Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!!

---

Thursday, we slept our last night in the trailer last night, Its been awesome for what we wanted and it holds alot of good memories of our trip around. We said our goodbyes to Mum and Dad and got on our way north. It usually takes about 10 hours to get to Evans place in Hickory, North Carolina. We hit a traffic jam coming up I-95, managed to get off and wind our way thru some back roads to get over to another main road. We pulled into our motel at 8pm , 11 hours after we left. We drove around to Evan's place to find the house open but no one home. We walked right up to the lounge calling out to no reply, just as we were driving out Tori said she saw Maria coming out of the garage. The girls were home but must have been in their rooms and didn't hear us. I rang Evan and he was on his way home from work as he had been doing overtime. Bobbie came home not long after. They had all been crook during the week. I went out and had a look at Evan's doer upper boat!! He bought it for $700 I think, probably $700 too much, but it will give him something to do thats for sure.The temp has dropped dramatically from leaving Florida. 65 when we left there and about 32 in Hickory yes thats 0 degrees in celcius.Evan has had plenty of overtime fixing water pipes that have burst around town due to the below freezing temperatures. As we watched tv they were saying that a huge snow storm was coming up the east side of the country. So we decided to keep going the next day and try and get to New Jersey before the storm.
Friday we went to IHOP for breakfast and it started sleeting while we were driving there. By the time we left it was settling on the car. We were doing good until I swapped the driving and Kylie hit another traffic jam. This one was a come to a dead stop and go nowhere one. The lady next to us said her sister was watching a car chase on tv with a sheriff and it all ended badly on the road up ahead of us. So we watched a DVD while we sitting there, that managed to pass the time. 1 1/2 hrs later we were off again, had a good run until we hit another traffic jam as a couple of cars had a prang. This time we managed to get off and go around it. By now we were getting into Washington DC at 5pm. Not a good move on one of the busiest traffic days in the US today. We were just crawling , The traffic report on the radio said if youre not stuck in slow traffic yet you will be soon. We decided to stop for dinner at Wendy's and we had a slow trip out but at least we were moving. We had snow flurries as we got back in the car. Christa rang to say the New Jersey turnpike had multiple accidents on it and one was blocked up for 20 miles. After weaving our way here we arrived 13 hrs after leaving , once again it normally takes 10 hrs!! Without a trailer this time, Kylie and I got the bedroom and Josh got the couch, Tori got the blankets on the floor.
Saturday morning we woke up to snow flurries coming down and a severe weather warning on the TV. After lunch we decided to go over to Tommy and Trish's . Trish took the kids for rides on a home made sled behind the motorbike in the snow as it was falling pretty good by now. The kids had a ball, throwing snow balls, Ethan and Josh played football in the snow. After everyone was cold and wet we went and stood in front of the fire inside. The kids wanted to stay the night , so we left them too it as it was getting darker and the snow was piling up on top of the car. Kylie and I drove back to Ross's doing about 15-20 MPH with very little visibility. The windscreen wipers kept icing up as it was icy snow falling. The roads were hard to see as everything was white, we decided about then that this really wasn't a great idea. Lucky 6 months ago when I bought the Durango we bought a AWD vehicle because driving down that road it was definately using it to stay on the road. When Ross got home he said there were 3 cars that had slid off the road between here and the farm. We spent the rest of the night showing them photo's of our trip.It was snowing steadily all night.
Sunday 20th, WOW what a site!!! We had two foot of snow overnight, Its the biggest storm for a December on record and 2nd biggest ever . The reason we came up was to have a white christmas, well we got it early. Ross had to dig a path out to the truck, then dig a path to the road. After breakfast we decided to go for a drive around and take some photos. It looks amazing , The top of some of the houses look like they have a huge marshmellow on top of them. People were out using snow blowers to clear their driveways, others like us were using shovels. The huge shovel moves alot of snow without alot of effort as its so light and fluffy. Our road hasn't been snow ploughed like alot of them, they worked thru the night keeping the major roads open. The Philadelphia Eagles played the San Fransisco 49ers today. On the news this morning it said there were 1200 people cleaning the seats in the stands,the field, cleaning the carpark and area around the arena ready for todays game. They put the kick off time back 3 hours so the staff had more time to get it all ready. When we went over to pick up the kids, Tommy said he was out trying to clean some of the snow off the roof as it was huge. He fell of the roof and ripped down the guttering in the process. The snow was too heavy for the pagola they bought this year and the roof on that ripped and caved in. They have got a small blade on the front of their quad bike to clear the driveway and a path down to the horses. We stopped at a house on the way home to look at their christmas lights. The whole house is done up with lights, out the front a sign says tune your radio to 107.3 FM. The lights on the house flash in time to the music on our radio, OTT ( over the top!!) I thought I had seen everything.
Not to many people here are to thrilled about all this snow, retailers hate it as no one can get to the shops on the last weekend before christmas, people have to work in it aren't happy. Except for a bunch of Kiwi's!! We have had the most amazing run of weather over here, months of fine weather. When I said to Ross months ago we'll come back up here for a white Christmas. He said" I can tell you it will definately be cold , but I can't promise you snow". Well for me this a dream end to an awesome experience.
Monday, while Ross and Christa went and did the horses we drove slowly over to pick up Ethan and Grace. Some of the roads have been cleared by the snow ploughs but alot of the back roads are still snow covered and a bit slippery. We meet at the farm and then we all drove up to Newark, just south of New York city. Ethan and Grace saw the statue of Liberty for the 1st time( so they said) as we went to a science center that Ross had seen. We started on the 4th floor and worked our way down. It had a lot of hands on things for the kids, that kept them interested. From spray painting a wall with an electronic spray can to building their own volcano on a computer. Had a good run down from Newark which is always a plus at that time of the afternoon.
Tuesday we into Freehold this morning after doing the laundry down at the laundramat as Christas dryer has died. Washed the car to try and get all the salt off it. Fixed the windscreen wiper as I broke it the other day. Dumb tourist didn't know to lift up my wipers like Ross did on his truck so when you go to clear your window after the storm , they dont stick to the window and break off!! Went to get our last fix of Walmart, man they are having some amazing deals before xmas. I bought a thermal shirt for $12 , it came up at $8. I bought Ross and Christa an egg beater for $25 for xmas, it came up as $15. Bloody good as I used it tonight to bake my bread!! Then we drove down the road a bit to the Freehold mall. It was hard to find a carpark as it was full. With all the snow piled up everywhere it made it even less carparks. Inside the mall they had the heat cranked up , too bloody hot. It was fairly busy but not too bad, I thought considering its 2 days before xmas. The trailer has got 1 more day to run and the bids are up to $8500 , getting better. I looked into selling the car and because I put it in Evans name , he has to sell it. So I've booked a flight back from Charlotte , NC for next week . So I have to drive it back down there probably tuesday.
Wednesday is another beautiful blue sky day, just cold. Kylie and Tori went down to get some photos developed. Then we all went down to Cloumbus flea market. Only the inside shops were open, outside open tomorrow. That will be nice as it is 22 degrees today, about minus 6.

