Friday, February 2, 2018

Groundhog Day


Today is Groundhog Day! The day has special meaning for me as it reminds me of one of my most cherished memories.

Twenty years ago I took my first long motorcycle trip, from New York to North Dakota. Four thousand miles in eight days. On the way home, I rode east with no plan other than to head in that general direction. I wasn't looking at a map, it was before GPS and my route consisted of unknown small roads.

Riding through western Pennsylvania I suddenly saw a big wooden statue of a... groundhog? Yes, a groundhog. How odd. Then, I saw another. And another. Without warning, I'd entered Punxsutawney which is the worldwide capital of Groundhog Day. It is where groundhog Phil rules the weather forecast. I stopped and walked around: the entire town is devoted to groundhog-worship.

A few years ago I returned for another visit. Punxsutawney is a small rural town in the middle of nowhere but they've adopted a theme and it draws tourists from far away.

Do you believe groundhogs can predict the weather?












16 comments:

  1. I have no clue but they sure are cute!

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  2. Greeting from the land of snow and ice: having walked ankle-deep in snow for the past week I can say, with absolute certainty, that winter is going nowhere fast, never mind what Phil says...

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  3. I don't believe that groundhogs can do that, but I do love that movie! ;-P

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    1. It's a classic. They are turning it into a Broadway musical.

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  4. Great post!! I never heard about it , but seems interesting!
    https://clickbystyle.blogspot.in/

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  5. Those folks have found a tourist draw and they play it up well

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  6. We have 10 different "famous" groundhogs up here to keep up that tradition. Wiarton Willie is the closest to where I live. They aren't quite as groundhog crazy in Wiarton as they are in Punxsutawney but then again they always seem to go BIG in the States.

    Suzanne

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    1. It's our national character. We take something good and exploit it beyond reason and turn it into something questionable. It's the American way.

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  7. Awww, what sweet photos! Thanks for sharing, and what a fun and unexpected roadtrip that must have been :) I love the movie Groundhog Day. Maybe I'll watch it this weekend!

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  8. Oh, and yes. I always trust the groundhog. ha!

    Enjoy your weekend!!

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  9. LOL yep. Groundhogs know everything! Too funny that you found yourself in the Groundhog capital of the world!

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  10. I'd never heard of Punxsutawney, and I'm certainly not going to try and pronounce it, but they sure take their groundhog stuff seriously! Thanks for the enlightenment, Ally! xxx

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  11. That's funny you randomly made your way there! How fun though - I like that the town really plays it up! :)

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  12. Whether the groundhog can tell the weather or not is beside the point ... he sure is cute and if it attracts tourists then GO FOR IT!!!!

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  13. I've always been intrigued by the yearly groundhog ritual. I believe animals can sense weather patterns instinctually, but I also think whether he sees his shadow or not, we usually have about six more weeks of winter. Who knows. Sounds like a really fun trip you had!

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    1. Yes, their animal senses pick up more than we realize.

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