Come Rain, Sleet or Snow.
We've had snow here in Toronto over the last couple of days. All I hear from folks trudging in from the parking lot at work, or on their Facebook status comments, or in phone calls are complaints and irritation and unhappiness with the weather. I actually quite like it. And not in an annoying in-your-face kind of way. I just like how the weather is in charge and we're left to figure out how to cope with it. To me it just means a few more days of my shearling hat, and heavy winter jacket. It means daydreams of camping with a big warm fire, a tarp keeping me dry, heavy wool clothes and waiting for the spring rains to come.
I just keep thinking of that saying I read somewhere that there is no bad weather, just bad clothing. The weather has trumped me in the past - I remember camping in minus 20 degree Celcius weather and shivering my butt off. I remember becoming hypothermic in some cold autumn rain. But knowing what I know now about outdoors clothing and camping and survival methods, I know that if those situations presented themselves to me today, I would be fine. Another saying appropriate to these circumstances is "Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance".
One of my most pleasant memories of camping was of a few years ago when a massive rainstorm washed over my campsite in Algonquin Park. I sat bundled up in a wool blanket under a big tarp with a cigar looking out across a lake and watched the rain storm advance, grow, peak, crest, subside and then vanish - replaced in time with sunshine. I felt that this was a privilege that few people get to experience. We're all too busy hurrying from air-conditioned or heated buildings and cars - and staying outside only as long as it is warm and temperate.
If my schedule permits tomorrow, I will walk the one-mile trail around the campus at work (must bring my boots to contend with the wet muddy ground), through the overgrowth and bush. I will bring my camera and see what treasures I can photograph. Come rain, sleet or snow.
Cheers,
Mungo
3 comments:
In New England the weather is always unpredictable so you have to be used to it.
One of my favorite memories was sitting in a tree stand deer hunting and having a unexpected snow squall show up so I can relate.
I used to sleep rough a lot when young. I'd hitchhike all over heck's half-acre and sleep wherever I ended up. But I'm too old and soft now. Still fish and walk my dog in every imaginable weather condition though, and since the 80's I've been chanting "God bless Goretex."
It's absolutely true that there's clothing for every weather condition these days.
I'm an hour or so east of TO and haven't minded this wee winter reminder at all.
You're right, it isn't the weather, it's how you deal with it. Weather in Michigan can be unpredictable, so you have to be prepared for anything. If you are, you'll generally do fine.
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