OH Canada.....

And, people want to immigrate there.

 

Climate cycles have allowed people to forget that this weather used to be considered normal in winter. Of course, there weren't near as many (self important) people on the roads back then, so the wrecks weren't as bad.

 

I live right where this storm hammered us the hardest. It was by far the worst winter I've seen living here for 30 years now (I'm 35). Nobody really believed the weatherman or the authority who announced Thursday around 8pm all school canceled Friday figured they just don't want to come in. East of here, in the London area, they typically get heavier snow, most of it lake effect. The worst of winter always either misses us or we just get a quick storm fast moving, fine the next day kind of thing. Never like this one.

I was at a Christmas party for my summertime customer Thursday afternoon, which turned into too many wobbly pops so I decided I'd stay the night in the bunkhouse (where parry was hosted) at the farm. Woke up around noon wind howling probably 60+mph sustained. 401, 402, many other routes closed. At one point the cops said all roads are closed in the county. The roads people even ordered the plows off the road at noon Friday since they couldn't see. I ended up staying until Saturday afternoon before trying to make it home. It was still no easy drive, many snow drifts higher than cars and often 1 lane to pass thru. Lots of abandoned vehicles. The opp were directing traffic into town to the arena. The town pulled together to house and fees these stranded motorists. Even on my way home Saturday around 2pm, with a pickup and 4x4, it was one of those, do-able, but if you don't gotta, then do not try. Cars basicly useless and night time would be a forget even trying it. It did make me actually appreciate how during big storms in usa they will ban the trucks. I realize I may catch heat for saying that here haha. They never did that here, and with 401 closed there isn't really a suitable alternative for that much truck traffic. They all end up on small side routes then when the cars can't keep going or they chicken out now there's huge vehicles on the roadway and small ones making the cleanup more difficult. With a government order, there is none of this trying to be a hero for a customer. I am chilling at the house until January anyway.

 

Coolest customer ever. Feels like family.

Added the post about Kent Bridge road and have a look. This is near my place, a main feeder truck route to the 401.

Some other reports I didn't take sceenshots of included people who got caught on hwy 40 between chatham and wallaceburg. Maybe a half dozen big trucks, along with 4 wheelers, they couldn't proceed any longer stopped in roadway and were quickly snowed in for good. They were running out of fuel. Emergency services stretches thin and with abnormally cold and wind here their best bet would be to walk to nearest farm house. There's enough on that road you'd be ok to make that if you had to abandon the car.

It is pretty awesome how people pull together in times of need. Even though, I know it's just kinda what you do.

 

Love the bunkhouse when the chef pulls out Crab Legs the size of baseball bats , got to love Jackson Hole Wyoming on New years eve..