Crazy Alaskan April
We were all ready for the spring. After a few weeks of temperatures in the 40's (F) and the sunlight returning in blocks of 35 minutes a week, I could almost taste it. On Friday night we took the kids and the dogs out for a long walk on the bike path. The path was bare, with little piles of slush here and there. My husband vowed to start biking to work on Monday. My son was eager to get out his bike and hit the trail. The pussy willows are popping out. Ahhh... spring!
Then on Saturday morning I was awakened by the sound of a gleeful 6 year old shouting out, "It's snowing!" I opened my eyes and, sure enough, HUGE fluffy flakes were falling fast and furiously from the sky. It had already accumulated a few inches. I thought, smugly, "ahh, it will turn to rain later." But it never did. It snowed and snowed all weekend. We went sledding and snow boarding, thinking it was the last hurrah. Then it snowed again on Wednesday and got cold (10 degrees F).
All I can think about is that in just one week (or maybe two), the first cruise ships will be departing from Vancouver. I am sure that the snow will be gone before the first wave of tourists get here... well... almost sure. This is Alaska after all. And every once and a while, she decides that being predictable is for the BORING states.
So, we are enjoying the pristine white glare after weeks of muddy slush. Nordic skis have been pulled out of the closets after a very short rest. Winter is still here in the North, despite the calendar. The only regret I have about it is for the poor ducks that got here in the last few weeks, what a surprise for them...