Hi it's Tori, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We are having a great time in the snow, a bit cold though. Can't wait to get home. Love Tori!!!

HI Josh here. I hope everyone has a merry christmas. It has snowed a few days ago so it is hopefuly still going to be a white Christmas here.

Hi Kylie here now!! Everyone here is cursing us cos we wanted a white Christmas, and we got one! A great way to end our holiday, the weather all the way round has been perfect. My big mission now is to try and fit all the stuff everyone has bought into our bags. Hope everyone has a great Xmas and New Year, see you soon!!!

From me, I hope you all have a good break away over the christmas period and Santa brings you everything you asked for.

---

Photos

DSC06435
The dodge is FULL

DSC06437
The rest went on the bike rack.

DSC06444
Snow just starting to fall in Hickory.

DSC06445
Our 1st traffic jam.

DSC06449
We got here just before the storm hit.

DSC06473
Snow fight over at Trisha's.

DSC06476
Kylie and Tori.

DSC06481
Damn its cold!!

DSC06486
Ethan on the sled behind the quad.

DSC06495
Ethan's frozen face.

DSC06530
We woke up to 2ft of snow.

DSC06535
Ross digging us out.

DSC06542
The poor Dodge wishs it was back in Florida!!

DSC06550
Me digging to get us out.

DSC06552
A bit different from when we were here last.

DSC06562
Temperature.

DSC06565
Creek just down the road.

DSC06569
Farmland looks beautiful when they are snow covered.

Comments

[anonymous]

Merry Xmas to you all
Hi guys great photos of the snow,I bet it is an amazing experience.We all ready for xmas, Brandon finishes work today and has three weeks off.They start drinking at lunch time so I will have to pick up a drunk husband later on no doubt!!! We go to Palmy tomorrow to Mitchies for lunch then Jeanette and Rob for dinner.Boxing day drinks at Rach and Andys.Look forward to catching up with you when you come home.Have a great xmas in the snow Luv the Mcbeths