Slip sliding away… Yesterday, snow was falling in many parts of western Washington. My neighborhood of West Seattle received nary a flake, well perhaps one or two. I was going to take my camera and go get ‘snow’ shots, but decided ‘Well, maybe not, I’ll just take Lucy for a drive to go walk/run in a vacant field someplace.’ We took off, me driving, she co-piloting and we found ourselves at Southcenter Mall at Barnes and Noble looking at books. The roads were bare and wet, a skiff of snow on the grass here and there, so we drove on over to Renton Shopping Center to Uwajimaya, before the promised run.
Uwajimaya is an Asian specialty supermarket that was started in Chinatown neighborhood of Seattle and then expanded to this location several years ago. They provide a wide variety of Asian groceries, gifts, meat, seafood and produce. I got my husband and I some vegetable tofu with brown rice from the deli for lunch and took my items to checkout.
Walking outside was like walking into another world. A much different world than I had left about 25 minutes prior to walking into the store. It was snowing very hard, wind blowing with snow several inches deep. Apologizing to Lucy for cancelling her promised walk, we headed home on the freeway only to encounter troubles at Southcenter Hill on Highway 518 heading towards SeaTac Airport and home beyond. AWD is a wonderful feature, I had no trouble in my Honda Element, but many did. Here I’ve captured a shot out my windshield of traffic stopped, slipping, sliding in the wet snow. The elevated line above and to the right is part of our ‘Link,’ light rail between the airport and downtown.
Seattle is a tough town to negotiate/navigate around in the snow. We have a very hilly typography. The county and cities have not nearly enough snow removal equipment nor budgeted monies to keep all roadways clear for motorists. It’s a school holiday today, so here I am, on the couch, laptop in place, coffee in hand, blogging and talking to you all.
More snow in the forecast for today and tomorrow… we’ll see if school opens tomorrow. Some of our older buses have sanders in front of the rear duals, mine is a newer bus and does not, go figure. I wonder why Blue Bird quit equipping the buses with sanders? They are SUCH a needed tool to keep a school bus moving in adverse, slippery conditions.
looks like some good flakes!
Yes.. still spitting snow today…
Wow! The Pacific NorthWest definitely isn’t geared for this type of thing is it. Never enough plows. We only got a dusting here, most of our white was actually from a hailstorm.
I agree, Paul… and the hills, well not like driving in some places where the terrain is a bit flatter… ;-)
it looks so cold! did much stick yet? we have a very big county with much of it very rural so a lot of times we’ll end up with a snow day or delay when we get the smallest amount of precip!
Only a couple inches on the ground, some melting today, but not much above freezing, it will be a mess in the morning when it freezes again tonight, especially if it snows more like the weatherman says (course who can always count on them! lol).
Snow is coming down lightly at the moment here….it’s always worse when you have to travel anywhere….wonderful if you can stay inside and watch!
I agree, inside is better than driving… especially a 40′ school bus without sanders! ;-)
Beautiful, beautiful winter shot!
Thanks, Karl…
Great shot! You could moonlight as a traffic reporter! And you’re so right about the 4WD – I have a Ford Escape and since I got it…bring on the snow! but not too much.
Thanks… I love my AWD, my Honda Element can go just about anywhere! ;-)
Coooooooold and pretty!
Yes, just a bit cold… :-)
It looks cold, but it’s a great winter shot.
Yes, a good shot… I felt sorry for those who were having trouble getting traction…
What a surprise you had. But it yielded this great photo to share with us all. Hope the roads are clear for you tomorrow.
I hope it either snows enough to close the schools or clears off… either one is okay with me!
You caught one of those “freeway moments.” I guess as long as the car’s warm and dry inside people forget what the road’s like. My husband tells at least one harrowing story of coming over the crest of a hill in Seattle only to find snow, ice, and total chaos. Ugh!
Yes… done that too. Fortunately, I usually figure out a fairly good work around to not hit big hills….
I have traction control, but my car is very light and not very good in this kind of driving, AWD sounds a much better option. Coffee and blogging on the couch sounds great. Hope the weather is better tomorrow.
I agree Paul, couch sounds better than driving!
You deserve a medal for going to the Southcenter Mall in any weather….I find those streets around it confounding. You can have the snow! You’ve had more there than we have in New England.
I don’t go to the Mall proper… it makes me claustrophobic! I’m a get in, get it, get out of the store kind of girl!
cold and beautiful, fantastic photo
Thanks, Sandra!
I love a good snow day as long as I am not in traffic. Excellent photograph.
Well, we may be out in it tomorrow.. with no sanders no less! :-)
What big, beautiful flakes!
Thanks Meghan… it was quite beautiful!
It looks so cold and wet. You are still soooo my hero for being able to drive a bus in that.
Aw shucks, Thanks, Michaele…
That is an awfully good windshield photo. But, you drive for a living and did this? Tsk tsk tsk. (I do it too, but I’m an amateur.)
I was in my car AND stopped in traffic… a quick snap with my cell phone.
I just checked WSDOT cameras around that state. Looks like the roads are clear where there are cameras in your area, but not on Snoqualmie Pass. We have not had snow yet, but could get dumped on latter today, tonight and tomorrow. It is snowing in the Olympic Peninsula. As always, I enjoyed the photo. I noticed last night that your photo of the Seattle skyline at sunset is still featured at Webshots in Member’s Choice, Travel >> Washington. I love that photo. Be careful on the roads, there are some crazy drivers out there.
Jim
Yes Jim, I noticed that my photo was still the featured on Webshots Washington Travel page. I’m sure it’s snowing in your neck of the woods this morning.. we’re closed this morning so no slogging in the snow for me today except in my own vehicle to go get some snow shots!
The news said you would get a year’s worth of snow in this one storm. It looks like they were right! That makes me cold just looking at the photo.
Yes… we’ve got about 8″ on the ground here in south Seattle… my sister’s place south of Olympia has about 26″… amazing… schools are closed (no surprise there!) ;-)
I feel your pain of experiencing yucky weather. Perhaps we need a trip to Hawaii!!!
xo Catherine
Who’s buying the tickets… dutch treat?? Lol… I’ve never been to Hawaii!
Looks so dangerous! Must be tempting to stay home most of winter.
Aw, it’ll turn to plain ol’ NW rain by tomorrow night and we’ll probably go back to work/school Friday…
Excellent photo!
I want a pair of sanders for my car.
But, so far, Indiana is having a mild, mild winter (yay!)
Those sanders are the cat’s meow on a bus let me tell ya! Having them on a car would be sweet!