Restin' Up From the Weekend!

I've enjoyed a great weekend at the Ancestral Digs. Spring is in full force down here in the Inland Valley! The last time I was down here was only a month ago, but the difference is striking!

Back in March, the East Bay Hills were kelly green from the new shoots of grass bursting forth. This month, the hills are more emerald green, all the fruit trees are a riot of blossoms, everything has new growth, and the colors are almost electric! The contrast with my snowy monochrome world is startling! Out front, my Dad's Sun Azaleas are putting on another wild display of rich pink flowers. All the trees show new growth at the tips of every branch and bough, Mother Nature's signal of life going forward for another year.

Despite all these signs to the contrary, Old Man Winter is hanging on. SturgeUrge and I had planned to fish out of The Golden Gate for King Salmon on Monday, but the latest Winter Storm had the Pacific so churned up that we dared not venture out.

My original plan called for a decent nap after I got off work Sunday, then the drive down the hill with the rest of the weekend traffic...however, after a scan of the Buoy Data and Marine Forecast, we cancelled our trip, and I was given the opportunity to play my travel plans by ear. A second nap energized me and I was up at 0300 Monday, watching the storm, the road conditions, and the clock.

Everything came together after lunch, and I pulled out of town at 1PM. Chain Controls were lifted during the noon hour, and the super-slab was ice and snow free, even though it was still showery.

As I drove west and lower in elevation, I ran into some energetic cells that featured heavy snowfall and gusty wind...I found traffic grinding to a halt along the top of the Nyack Summit. Sitting for five minutes in near white-out conditions was unsettling, but the spinout was cleared and we were on our way again.

With visibility compromised the best we dared was 40 mph all the way down to Dutch Flat where torrents of rain and the heavy spray thrown up from the road kept a lid on everyone's speed. Seriously heavy rain poured down all the way through Sacramento, and on to Davis, where some really good thunderstorms were goin' off. At one point, there was so much lightning, that I was forced to change stations on the AM Radio, as the crackling became a roar!

By the time I pulled off the Interstate for gas in Vacaville, I'd passed through the back end of the front, and the radio's Traffic Guy reported Chain Controls were back up on 80...not over the Summit, but from Baxter to Cisco Grove, well West and downhill! I smiled my goofy smile, knowing I'd threaded the needle once again...

No drama down at the Ancestral Digs, I escorted Mom to the Church Luncheon before doing some shopping and network maintenance. Mom reports the Family are all doing well, and I told her how well my season continues to unfold.

Today is Tax Day at the Ancestral Digs, then I head up the Hill for another week on the Mountain which will feature snow showers by week's end. I'll probably begin my week a little sleep-deprived, but that's the norm in Spring...it's my body striving to get a little more solar energy into the system...same as every season...I've learned to live with it, it's transitional.

Tonight, the winter style snow will help me rest up from my weekend...then May is for resting up from my season...and the Indy 500!

Two more Saturday Nights behind the sticks of my Groomer, then I reset the Body Clock, and rejoin the masses in daylight. I'm ready, even though the lingering winter snow is so much fun!

Another Season in the books...good one!