The day started early, as the dogs began stirring around 4:15 AM, rousing us from sleep. We stayed nestled in bed a bit longer, watching what little of the sunrise we could catch behind thick clouds. Last night’s low temperature dipped down to a cool 52°F, hinting at the brisk day ahead.
By 6:50 AM, thunder rolled through the camp, but we were already up and working. I dove into assembling and editing a few podcasts, along with some photos from the trip. Around the ninth hour, I took a break to listen to the birds — a Chipping Sparrow, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and Wilson’s Snipe sang their morning songs. I was even able to capture some of their calls on audio.
While catching up with some folks back home in Missouri on the phone, the skies darkened ominously. A quick check of the radar confirmed what was coming: rain and lightning moving into our area. Soon enough, the rain began — and then the hail.
And what hail it was! The temperature plunged into the upper 40s, accompanied by howling wind. The pounding hail on the roof was so loud, I missed the tornado warning alert on my phone until the storm started to ease. Luckily, the worst of it was confined to some downed trees nearby — nothing severe here. Still, it was an adrenaline rush for a few moments.
Gayla stayed focused, working on client projects throughout the storm, while I switched gears and spent some time on leatherwork. Our dogs remained blissfully asleep through it all — perhaps instinctively knowing that going outside wasn’t an option.
The hail lingered for hours, blanketing the ground and keeping us indoors. We opted to cook dinner inside today, appreciating the comfort and warmth after the wild weather outside.
After supper, Gayla settled in to watch a movie while I dozed off and on. Later, we finally let the dogs out, but the hail was still around, even 6.5 hours later.
We took a brief walk down the road together. The ground temperature was still chilly, hovering between 41.9°F and 46°F — a reminder that spring storms can still bring a crisp bite to the air.
Back at camp, we settled in for the evening with cups of tea, reflecting on the day’s unexpected excitement and the peacefulness that followed.
Miles driven today: 0 — sometimes, the best adventures happen right where you are.
