Cabin Achieved

We always take longer than needed to get to the cabin. Cabella’s is always worth an hour’s stop but at least we made it to Wheeling rather than stopping in Hamburg, PA. I finally got a pair of insulated Wellingtons that will make mud and snow romps more pleasant. Michael played hooky from work by using his phone and various free WiFi spots on our trip, such as the free WiFi at Panera’s Bread locations along the route from NYC to Piedmont, OH. Still, we made it in record time compared to our usual trips and we have light traffic and zero winter construction to account for our relatively speedy voyage.

We made it here just in the nick of time when Old Man Winter arrived as the last bag was being brought into the cabin. A messy and disabling mix of snow and sleet is expected the next 48 hours, rendering the low cruising Honda fairly useless. This means we are stuck in the cabin as the roads are rarely plowed up here. Super Wal-Mart made a killing on us and we are well stocked for the next few days and beyond.

Once we made the turn onto the country roads, Hugo knew what was up and whined, paced (as much as possible in the little Honda back seat) and stuck his nose out the window despite the cold and impeding winter weather. He ran for about an hour around the house and land, came home for dinner, snow covered, and is now sleeping on my feet under the computer desk.

Snowbound and at the cabin, as intended and we don’t leave till Tuesday…maybe Wednesday!

E

Hugo’s Park Platz outside of Harrisburg.

Dad says she’s ticking like a time bomb, but at 170K, at least she’s ticking at 80mph and 36mpg in the hills. However, after packing the Honda, a Mini Cooper looks less inviting, even possible. Then Michael mentioned a roof rack and eyes lit brightly. I wonder what Hugo will think about riding up there?

Not much at all apparently, as he finds a snuggle spot inside the car. Infamous Boo pillow is used so Hugo can sort of be with us without all 80lbs to follow.

Snow!

Doggy snow angel.

We ended up with 3” (a possible messy mix of 3” to follow) but while it fell, a nice image of the cabin.

Drive To Snow In The N.E.!

Mid-February and Hugo hasn’t placed a paw in more than an inch of snow this season. Global warming being what it is, with a Saturday off, we oddly had to drive nearly 100 miles from NYC to find snow! It was fitting to search out the white stuff as it was Windsor’s favorite gift from nature. Windsor passed away a year ago yesterday and while a memorial candle continues to burn by his marker on the bare earth in the backyard, we took off with his successor to the throne, Hugo, to Massachusetts. After looking at a snow map on-line, it appeared S.W. Massachusetts had about 8” around Bash Bish Falls State Park.

Highway 22 is a favorite of ours and we have been up that way a couple of times after falling in love with the area during our first trip to Lime Rock, Connecticut, last summer. The snow didn’t appear until late in the game but built up enough to cover the ground for most of our drive. We didn’t find the 8” promised by the web map (NOAA, get with it!), but the 5” of ice and snow did well enough to provide the winter wonderland we wanted and clear roads.

The two mile hike from the parking lot to the Bash Bish Falls was treacherous with frozen snow and ice but we managed with Michael taking the only spill and ending up no worse for wear. Hugo didn’t take long to learn the art of balance but not poise. As in most cases, the spawn of Cujo chooses brute force to engage challenges. The 60 foot falls were magnificent with the tributaries creating yards of icicles with the mist of the falls settling around the base creating an arctic seen normally found thousands of miles north. Hugo did meet his match with the roaring water barley above freezing. It would be the first body of water he didn’t swim in. He thought about it. He stepped in it and then went the other way. Hugo has an affinity for ice cubes at home and managed to learn how to break through the crusted snow to find soft fluffy snow to lay in while chewing on the broken pieces of frozen snow.

We took the long way back home finding new places we wished we lived and ended up in Kent for tea. With just enough time left in the day, we stopped at the local Mini dealer just before home and discussed vehicular replacement over the new Mini Clubman introduced for sale in the U.S. today. At $26K for the one we want, the discussion was short but there was a used Cooper Works outside that I didn’t care if it fit anyone’s life, I wanted it.

Sad to say we had to travel nearly 150 miles to find snow in mid-February, but global warming is what it is and perhaps Windsor left at the right time, leaving the less frozen H2O for the likes of Hugo. Windsor’s candle burns brightly with the near full moon tonight and Hugo is down for the count and snoring loudly at my feet. A nice family day indeed.