Cold, Colder, Even COLDER! Week In Iowa.

Cold Morning(s) in Iowa

The temp STARTS here. 

Did I mention it has been cold this week?    First,  it was freezing rain.  Then the temps drop and bring the snow.  Now the temps have disappeared below the thermometer!   -6 was the temp when we rose up for work...  and it just got colder!   I don't know what the final low was, but I have it on Subie's authority that it was at least -15 before we walked into Pearson.

Cheryl running after work.

And drops to THIS before we get to
Work!

This project at Pearson,  along with the  terrible weather has taken a serious chunk out of Cheryl's run time.   She made us run after work on Wednesday, but it was so cold and so dark that we decided to take Thursday and Friday off.   We did manage to run this morning.   ( The temps were in the warm single digits) but we still managed to get cold, even with foot and hand warmers!

Cheryl preparing to run this morning.

She is not frosted up....yet. 

Add in that the snow continues and drifts across the sidewalk.   AND  people have not shoveled in places and the snow plows fill in sections near the road!   It makes for a really colorful cycling experience.  ( I paint the sky red and purple with my expressions and outbursts!)   Cheryl manages,  but even she got cold around mile 7.   The thought of riding along Gilbert street does not sound very fun for tomorrow.

...And right about here is where the
camera dies. 

Subie does not like the cold either!

 The Eagles were out in full feather today!   Why no pictures?  Because my camera died... ( Adding to the color of the sky... as previously mentioned.) There were trees filled with 6-7 Bald Eagles right next to the path.   We saw several dozen total!  Cheryl says she could hear them ruffle their feathers as the took off above her. I managed to get really close to several!.. AND it would have been a GREAT PICTURE had the camera not died at that moment.   Crumbs!

HAving fun with Hot water.

The cold effects Cheryl's Garmin as well.  He is finicky at 40 degrees above zero...   when it dips below zero, it simply quits and offers no explanations.  Cheryl tries to cover him and keep him warm, but then she can't look at the pace or the mileage.  The Cold negatively effects so many things hat are electronic.

So cold it turns to vapor
before it hits the ground. 

Even Subie had a hard start up these last few days.   (But he DID start!  Yea!) When it gets this cold, his fuel injection seals contract and leak a little gas vapor until they get warmed up.  (A common problem, I guess...)  so if we are not moving,  the cabin smells like gasoline!   Lovely.    Also, his defrost has to work very hard to keep the windows clear.   He kicks out plenty of heat!  But the cold prevents him from heating the cabin AND the windshield at the same time.  So we are forced to keep switching the air back and forth for the vent and the windshield.  It is kind of a pain, but at least we can get toasty for a few minutes before the windows fog back up.

Science!  Fun for everyone! 

So...  it has been a while since we have had temps this low here in Iowa.  (GLOBAL WARMING!  WHERE ARE YOU?)  But these temps are supposed to last for the next week or so.  Cheryl complains about working at Pearson because it cuts into her run time, but with the weather as bad as it has become, I doubt we would be getting in those quality miles she craves.  Hey!  At least we can make some money while we sit in a warm environment.  And she does not drive me crazy voicing that she should have run further today.   Some people simply can't be satisfied, I guess.

Thanks for stopping in.   And I hope you are warm and comfortable if you are currently dealing with this cold snap.   Oh!  And keep your money instead of donating it to Al Gore.  I can only imagine he will spin this as "Definitive PROOF" that Global warming is real!  I wonder how he is going to do it...