It's amazing how 100 miles or so can make a difference in weather conditions. But they do.

Monday, for example, was a relatively clear and sunny day in this part of the world, at least during the portion of the day in which I was outside. Alas, Monday being a deadline day, I was obliged to spend much of it at my desk and computer. Neither happen to be located near windows, which helps cut down on the distractions,.

But my Monday started in Muskoka, and the weather there was a lot different. In fact, there was a point Monday morning when I was wondering if the drive I had undertaken was really that wise.

My wife and I spent a very relaxing weekend up to our ankles in snow, that is when we chose to venture out into the elements. And since we had ample supplies of food, beverages, reading material and other diversions, there was little need for us to go out much at all.

But we both had to work Monday, so that meant hitting the road a little before 8 a.m. (we had both informed our respective colleagues that we would be in somewhat later than usual).

We had driven up Friday night, arriving in the middle of a light snowfall which presented few if any problems. The snow was actually very heavy around Barrie (a situation we have encountered in the past), but we pushed on, and things got gradually better as we went further north. In the end, we arrived with little trouble. Snow was heavy Saturday night, meaning I had a lot of the white stuff to brush off the car before we headed out Sunday morning into town (even when I'm on a brief holiday, I still need my newspaper fix).

There was a light dusting falling as I loaded the car Monday morning, but it didn't cause me much concern. We were leaving in good time, meaning we could afford a slower trip south than we were used to. There was no rush.

But as we made our way out, things appeared to get progressively worse, with snowfalls getting heavier, and the roads getting more slippery.

Not a problem, really. I just adjusted my speed accordingly and we pressed on. After about 15 minutes of slower-thanusual driving, we found ourselves in the southbound lanes of Highway 400, with the snowfall continually increasing and the visibility becoming problematic.

This particular portion of the 400 is a four-lane road, with a substantial divide between the northbound and southbound lanes. But as things had developed, only one of the southbound lanes was really clear, so that's where most of the traffic was sticking to, with my complete approval.

True, visibility became an issue for a while. I was even waiting for Beth to ask if we were all right to continue the trip. She never did, and she has my compliments for her self-control. I was having trouble seeing, but I was able to keep track of the traffic up ahead, while maintaining plenty of distance in case unforeseen problems cropped up. Fortunately, they didn't, at least not from up ahead.

The problems I had was from some of the jerks approaching from the rear.

I have been reading too many media releases from the local police services about people who don't seem able to drive appropriately for winter conditions. I figured that's what I was doing, at a speed I deemed appropriate. The appropriate speed, granted, is a matter of judgement, and I'll admit perhaps my judgement prompted me to drive at a somewhat slower pace than someone else. On the other hand, upon who's judgement should I be expected to rely, if not my own?

Besides, I was keeping up with the traffic flow, in adverse conditions.

But a couple of the other users of the road evidently didn't think I was going fast enough. Maybe they had places to be, but so did I, and I wasn't going to get there any faster by putting my car in a ditch.

As you may have guessed, a couple of these jokers pulled out to pass, not just me, but others of the road. And a couple added to an already bad situation by spewing large clouds of gunk onto my windshield. Just what I needed under the circumstances. The experiences prompted a couple of pithy observations to escaped my lips (I can't elaborate in this forum).

But I learned the hard way Monday just what it was that had prompted these recent offerings from the police.

Fortunately, we made it home in good order, and I might add in good time, considering the fact that I was taking things easy. Actually, once we got south of Barrie, the road conditions were pretty good.

As an added bonus, I didn't have to shovel out my driveway when I got home. With the way the day had started, I spent part of the drive south getting ready for such an ordeal.

Considering that the journey was completed so successfully, I think back at these jokers who raced by us on the road, and have to wonder what their hurry was. i also wonder how late they would have been if they had ended up in a ditch, or in a hospital.