Yesterday we left the Twin Cities before dawn and drove north 150 miles.  The sun came out on a record-setting warm day with temperatures in the 50’s.  The areas north still have snow covering the ground, and the lakes are frozen enough for trucks and fishermen to be enjoying cutting holes in the ice and finding fish below.  Even the snowmobilers were running across the lakes and land too.  Early in the morning the unpaved roads were frozen, but as the day progressed they became mud and clay with ruts throughout.  There was no way to avoid them so we continued and had a wonderful time enjoying the countryside, the lakes, and the activities, stopping once to clear off the back window of the car.  By the time we returned home my car was hardly recognizable.  All that mud and clay seemed to have adhered to the car and dried in place.  An extensive trip to the car wash was needed this morning, but I’ve kept the memories of an unusual spring day in February.