Wind Chill is Back

Last weekend the temperature dipped down to 27 and the wind picked up to 15 mph. My hands were so cold when I was jogging that I thought it was really cold. I knew it was going to be about 20 degrees colder this winter and I was wondering how I was going to survive. The first thing I did was to remember to wear mittens over gloves. When my hands weren't aching, it didn't seem so cold. But now it's 18 degrees and the wind is 20-25 mph. I've pulled out all my winter gear and I still have to prepare for temperatures 10 degrees colder. This is going to be a challenge. At least I know where all my winter clothes are now. I can't complain yet. In SW Michigan we only got a dusting of snow. The western part of the state got 5 inches or so. Nothing like starting off winter with a bang.

I've had some people ask whether they were on the PALM mailing list or not. If you got an application last year and you haven't moved, you are going to get one this year. If you have ever been on PALM, you'll be getting applications until you disappear or ask to be taken off the mailing list. If you didn't mail in your application in time to get on the ride last year, I put you on the mailing list (or tried to) and you should get an application this year. If you emailed palmbiketour@yahoo.com with your mailing address, you're on the mailing list. So far the mailing list contains 3300 addresses, about 300 more than usual. You have until Jan 1 to get me your mailing address before I have to put the mailing list together for the printer. On the application itself: I've completed the corrections to the proof and I'll be sending it back to the printer Monday. They should be all set.

On the garden front, I did harvest my last collard plant when the temperature got down to 27. I need daylight to work in the garden so my window of opportunity is down to the weekend. I was trying to wait out the pea sized Brussel sprouts and now they are frozen. I'm going to need a pick ax to clear the rest of the garden. My compost heap is a frozen lump. If a compost heap is active it's supposed to be warm, over 100 degrees. It looks like it wasn't active enough and now it will have to wait until spring like the rest of us. Well, there is the First Dozen. I did get a postcard for it today.

Happy Holidays

Hope everyone had a happy holiday. I got to catch up with lots of my family and friends. Hasn't the weather been bizarre the last week, even by Michigan standards? On the Friday before Christmas we get 10 inches of snow. Then Sunday it goes down to 3 degrees with a wicked wind. More snow on Tuesday, followed by lots of rain on Christmas Eve. The Saturday after Christmas it goes up t0 56 degrees, all the snow melts and we have flood warnings. And winter is just starting. How can January top this?

The good news is that the part that was backordered for my mountain bike came in and I have it back, in time for the 1st Dozen ride on January 1. I checked the weather: no snow, but 26 degrees. I tried to ride one cold 1st Dozen using long fingered bike gloves. Bad mistake. My hands froze. It was painful. Now I use the same thinsulate winter gloves that I usually wear outside. It's fun to see what everyone wears. Generally riders wear so many clothes that if they fall, they can roll to the finish. I have friends who used to live in the condos by the start. The first year that they were there, they watched several hundred people unload bikes New Year's Day and wanted to know what was happening. And then the mayor of Dearborn showed up and everyone started to bike to the "Ride of the Valkyries". It made quite an impression.

I'm keeping the PALM mailing list. There are over 3100 people on it so far and I'm still adding new names. It's not too late to get on it. Just email us your home address and we'll send you a PALM application by 1st class mail. It's the quickest way to get a PALM application since the application won't be on the PALM website until a week after the applications are mailed.