August 1, 2009
So last week, it was scorching hot and humid. People move to the Northwest for the pleasant summers and mild winters, but this year is a record setter. Probably no coincidence—we brought the uglies with us from Denver. This past winter was one of the coldest and snowiest in Port Townsend: the only ones not complaining about it was us (compared to Denver cold and snow) and the Snowbirds, who bugged out and missed it all.
Now we have had two bouts of hot weather. One in late May was just way too early and too hot (90°), but it only lasted a couple of days. This last one (late July) was something else. Set an all time (as in 150 yr) record of 103°F in Seattle and 107° in Vancouver, WA (USGS'ers Willie Scott and C Dan Miller must have loved that). We made it to 95° in Port Townsend and it was about 90° for three days running. I've never sweated so much in my life, but then again I've never lived in Humidity Land (anywhere east of the Rockies).Nevertheless, this morning we awoke to Pea Soup, the gray 100% vapor content type that comes and goes all year up here. Having grown up in Salinas (the Salad Bowl of the World—their actual words), I never thought I'd be happy to see fog, but I am (for now). That's it for today from the sunny Northwest. Still hanging shingles and messing with the septic system electronics.
