Thursday, December 11, 2014

Winter Solstice Comes Early!

It's a little known fact (though perhaps more known these days than it used to be) that here in the northern hemisphere the earliest sunsets actually occur a few weeks before the winter solstice.

So, while the shortest day of the year won't happen until the 21st of December, yesterday was actually the earliest sunset of the year here in Denver at 4:35pm. From here on it will set later and later until it reaches its peak in late June.


For someone like me, who, um... seldom sees the sunrise, this means that effectively the days are already getting longer. Can you see me doing my little happy dance?


Well anyhow, I'm beyond thrilled and looking forward to more hours of sunlight. CatMan and I managed to get in 32 miles yesterday so I'm looking forward to longer rides as the daylight increases - and maybe we'll even work up to conquering the 62 mile "Golden Loop" this summer!

For anyone in the area who's curious, our "Golden Loop" route is: Sanderson Gulch to the Platte, Platte south to Bear Creek, Bear Creek to Morrison, C-470 trail to Rooney Rd., Rooney Rd to Golden, through Golden to Clear Creek, Clear Creek to the Platte, back down the Platte to Sanderson Gulch, and home again.


Gotta say we've been spoiled by the weather. With the exception of a week or so of sub-zero weather it's been a crazy warm fall. It's in the low 60's today with highs expected near 70 tomorrow! Fabulous from a biking standpoint, from a global warming one well... probably not so much.


But hey, there's only so much pessimism that a person can take, so for the moment I'm celebrating!


Here's hoping the returning of the light brings much joy to all of you!



19 comments :

  1. Replies
    1. Ha! So you're the one! Actually, I like big snowstorms, it's mostly the darkness that gets to me.

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    2. We don't get big snowstorms from one decade's end to the next on the south coast of England. This may go some way towards explaining why I like winter. :)
      I'm not an outdoorsy sort of person, so I like the short days and l-o-n-g evenings snuggled down. In the summer I feel that as long as it's light I should be up and doing. Once it's dark it's time for bed and I don't feel as thought I've had any down time. Winter is mostly down time, and I love it. Plus Christmas!!!!!!

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    3. Hmmm... if I associated evenings with "snuggling down" I think I might have a different perspective on winter. Perhaps I should try to cultivate that sort of attitude. I always just feel bent out of shape that I have to put on boots and haul the garbage out to the street in the dark!

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  2. You've taught me something new. Enjoy your longer days!

    I am kinda jealous that you can still bike. We had a couple of weeks of yucky winter weather in November so my hubby put my bike in the basement. The snow had melted but it's cold and windy every day ... not ideal biking weather. I did hike yesterday and it felt good to absorb some vitamin D.

    I'm with ya on liking snowstorms but not the darkness. I also don't like bitterly cold weather--I can handle temps in the 20s and 30s, but teens and lower makes me want to pull the covers over my head. I haven't figured out how to make like a bear and hibernate yet, but I think it would be a worthwhile skill to have.

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    1. I'm with you in terms of the cold, although my little internal thermostat reset program does seem to be paying dividends. I suppose it's hard to compare since it's been so unseasonably warm, but I do feel like I've been much less chilly this year.

      Anyhow, I'll ride when it's down into the 40's but below that my hands & feet just turn into ice cubes - especially when riding fast since you have wind chill to deal with. They actually make these little neoprene hood-like things that attach to your handlebars over your break/shift levers and you slide your gloved hands inside - they're called "bar mitts". I still haven't decided if it's worth shelling out the money or not.

      But you know, I rode to and from school every day through the whole winter when I was an exchange student in Norway. Since the temperature never gets above freezing in the winter there (at least not in Trondheim where I was) there isn't any ice to deal with, just packed snow, which provides decent traction. And believe it or not, it never got all that cold either. The one time everybody was freaking out about how cold it was it got down to -6C which is only about 21F. I guess the gulf stream keeps things fairly stable in terms of temperatures.

      Anyhow, not sure what my point was with that little story - maybe I was tougher as a kid?

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    2. I was waiting for the "I rode my bike to school backwards while towing my siblings on a sled" ... routine. ;)

      I will also bike when it's in the 40s, but we had temps in the teens for most of November (snow and ice) and it's been steadily in the 30s so far in December. I'm apparently not tough at all (and too cheap to buy a good bike and all the equipment!). I might try to hike again today. When we get snow again, I'll pull out my snowshoes.

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    3. Ha! Did I mention it was uphill both ways? :-)

      Snow shoes sound like great fun, I've never tried them. In Norway we did use a kicksled to get around in the winter though.

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    4. I've seen pictures of kicksleds--they look like a blast.

      We tried snowshoeing last year and fell in love with it. Ironically, though, on the best days for snowshoeing, it seems like the roads are in bad shape and it's difficult to get to a good location for snowshoeing.

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    5. Ha! Too much snow to drive, but of course, you can't snowshoe on plowed streets... oh, the perils of modern life!

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  3. Never really thought about the timing the sunsets and sunrises and the length of the days. From one who usually sees the sunrise and the sunset, I'd have to say that I vote for later sunsets. Good to know that they are on their way now.

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    1. I'll record your vote... Seriously, there's a couple here in Denver working to pass an amendment to the state constitution that would keep us on daylight savings time year round. I'd vote yes!

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  4. Like you I can't count how many sunrises I've seen, let's just say it's rare. So yes, I'm doing my own happy dance right along with you that the sunsets will get later from this point on.

    I am a walking (make that riding?) contradiction. I love the dark there's something cozy about it which is probably why I enjoy being a night owl so. But, I don't want it dark all the time. The darkness is a pleasant change after a day of sunshine.

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    1. I like the dark when I don't have to go out in it. Perhaps I just need to get my rear out to do my errands earlier in the day. I always feel like life is a race against the clock this time of year to get everything done before it gets dark.

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  5. We don't get much snow in the UK. I visited Colorado in September 1994. It snowed and I saw a coyote. I was "chuffed to little green mintballs"!! Simple pleasures. I must try to visit again, it's such a beautiful place.

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    1. I still haven't figured out what "chuffed" means... but I'm gathering it's good? Anyhow, Colorado is indeed beautiful. We got some much needed snow today too.

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    2. Perhaps "thrilled" would have been a better word than chuffed for an international audience!

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  6. Love seeing sunrises this time of year - it's the only time I do, not being an early bird, but I love the days getting longer even better. Love the Stone Henge Solstice graphic - that's in Wiltshire not so far from me!

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    1. You know, I can't even think of Stone Henge without thinking of Eddie Izzard. There's a park that CatMan & I ride through regularly which has several henge-esque sculptures, and every time we ride through I can't help but think "look, a heeenge!"

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