"Solidarité météorologique"

Yesterday was one of the worst weather-days I've yet experienced in Montreal. Pouring rain fell on top of ice-covered sidewalks and streets, creating impossible conditions for traffic and pedestrians right at the morning rush hour. These two accounts - here and here - with show you a little more of what it was like. As the second article expresses, there was a certain "solidarité météorologique"; people tried to help each other in the face of the weather dishing out its worst winter offerings.

We had an appointment that we couldn't miss, so we took a local bus shortly before 10:00 am, having slid and skated the one block between our apartment and the bus stop. The rain was pouring; we stood on glare ice while torrents of water ran down the street into the storm drains. Because of so many accidents and abandoned cars, the bus was re-routed, and let us off four long steep blocks below our destination. We finally made it, by walking in the middle of the street in-between the cars, but even there it was treacherous because you couldn't see the patches of ice beneath the water. I was completely soaked when we arrived.

But this is Montréal! You have to love it or not live here. Yesterday we stopped at one intersection as a bus slid sideways down a steep incline, and water from a burst water-main cascaded down the street. People on foot were holding onto walls, railings, each other - anything they could grasp. We looked at each other, wide-eyed, and said, "This is absolutely nuts!" - no one in their right mind would choose to live here!" And all around us, other people were slipping and sliding and falling and also laughing - what else could you do? It was crazy. I'm sorry there were injuries, but I had to admire the spirit of the people and the emergency workers too. And today? Today is sunny, bright, and beautiful.

Comments

[MB]

Sheesh, Beth! I'm glad you are safe. May you stay so.

[Lorianne]

What a nightmare!

Here in New Hampshire, today's paper had a story about a woman who went into labor yesterday morning, and she & her husband slid off their icy road on the way to the hospital. The road was pure ice, so emergency crews had to scramble to find some way of reaching them: the article said they called in snowmobiles with chains and even considered hiring a dogsled!

Finally a married couple who are rescue workers drove down the icy street and scooted on their backsides to reach the stranded vehicle, where they prepped to deliver the baby right there in the ditched vehicle. Finally, though, a sand truck arrived, and mama made it to the hospital...where baby arrived 6 minutes later.

The article mentioned how so many people had been enlisted to help; I think "solidarité météorologique" describes it perfectly.

[Dave]

That's a very effective photo, Beth.

[beth]

Lorianne, what a story! Thanks, MB and Dave. Yeah, the scene from the bus window was pretty grim, but I liked the way it looked too.

[zhoen]

Nothing like adversity to pull folks together. Not much point in "Hey, warm sunny day! Well, we can get through it, right?"

Glad you got through without needing a trip to the hospital, though.

[maria]

Brrr, that photo makes me shiver ... and not just with suggested cold, but memories of Canadian winters!!!

[anasalwa]

beth,
that was brutal, but you made it to your appointment. Here in Boston, the weather is yo-yo too. Last Saturday the temp. was 58 all day and on Sun dan Mon, it slid down to single digit.

[Anna]

Beth:
That's incredible! I felt physically shivery reading the post. Here, in England, we just keep having these sort of collapsed seasons - nothing much changes. It has been very grey here through january, mild (had a fly in the house yesterday -they should all be dead!), not much rain, sunny blue skies today. All over the place. We get very different weather now from what I remember growing up in the 60s when we had lots of snow and ice in the winter. We just don't get any hot summers either now. I think sometimes I'd like some extremes: the bland greyness gets hard to take.
Anna.

[Natalie]

Beth, this brings back memories of my brief experience of Montreal in winter - omigod! I admire your positive spirit about it. Had it been me, I would have packed everything up and left for the tropics. Yet I agree with Anna, the New Climate is hard to adjust to. Today in London, my windows are open and the sun is out. Tomorrow it may be grey, cold and wet again.
Beautiful and evocative photos you are taking.

[Heather]

We had similarly lousy weather here--rain on top of ice and snow--lots of sliding and skidding everywhere. Somewhere around here I have a set of winter cleats I wear when I have to be out in those conditions--but usually I can't find them when I need them. Instead I rely on a makeshift walking stick--a dismantled Swiffer. Since the handle/pole unscrews into four short lengths, it fits in the bottom of a knapsack. Light weight and handy when with the sudden weather changes and unpredictable road and sidewalk clearing. I may look like a loon swinging my aluminum and teal contraption but I get some purchase on the ice and don't have to skitter-creep my way up the road.

[Jan]

Hi Beth,

I'm just starting to catch up on reading blogs, after a long extended holiday. Reading your blog is like coming home to a familiar friend. So glad you are still doing your thing. Best wishes for a great 2006.

[oregoncelticlady]

Greetings,
I LOVE Montreal but I was there in July which is beautiful! We did hear alot about the winter weather but it was hard to imagine as we walked all over the city in shorts!

[Daniel]

I think you captured the feelings of that day well. I had trouble making it 1/4 of a block to the car. Then there is the seemingly daily ritual of cleaning the car off. And then I learnt my most valuable lesson. There is a reason on these icy days that no-one is on hilly side streets. They are covered in ice and you can't stop - fortunately when I couldn't stop at the Arret sign there were no cars coming...the weather certainly makes this city interesting.