All out a-salt on asphalt!

Yet another pyramid scheme... but around here, on "roads less traveled" ...where the salt hits the road, before the tires hopefully do, is fondly called the "snowplow protocol" where "getting plowed" is not only socially acceptable, but a prior condition, for "clear sailing" to work for most commuters in our region.

De-icing on the cake... is. ironically, found many layers below...the surface, here in the motor city. And, as it turns out, whether or not you use it on a regular basis, salt does not (are you ready for this?) actually melt the snow on ice, but simply impedes the ability to form solid ice crystals...lowering the freezing point of water...prevents the formation of the bond between pavement and snow or ice, so that roads can be cleared more quickly and easily by the road crews. Some food for thought as you clear the table, wipe the excess NaCl spill, as part of the post dinner cleaning crew...  

Rock salt... given that we have so much of both, has come in our state, to skew the "...paper, scissors" equation...and one that presages another season, in our town, which perennially features the "cold patch" that, among other cool characteristics, allows a road crew to spread it without any heating, to fill in the holes that the excess salt may have opened up...due to the "accelerated degradation..." which applies not only to our roads but the driving force of the unseen enemy of  corrosion…rust spots (my dermatologist casually explained  “mark it up to aging and long-term exposure”). 

"Rock on..." Just please anywhere but my windshield. In which case, ”a matter of great inconvenience” traveling repairmen will come right to your car...door ("it's rock it science😉$). And why we keep some extra cash under our dash…

“Hail no!” The beginning of yet another natural seasonal force in our region, that can make another HUGE dent...in our wallets - given what in auto insurance is listed under “exclusions” 😫

A natural segue to "A rising tide" of cancellations.  

ALL