Some heavy rain, and even a few rumbles of thunder, last night, washing away all remnants of winter.

Nothing is much more fun than lying in bed listening to a downpour hammering on a metal roof. Except if you are Pax. Mimi was her usual good sport—making him a thunder tent in the lower bedroom, and then moving down to the lower level herself.

By late morning the clouds had been blown away by a powerful WNW gale. Even now, the trees outside this window are being lashed by the wind and the whole-house vent is clanging. And it’s chilly in the wind, almost cold. But warm and cozy inside.

We took advantage of the conditions to tow the foot valve assembly out to deep water, and with the water this high 100 feet from shore is pretty deep. The tail wind made rowing easier.

Vianet tech here this afternoon and we are now now wi-fied.

Those little things in the distance are not ducks but foot valve floats.