Comments within, jrs
> On Mar 28, 2017, at 7:13 AM, Venkatesh Hariharan <[email protected]> wrote: > > Cover yourself with many layers of clothing in winter. And have a stiff > drink before attempting to cross the Charles River bridge in the height of > winter. Brrrrrrr.... that was one of the coldest experiences of my life. > > Venky I live on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Cape Cod about 80 miles south of Boston. During much of 2000 - 2007 I was working in Boston or Cambridge and renting a room in Somerville (returning home on weekends). I generally rode my bicycle to work, about 5 miles. One January morning around 2005 I heard an announcement like this on the radio “Dangerously cold today. Do not go outdoors unless you must.” It was something like -15F, ( -26C ) But I’m a macho, macho man and I had recently received cold-weather biking clothes for Christmas, so I decided to ride the bike anyway. Well, the ride to work was pretty damn cold, but refreshing. Not a big deal. The ride home was a different story. It was so cold that I could barely blink my eyes — no lubrication. Also, the oil on my bike chain was nearly frozen, making it very hard to pedal. The wind went through my clothes as if I were naked. By the time I got to the Longfellow Bridge over the Charles River I was getting scared. Each breath was so cold that I was afraid I might get frostbite inside my lungs (I could already feel the frostbite on my cheeks). It was like breathing fire. About midway over the bridge, I lost all sensation in my hands. I could not work the gears or brakes. Cars were whizzing all around me. I felt certain one would kill me. As soon as I made it to the other side of the bridge I rode my bike right into the lobby of the first building I came to. I stayed there about an hour to warm up, then rode the last mile home. The next day I took my car to work. I don’t ride in winter anymore. April is soon enough. But don’t fear. That kind of cold is rare. The typical January day this year was right around freezing (0C) or a little above. > > On Tue, Mar 28, 2017 at 4:39 PM, Chew Lin Kay <[email protected]> wrote: > >> /delurks >> >> Hello Silklisters! >> >> I'll be heading to Harvard for grad school in August -- is anyone currently >> in the area? And excepting that, anyone has tips to help a tropical baby >> survive her first winter? (how is it snowing in March?!) >> >> Chew Lin >> Martha’s Vineyard is a popular summer spot. Rich and famous people vacation here, but regular folk as well. Depending on traffic, in the summer it’s about a 1.5 hour bus ride from Boston, followed by a 45 minute ferry ride. With sufficient notice I’ll be happy to give any visiting Silklisters a guided tour. jrs
