Yes it is cold in my part of Alberta. It is even colder in other parts of the province.
I am kind of amused when I drive to work in the morning listening to the radio and hearing them talk about the cold. This happens every winter, we get at least one nasty cold snap during this time. It can hardly be a surprise, after all, this is Canada.
Most of my driving life my vehicle has been parked outside. In my much younger days I was the remote car starter for my dad, and sometimes mom, and that graduated into adulthood for me being my own remote car starter. I never bothered getting one of those installed in any of my vehicles. I had been trudging outside in the cold to start vehicles for years so far so no reason to stop now. Now in my fifties I am grateful to have heated underground parking, it came with the place.
In the meantime I am hunkering down and riding out this deep freeze which should break this coming weekend.
Reminds me of my youth spent in Moose Creek, AK. I, too, was the remote start for my father vehicle.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking the same thing. We always get some cold weather every winter. Sometimes more and sometimes less, but always sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in a little town in California (not exactly cold country, eh?) and owned a log truck. It was a really nice truck that I took care of, so I was a big believer in not leaving the house until the engine was properly warmed up. As a courtesy to my neighbors who might have to listen to it while it warmed up and possibly have to breath wafting diesel exhaust, I came up with an idea that worked out really well. I installed a timer, I believe it's technically called a water heater timer, that I would plug the truck's block heater into so that it would start warming up 3 to 4 hours before leaving for work.
ReplyDeleteIt worked out great. When it came time to leave at Zero Dark 30 I'd walk out to the truck with my lunch box, unplug the extension cord, load up, start the truck and ease on out of town in a truck with a motor that was already 175°. It was pretty neat.
Love the story.
DeleteI've had remote "command start" now for at least 15 years. It's God's Gift to Canadians, in my opinion. In fact, apart from a block heater and extension cord, it's the most vital winter car equipment there is, LOL!
ReplyDeleteIf the mosquitoes begin to operate at -35, you have a bigger problem than merely the cold.
ReplyDeleteMoose and deer are a bigger problem.
DeleteThe only thing I miss about home ownership is having a garage for the car. Now we have to park outside and I absolutely dread having to deal with snow. Luckily we don't seem to get the deep cold like you do - good thing too, because there's no way to plug our car in. Would be nice if we had a remote starter and maybe one day we'll get one installed.
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