when those fronts dip down into Gulf of Mexico, almost always it means more rain for us as the NorEasters angle through.
seems like it's sucking water up from the Gulf, along with warmth we are feeling now.
and when it passes next week, up North is going to send us a doozie
and we will be back in the icebox.
some days you just have to hunker in
and from experience, that's usually when the fire whistle goes off, pagers start beeping
and folks head out into nasty weather and high water.
driving a fire truck in the snow is a life experience I don't need to repeat.
I live up "on top" in Solebury and there's a big hill, Solebury hill, that goes down to New Hope.
I remember my old Subaru Outback used to tell me what degree slope I was on.
Would be fun to see how steep that big hill is.
Which I go down every other day.
and once had to get up that hill in the snow for a barn fire.
bad enough I'd get down to second gear in a five speed but was trying to avoid going into first, slow up everyone behind you.
so I'd try to take the hill with some speed, like you always do. They salted and sanded that hill a lot, thankfully.
but in the middle of the storm while the snow is just piling up, it was a mess with deep ruts.
I did make it up the hill in second. But apparently my extra speed bothered the guy riding with me and he dimed me out to the
chief. I did make that 454 wail...K3500 Pierce, early 80's. Small truck relatively, only held 250 but getting that going quickly was a big deal.
Today they only run big trucks, don't lead off with an "attack" piece. Those narrow country driveways with low hanging branches made that
small truck shine....actually the fit and finish of a bright red Pierce fire truck is amazing.
I really miss the daylight right about now. When you get up at 4, spend a lot of time waiting
to get out there.
