Dang it's cold in the north east. Boston 7 Jan 2014

The Charles a few weeks ago when it was just slightly freezing

Dang it's cold up here. Which is Cambridge, just across from the other side of Boston, Massacheussetts. That's the US of A, baby.

Snow in December

Bikes snowed in

The frozen river Charles

That's a river over there by the way

My bike lock froze!

And fractured with the freezing!

Balaclavas are essential

Again - that's a river there!

Skiing in Vermont - with the necessary protection

Apparently there's some freaky storm. A polar vortex, whatsoever that might mean.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25632586
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25618006
In reality it means crazy coldness across the eastern states, and other areas. In Indiana, no personal car trips are allowed. A friend in Chicago is hearing blasts from a siren which warns people of a tornado.

Tonight it is -14C and will get colder overnight - maybe as low as -16C. Over the weekend it got a little cooler. It certainly is freaking cold. Cold enough to fracture and snap the covering of my bike lock! At least that's what I think it is - it might just be that someone tried to half inch it whilst it was parked outside the office, but I will default to the former :)

Bizarrely, yesterday it was 9C during the day, so we have had a swing of 25C during the past 24 hours which is pretty freaky. Last week we had about a foot of snow in 24 hours, and the office was closed for 2 days, unfortunately I am able to work from home, so no disruptions there ;)

Despite all the crazy snowness, the town continues to operate. The salters and gritters and cleaners and blowers are out every evening, people clean their paths outside their houses or businesses (it is law to do so) and the roads are really clear. A couple of times I have been woken up about 4 am with the snowploughs going up and down my road, which is a small back road after all - it really is very efficient.

I am amazed at how well set up they are here to deal with it. The first time I walked to work when it was cold I thought I wouldn't be able to take it and nearly jumped back on a plane to Europe then and there. My legs were so cold through my trousers I thought they were going to fall off. And my face was so so cold that I have decided that I will no longer shave my beard or cut my hair until winter is well and truly over. That means about 6 months of growth!

For kit, I have learnt well. A kiwi friend recommended silk long johns, which have been amazing (purchased from www.landsend.com if you care!). When I am not wearing them, I am wearing my salopettes over my trousers. Of course, a ski jacket is compulsory as are ski gloves. I have also been out wearing my ski goggles to stop my face freezing on a couple of occasions.
Winter boots are an absolute must - waterproof all the way to stop any water or snow getting in.
Balaclavas are compulsory. I now have three - one with a zip, one with a nose flap and one light coolmax-type one. The nose flap one is best, the others mean that my breath goes directly onto my glasses which steams up and then freezes!

Crazy dude riding his bike across the frozen Charles

The swirly brown ice on the Charles River

More swirly browness

A crazy chick walking on the frozen Charles

A crazy chick walking on the frozen Charles

A crazy chick walking on the frozen Charles

Me walking on the frozen Charles River

Me lying on the frozen Charles River 

And the river freezes. Proper freezes. Not just a bit of ice, but enough to walk on. Yes, walk on. Whilst I was out playing (yes, I do mean playing - one can only play whilst riding a bike in the snow - there is no real training benefit) on my bike this weekend I saw a lady walking on the river. She had been out cross country skiing on some crazy retro wooden skis and she (but not her fella!) was out walking on the Charles River. I have never seen a frozen river, and thought that maybe I would never ever get a chance again, so I dumped my bike and set out on the ice.
And it was solid! man. I walked around a little, then lay down. The ice made noises and creaked, and actually was a rather ugly brown colour, in swirls and curls of this muddy brown, but it was a wonderful experience I shall not forget :) Thanks to that girl for showing me the way.

And here is my strava where you can see me in/on the river!
http://www.strava.com/activities/104345415

And later on - someone posted a guy actually riding his bike on the Charles. Nutbar!!

The weekend was my first go at snowboarding here. A quick 2.5 h spin out to Stratton mountain in Vermont, and there are some beautiful, if restricted slopes, covered in the most perfect snow. The hills were rather low (between 800-1300 m) but had plenty of snow.

Here's my strava of my snowboarding:
http://www.strava.com/activities/104346645

Despite all this, the skies remain blue most of the time, and the landscape is really rather beautiful.

And finally, a couple of silly videos of me failing to cycle in the snow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO-TRD4KosY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUNjZJerlSc

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