Early Snow and the Art of Staying Warm

 

Chapter 98: Snow Before New York and the Official Start of Winter Mode

Monday announced itself as winter, loudly. Not politely drifting-down snow like New York... this was aggressive, clattery, “I hit the van on purpose” snow. I was delighted. I immediately informed all my New York friends that Arkansas had beaten them to it this year. Small victories matter.



Inside the van, we hit a new personal record low: 15°C. After Nelson went into the office, I turned the heat back up, crawled under the covers, and took the most guilt-free nap imaginable. Cold weather has fully unlocked my hibernation personality.

Because freezing temperatures turn grey water into a stressor, we decided to minimize water use , which conveniently meant I was released from cooking duty. We went out for pho instead, where I ordered a glorious combination lo-mein with every protein available. Hot, greasy, deeply comforting food tastes exponentially better when it’s snowing outside. 



The next day stayed brutally cold but sunny, which felt emotionally misleading in the best way. I spent the morning writing holiday cards and realized I barely handwrite anymore. My hand cramped like I was training for an exam I did not study for, especially when switching back to Chinese. Still, slowing down enough to write felt grounding, like easing into winter instead of fighting it.

By the end of the day, it was clear: routines were shifting, temperatures were dropping, and this was no longer “cute cold.” We had officially entered winter mode, whether we felt ready or not.

Chapter 99: Cards, Camp Hosts, and the Cold-Weather Villain Arc

The snow backed off, but the cold stayed.  One night we went out to dinner with Nelson’s friends, which involved dressing up (a skirt) and circling Bentonville Square endlessly in our very un-subtle van, hunting for parking like confused predators. Dinner was pleasant, the pizza was… fine, and I immediately regretted ordering leftovers that are scientifically impossible to reheat in a van without becoming sad food.



Midweek brought chore day at Blowing Springs: laundry, cleaning, and the incomparable joy of being plugged in while Nelson ran his beloved space heater. Luxury is relative.



Then came Roaring River... and The Locked Bathroom Incident. After a long drive and a cold arrival, we discovered both bathrooms were locked. I knocked on the camp host’s trailer door like a polite but determined woman with limits. I was told about a vault toilet (absolutely not), questioned about why I couldn’t use the van bathroom (because I don’t want to), and finally granted access after an unnecessarily long negotiation. The upside? The showers were immaculate. The downside? Everything else.

I went to bed warm, clean, and mildly irritated: a classic winter combo.

Chapter 100: Flies, Stray Dogs, and Unlocking Propane Confidence

By Friday, the stray dogs were back, and my heart was quietly breaking. I tracked down David, the park naturalist, who explained they were trying to trap the dogs safely and had been leaving food out. Not a happy ending yet, but at least a humane one.

Saturday was surprisingly joyful: Nelson fished, and I tied my first flies. San Juan worms were cute but fragile, salmon eggs were adorable but also short-lived, and eventually I learned that tighter knots = actual fish success. Nelson caught fish on my fly. I peaked.




Sunday was brutally cold, yet Nelson still fished. One of the stray dogs watched him from a distance, alert but cautious, like a silent guardian of Zone 1. I got a photo and tried not to cry.



On the way home, we faced our final winter fear: propane. We stopped at Tractor Supply, pressed the app button, and.. like magic!  Someone came out and filled the tank. Easy. Affordable. Life-changing.

We drove to our sleeping spot feeling warm, prepared, and slightly smug. Winter wasn’t conquered, but we were no longer afraid of it. And honestly? That felt heroic enough.

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