Heat and ICEland: Day One

 

At noon in Iceland today, the temperature was in the 50s on an overcast day with a little spitting rain. 

At the same time, 5:21 in Selle, the temperature was 62 degrees, clear skies, no rain. 

Annie arrived in Iceland after a flight from Seattle sometime in the middle of our night.

As I write, Willie and Debbie will take off soon for Spokane Airport.  They'll fly to Seattle and arrive in Iceland sometime in the middle of our overnight hours. 

The trio packed raingear and layers of clothes to wear for varying conditions.  Their week will include some rain and temperatures averaging the high 50s or lower 60s.  

Annie went to the airport early yesterday because she has no air conditioning in her Seattle apartment.  

Willie and Debbie got a taste of the beginning of our historic heat wave yesterday.  We all experienced hints of upcoming misery last night after having hamburgers and ice cream on the deck.  

By 7:30, the house---even with shades drawn---had suddenly turned into a sweat-producing oven. 

All of us were dripping with sweat and definitely feeling the heat.   

And, yesterday was the coolest day of the next ten.

My sisters and brothers and their friend Roxzene have gotten a taste of even more extreme heat while attending a horse show in Southern Idaho.  

They are now on their way back home and expect to arrive this afternoon.  

Icelandic Lupine

Annie around noon today Icelandic time on a geocaching power trail.

Upon arriving in Iceland, travelers must take a Covid test and then wait for a few hours for results before interacting with any other people. 

It's estimated to be a minimum of six hours before they learn the results. 

And, Annie has now received hers.

Now that she has her positively no Covid results, Annie should have an airport hotel room available for Willie and Debbie to freshen up and wait on their test after their flight. 

Once they get their results, the group will begin their Icelandic adventure which officially starts off with a hike to the country's active volcano. 

I told Annie yesterday to take lots of pictures of cool stuff for the folks sweltering back home. 

Then, she reminded me that some of the first batch could include photos of melting lava, which probably wouldn't cool too many readers down. 

Part of my strategy through the next several days of historic heat is to think ICEland, as I keep as busy as possible during the morning hours. 

When possible, Bill and I will rely on vehicle air conditioning and take little afternoon or early evening jaunts. Plus, we plan to get our travel trailer and its air conditioning set up as an escape when it gets really miserable. 

I'll also be spending lots of time, making sure all animals are as comfortable as they can be.  The dogs don't understand it, but staying in their shady run throughout the day will probably keep them as cool as anywhere else on the place. 

Horses have access to the barn now that side doors are open, so they can go in and out as they please. 

Cats will do what cats will do.  I'm not too concerned about them----just making sure that they and all the animals have access to water at all times. 

Another heat reliever comes in the form of groceries purchased.  John Fuller told me the other day that he keeps a bottle of Gatorade Zero, for restoring electrolytes, with him at all times. 

So, I added that to the shopping list, along with a watermelon and more cucumbers than usual.  Bill purchased popsicles during the last Schwan's stop.

I've also shed my usual jeans socks for shorts and light shoes. 

Lots of little things and planning should help us through this, even though we are anticipating on a certain amount of misery. 

When that happens, we can go check our computers or phones and see what's happening in ICEland. 

The kids are not going to escape the heat, even with their trip.  When they arrive home next Saturday, the temps will still be in the high 90s. 

I just looked at my phone, and we do have a cool-down scheduled for Tuesday, July 6-----91 degrees. 

Good luck, everyone. 

We're in for a long haul of HOT, and with luck, we will survive. 

Happy Sunday.