Walt, I'm from much warmer climes, as you know, but a few years ago I had a new pickup and decided to escape my current ruts right after Christmas, about the 26th or 27th. Got in the truck and drove north to Prince Rupert, with some side trips, then on the way back about the middle of Jan picked up a hitch-hiker and took him to his parent's ranch about an hour of gravel road north of Smithers. They had a spare room with a bed, but after some refreshments and perhaps some recreational pharmaceuticals I insisted on sleeping on the porch sofa in my new Artic sleeping bag.
It was about 25 below, maybe six inches of dry snow on the ground, no wind, and totally, absolutely, sparkling clear. The stars seemed like you could reach out and touch them, and the Aurora Borealis was putting on quite a show, actually that was the original attraction to sleeping outside. I have never known clarity of vision like that before or since, and the feeling of comfortable peace, of a world sleeping, patiently awaiting spring, is not one I'll forget. We'd like to see the North in both winter and summer before long. .........the lack of mango trees notwithstanding -g-
.......... cheers .................... macros |
