Another thaw, but winter's not over

Forecast said rain later; I set off for my walk and encountered only fog. As dusk began to fall, the fog was beginning to burn off. The atmosphere, the klimat, of today's walk was quite magick. But the walking wasn't easy; deep snow, treacherous ice. Shorter steps, harder work; but the rare vistas made it worth while.

Below: by the time I reached ulica Spokojna, leading from Chynów to Piekut, the fog had thickened to the point where horizons disappeared. 

Below: barn, Węszelówka. Very hard going around here, no human footprints to follow through the soft, deep snow, criss-crossed with wild animal tracks.

Below: at the edge of Gaj Żelechowski. Note the red-brick wayside shrine. Turn left for Widok.

Below: fields west of the (as yet unasphalted) road from Machcin II to Dąbrowa Duża. Winter weather has halted work here and on the pavement by the station, but in the meanwhile – marvellous atmosphere as the sun begins to break through.

Below: I cross the main road from Jakubowizna towards Machcin as it runs through Adamów Rososki. Jakubowizna on the horizon is engulfed in fog. This was the only stretch on my walk in which asphalt is fully visible; it has been ploughed and salted. Driving on roads in this condition is not good for a car's undersides, which is why I'll not be using the car until the snow's finally gone.

Below: late in the day, the sun starts to break through the mist. I follow the trail made by countless wild animals (mostly wild boar and deer).

Below: cottage on the edge of Jakubowizna. To the left, an abandoned cherry orchard that has gone to biennial bearing; this year should be a good one.

Left: out of the orchards and scrub, into the old Lasy Państwowe plantation. 

Many trees still bear the 'LP' logo sprayed on their bark, indicating that they had been earmarked for felling; fortunately the 2024 elections spared the trees by replacing the state forestry operator's management – a bunch of party-politically motivated and rapacious exploiters of natural resources – with more sustainability-minded people.

Below: I follow deer tracks, expecting to see more. In through the young plantation, taking me on a route I had not taken before.

Below: back to the familiar; heading out of the woods the usual way.

Below: a few minutes after sunset, a few hundred paces from home.

Paces walked today: over 15,000. But much harder work than over snow-free terrain! The current thaw will last until Saturday morning, not enough for a total melt-down; and then the frosts will return, accompanied by more snow. 

Bonus photo: a 6Dg (modernised SM42) shunting loco in Railpolonia livery running light approaches the level crossing on ul. Wolska, Chynów. Most likely headed to Radom, its movement scheduled around passenger timetables.

This time last year:
Machcin's wetlands icy but dry

This time two years ago:
Right-of-way cobble
[a victory for local pedestrians!]

This time four years ago:
Sunshine, I need the sunshine

This time nine years ago:
Consciousness outside the body

This time 12 years ago:
Sustainability and the feminisation of business

This time 13 years ago:
Lent kicks off (somewhat earlier than this year)

This time 14 years ago:
Feeling at home on the ice

This time 15 years ago:
Wetlands in (a milder) winter

This time 18 years ago:
Railway miscellany