Wheels Keep Spinnin'

Warm and watery introduction to April. I'll take it. The temps were in the high fifties by 10a.m.



I was out of work early today, so I set out to get myself aligned. I had bought some new tires for the vehicle a couple weeks ago. But, being a little less than ecstatic with the service or price, I decided to forgo the insanely high priced alignment they tried to also push on me. I'll take that business elsewhere, I thought. So today, I went to Daigle's in downtown Springfield. They have an excellent reputation for quality work, and their price was like 20 bucks cheaper than my dear tire dealer. But, unfortunately they were booked solid. I should have called ahead and scheduled. Pothole season, don't you know.

I went with plan B...Duffy's in Northampton. I've dealt with them before (they solved a hellish, recurring tire-balancing problem that no one else could, but that's another post) and was thoroughly happy with their work and price. It was worth the drive I thought. So there I went. But, wouldn't you know, they were booked solid. Come back next week and drop it off, he said. Hmmm.

Plan C. Go to the same tire dealer, but try a different franchisee. I tried the Noho dealer, since I was here. At this point, I'd resigned myself to pay the extra rape fee, because I didn't know when I'd be able to get out of work early again. Turns out, they were having a sale, and the price would be like 20 bucks cheaper. Excellent. But then the guy said "When would you like to schedule it?"
Dang.
"Pothole season, you know."
I knew, I knew...

At any rate, the trip north wasn't a total loss, I went down by the Oxbow and took some pics of the warming environment. The water levels were pretty high, but not flood conditions...



They cleared the Jersey barriers blocking this small metal bridge, which crosses into Pynchon Fields. It's blocked off throughout the winter for some reason.



The fields themselves are coming alive. I didn't see them, but I heard what I'm sure were Blackbirds in the distance. (Later on this evening, I noticed the Spring Peepers for the first time this year, in the woods near home.) This dusty road has the name of Old Springfield Road. Hard to believe there was a time when most roads looked like this. I wonder how much of an issue potholes were back then...



Heavy metal. There are several trailers with these giant girders on them, parked on route 5. I assume they're for the I-91 bridge construction, going on down the road just over the Easthampton line.

I stopped back in Northampton for a coffee before heading back home. It looks like Andiamo's is closed up, while the Green Bean is getting a little paint touch-up.

Out with the old...



In with the new.

As I'm writing this, lightning and thunder are happening outside. Love the sound of thunder. Welcome back.

This House Finch better find cover though, as they're forecasting a major snow storm coming in this weekend.

Just kidding. April Fool's...