A Cruel Month

April.

Such a cruel month for those of us sportscar drivers in northern climes. I can survive putting the car away in mid-November; Christmas provides distraction, and then there's heavy snowfall, and some winter activities that take me through 'til February. 

But when March rolls around, and the days start getting longer, thoughts definitely start to turn towards springtime driving and the marvelous day when 'Red' can come back outside to play. By the time the clocks 'spring forward' I'm well and truly ready for the rains to come and the salt trucks to go. For the roads to be washed clean, and the snowplow drivers converted to street sweeper drivers.

Of course always niggling in the back of the mind is just how fickle April can be, and sure enough, the 2025 version hasn't disappointed. Or rather, it has.

Two weeks ago we were teased by daytime temperatures of 18°C! Sure, it went back down to negative numbers at night, but the days! The snow was gone, brooks and streams were rushing at full torrent, and the Canada Geese had all returned.

I saw a few Miatas out, which brought smiles to my face, but I resisted the urge. Ottawa municipal services are far too liberal with their application of NaCl for my liking. And sure enough, they were back out in force with just the threat of freezing rain in the forecast (which barely came to pass I might add).

Nope.

I'll wait a little bit longer until the roads are properly washed clean, and the other side of the Boxster can stay pristine thankyouverymuch, I said to myself.

A couple more days in the high teens, with some heavy rains in between were doing the trick last week, and I ventured into the garage to disconnect the battery tender, reset the tire pressures, and give the windows a wipe.

Soon, I thought.

But April, the cruel mistress that she is, had a laugh and yesterday, dumped 15 cm of snow on us!

Of course it will all melt quickly as the forecast for the next 10 days is in positive digits, and we have seen the last of subzero temperatures for this season.

But the snowplows and salt trucks were back out on the roads and all that natural cleaning we'd had was immediately reset.

So now I'll have to wait a little longer.

Curses!

~ Luke