I. That ought to cure the blues for a bit.

LOL bmiller, although I've not needed your services to date, as a flatlander who goes up there and tempts fate every year, I'm glad to know you're there.

VI charter, now there's the way to break the winter blues.  Enjoy that lobster at Sidney's P & L.  Or I think I read that Sidney passed on and it's renamed for his son.

[kickingbug1]

   salty, hey buddy in regards to your trailer licensing problems. i think you might have to contact the state where you purchased it (wisconsin right?). if you can provide them a vin# they should be able to do a title search and if they find it to be clear issue a new wisconsin title which you could then surrender in ohio to secure an ohio title then licensing should be easy. i know in certain parts of the country the coppers dont pay attention to trailer license but for my part it was always a ticket, if i had to buy plates for my three trailers then so did everyone else. plus a registration citation unlike a moving violation is never contested in court (its there or it isnt) check with wisconsin dmv or sec of state or call a wisconsin state police regional hq. they should be able to advise further. as with any government entity----good luck.

[nies]

To my knowledge Wisconsin does not title boat trailers, purchased my boat and trailer in wis., moved to Illinois got a title(required in Ill.) by using cert. of orig., moved back to Wis ,no title needed.........long time ago....Phil

[bmiller]

LOL bmiller, although I've not needed your services to date, as a flatlander who goes up there and tempts fate every year, I'm glad to know you're there.

VI charter, now there's the way to break the winter blues.  Enjoy that lobster at Sidney's P & L.  Or I think I read that Sidney passed on and it's renamed for his son.

Where do you like to ski? If you want to tempt fate on a really big mountain I'll comp you a day at Copper Mt. Come on up.

Have not heard of Sidney's. Where is it exactly? We plan on staying mostly in the Spanish VI's, Culebra and Vieques. Might hit the western end of the BVI, we will see.

[adifferentdrummer]

No trailer license required in Tennessee, and no state income tax either, but I still got the Winter Blues. I've been snowed in for the last two days. The little mountain road I live on had become impassable after our last weather event. I finally got out this afternoon and drove over to take a look at the lake. Snow covered the parking lot and the ramp, and there was ice around the shoreline, but there were actually a couple of guys out there in a fishing boat! It was mid afternoon by this time and the temperature had warmed up to almost 25F. With the 5 to 10 mph breeze, had it been a warmer, sunnier day, it would have been a nice day for a sail, but that wind had an edge to it that cut like a knife. My last couple of times out this fall was chilly, in the forties, and even though I was dressed for it, my teeth were chattering by the time I was headed back in. I'll wait for warmer days, and I hear it's going to be a long, cold winter... Milt

[Salty19]

You guys are cracking me up!

Thanks for the advice on the trailer.  It was never titled (from Minnesota) is part of the problem and I don't think they give titles to trailers, just registrations. The previous owner promised me paperwork but I've yet to see it. Time to get involved andmake some phone calls.

As far the cat goes, .yes indeed said warning shots were fired!  The first time it kept me up 'till dawn. Must have awoken all the birds as they chirped and squalked until after the sun came up. The second time I heard the cat I was satisfied it had left the area and went back to sleep.    My buddy and I joked that we would go hunt him down next time, but neither of us are crazy enough for " the big hunt" at 4:00am.  The cat could at least let me have some coffee first!

Forecast looks fantastic...only 2" snow expected tomorrow on top of the foot already and is warming up to 18 with 6 degree windchill!  Woot!  Time to break out the gas grill and kiddle pool!

[Salty19]

And for the first time since 1987 we have snow on the ground that is going to be there for multiple days without melting. 

I can't complain too much because it could be MUCH worse and IS worse say in Buffalo or higher elevations in the mountains, but in contrast-and I think I speak for much of the north...if we DON'T have snow on the ground for a least a MONTH straight, the winter is declared "unusually warm and tropical".     

Was up in winter wonderland Cleveland outskirts today.  There was about 30"-35" on the ground depending on where you were(and that's after things have settled over the last few weeks).  Icicycles were extending down from roofs  in the order of 2 to 6 feet!!   It was sunny and sparkling off the snow and ice-a beautiful effect . That "Lake Effect Snow" really pounds that area.

[Steve Ullrich]

My wife and I have spent many days & nights in Silverthorne and Dillon as we have friends with condos in those communities.  Copper Mountain was always our favorite.  I always felt that it had the best natural ski slopes in the area.  After we moved to western Colorado we did our skiing at Crested Butte.  Beautiful solitary mountain in a bowl shaped valley.  Always had fun there.  The slopes here in Minnesota, where we have lived for the past fifteen years, offer some fun but you really shouldn't try and compare them to the Rockies.  We do get out skiing from time to time to help with the Winter blues but nothing gets rid of the Winter blues faster than warm weather and the ice going out of the lakes.  That is still three months away. Bummer.  I spend snowy afternoons on the weekend cruising Yacht World too... as well as eBay and Craig's List.  If I hit the darn PowerBall I have a few boats saved to my favorites and we will leave the tundra behind us for the winter!  Golf and sailing year round... that would be pretty cool... Well, maybe a few weekends at Crested Butte!

When winter comes to the Rockies most people just switch pastimes. Personally I ski, lots. In fact I work part time on the Copper Mountain ski patrol. My job is to haul flatlanders off the hill when they get hurt/sick/tired/cranky. Monarch pass and ski area is just 35 miles away also. We go there for fun, not work. Another high mountain pass is right out the back door, Cottonwood. A buddy has a couple sleds and we zip up there for skiing or fishing the high mountain lakes. Anybody else here ride snowmobiles?

However, Pooka is right outside with her winter cover on. I have to walk by going to the shop, it's tough to see her all closed up and frozen. I keep a small electric heater inside and will turn it on occasionally. Then I go inside and look at the Defender catalogue, or check in here from my boat. Or just look at yachtworld and dream. My wife thinks it's silly for a grown man to sit out in his "fort". Seems perfectly natural to me.

Oh and I nearly forgot. We leave for the Virgin Islands in a couple weeks. We chartered an Island Packet 350, just my wife and I. That ought to cure the blues for a bit.