POTW delay and snow rambling

[jimbob200521]

Well good morning gentlemen (and gentle women)!! I hope you guys in the snowy area, which I guess is now a blizzard, are being safe out there with your Cubs. I just wanted to post this to explain the slight delay in POTW this week.

I'll start by saying that I hope for those in the deep snow zone got off to a better start than my morning did. I awoke from my serine slumber just before 5am and went out to start the 1864 up for fun morning of pre-sun plowing. I opened the door and, knowing we were FORECAST to get a good amount, didn't realize when I looked out the winder that we in fact did get a good dump. Opened the door, scraping snow away as I did. "Huh" I said to myself. Then I took a step in it. A sarcastic "Ohh...yay " came from my mouth as I crunched into deep, wet, heavy snow. Racing across my mind was the thought of "why oh why did I loan out my loaded turfs and chains! ". Ever the eternal optimist, I fired up the 1864 and let it warm up while I went back in to bundle up. I came back up, dropped the blade, and took off out of the garage. I got about 10 feet before the wet, dense snow was so heavy and packed that the blade raised up and started floating on top of it.

Crud. So I backed into the garage, put the lock out in the lift arm so I had a bit of down pressure and tried again. After a couple attempts (remember now, I'm riding on old AG's) I cleared a path. I started to chip away at the snow and after about 20 minutes or so made it into the road (that wouldn't get plowed for hours yet) and headed for work to get things cleared up there. I pulled in, looked at what was ahead of me, and turned around. I raced back home and at about 5:40am dropped the blade and started installing the 451 blower. That actually went very well and was in practically no time (I'd been doing practice speed trials in my off time ). Fired the tractor back up and went outside again. HALF AN HOUR LATER I STILL HADN'T MADE IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. With all that weight up front, I had ZERO traction. No, I had subzero traction, it was that bad. Frustrated, I said screw this and hopped in my truck. I chugged across town and retrieved my loaded tires and chains off of a friends buried Cub in his back yard. Let me tell you, removing and loading 100 pound tires in a foot of snow in the pitch dark out in the elements is not a fun way to spend your morning.

So I get home, install them, turn the key and make some real progress!! A total world of difference. I walk out of the driveway and down to work like it hadn't even snowed. A bit nervous about using the 451 I hadn't really tested out yet, I fired it up and dug in. I must say, eating through anywhere from 8" to drifting 14"+ of wet snow this thing impressed me. Without it, I would not have been able to make it through this storm. I spend the next couple hours making a path at work and clearing 5 driveways on my return trip home. I get home, drop the blower, and put the blade back on.

Before I go back out, I come in to warm and eat (I hadn't eaten by this point). I get a call, and a friend is stuck. So I go take care of that, come home, and go back out. This stuff piled up fast! I clear work again (and better this time). I go over my 5 driveways again and finally get to come in and enjoy my "weekend off" by late afternoon. I have a stiff cocktail, got some more chow, and passed out for a nap.

So, all that leads me to say sorry POTW was delayed!!

Cliff notes (otherwise known as too long didn't read notes)

Up early
Spent 2 hours easy dealing with stupid issues
Spent 6 hours blowing and plowing snow
Posted POTW