It's warmed up a bit. The thermometer was registering -3 earlier this morning.

April 15, 2020 - Wednesday morning

-2 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

At least the wind's not blowing, yet. Yesterday's windy conditions made being outside purely miserable. The thermometer topped out at 26 degrees and coupled with the wind, made it feel as though the temperature was in the single numbers throughout the day.

Growing bored and restless, I took a quick, and I emphasize, QUICK, walk to Pentoga and back. Actually, the conditions weren't horrible once I reached the woods that blocked the wind.

Back home, I turned the heat on in the shop and continued to sand the segmented piece. A little more sanding and shaping, coupled with a bit of filler, and it will be ready to either stain with different colors or paint. I'll finish it in the house where the temperatures are more conducive to fine brushwork.

Though we remained sequestered in the car with the windows closed, Sargie and I broke the law and took an afternoon ride. 

Just call us the UP's Bonnie and Clyde.

Actually, that's not true. We made one necessary stop which placed us back on the right side of the law.

I'm under the impression that people are becoming frustrated with the stay at home order. Seems the governor has implemented one dictate after another, even closing down the gardening sections and paint departments of our retail stores. 

Someone finally let his frustration show.

I don't care what your politics are, between the sensationalizing media and the government, it's difficult to know what to believe anymore. 

Meanwhile, we remain hunkered down and hope this current crisis passes so life can get back to normal. Well, normal until the next life changing event occurs. 

Stay tuned. No doubt, there will be one. 

The media and politicians have never seen a crisis they didn't love. 

As much as I'm belly aching about this, that, or the other, let us pray for those affected by the latest round of tornados, those that struck Laurel, Mississippi, and the nearby community of Soso. Mississippi Brother Garry and Jody were unaffected, but know several who lost their homes. The last I heard from Garry, he was sharpening his chainsaw and heading out to assist those who might need help. Daughter, Kari, has opened her home to a friend and family who lost everything.

Some people talk their Christianity. Garry, Jody, and family, live it.

Put into perspective, the events in Mississippi make our current cold weather seem not nearly so bad.

So that's all the news from this end. Not much. We're all anxious for spring to return and according to Carl the Weatherman, that may happen this weekend. Until then, it's time to strap on the hikers. This is a seven mile walking day.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Today's random Alaska picture:
A small section of the Alaska pipeline
At one time, I considered hiking the entire 800 miles of the pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, Alaska. I still would if I could erase twenty years from this body.