Home Sleet Home.

The scene inside the East Yawkey Clubhouse following the day of fun in the white snow, sleet, and snow. (iPhone 4)

6:00am this morning my alarm clock fired up to John Denver's "Country Road."

Immediately I went outside.
I received a text from Steve Weber of the Minnesota DNR (CCSRA Park Manager) the night prior that we would be receiving rain this morning in Cuyuna.

Once again, Steve was right.

Upon opening the front door I was greeted with puddles of water and a shiny sidewalk.
It was obvious for today, the fat bike would stay put.

This however did open the book to new opportunity, good opportunity.
For the first time this winter I was able to fire up the Craftsman lawn tractor and snow blow our driveway.
Like a hot knife through butter that project was completed before daylight.

Following the snow removal, the wee Hautala's came outside all bundled up in their winter's finest. 

Trail left behind Lou. (iPhone 4)

This provided myself a little wiggle room where they were enjoying themselves in the snow, I needed to stay out with them, and I knew Moonlander might not mind coming out for a few hot laps around the yard.

Since having the new Bud and Lou 4.8 tires (4.8 inches wide) I've been wanting to get a few good pictures of the tread pattern in the snow.
Not only was I able to capture a few fun photos of the fat boys in the snow, I also had the opporortunity to ride (4) times on my summer trail I've called "Rhubarb Run." The name was chosen as this trail goes by the garden on into the scrub brush of the woods.

Oddly enough in this dreary, wet, melting snow day, Bud and Lou trudged on without fail. (Even through uncharted parts of the woods through scrub brush and who knows what.)
I'd say it was easier pedaling through 4.0" of melting sloppy snow that it was pedaling through 4.0" of powder fresh snow last week this time.

This snow was like mashed potatoes.

The wee Finn and his pride and joy for this day, Mr. Snowman. (iPhone 4)

While I groomed the Rhubarb Run trail the wee Hautala's were working on their snowmen. The snow was sticky as ever, making a ball for a snow man only took a few feet of rolling as the snow added up so fast due to it's moisture.

I took a quick pedal down the road in front of my house. I had a few neighbors see the Moonlander for the first time, that was fun! I also noticed all the tire treads on the road from the cars passing by. When I saw a Ford F-!50 go by I had to drive right near its tracks to see the difference in tire footprint from the Surly Moonlander to F150.

The results speak for themselves below.

Moonlander's Lou on the left. Ford F-150 on the right. (iPhone 4)

All said, this snow day, sleet day, freezing rain day was a wonderful retreat from Saturday as normal. Now let's freeze up, snow often, and ride fat, daily.