Nice Walk Regardless

    Did a 4 mile road walk today near Frewsburg, N.Y., which is just across the border about 12 miles north of Warren. I passed these old farm houses and the funky old truck, and gave my condolences to the robin, who must wonder what the hell is going on. The migrators first returned on February 28th at the end of a winter thaw, but have been dealing with cold and snow ever since. In a normal season there would be gnats and worms and other foodstuffs to eat by now, but not this year. Some farmers have managed to plow a few fields, but planting and harvest will be delayed 2 or 3 weeks.
    Whenever I travel to New York I fill up my gas tank, because gas there is always 15 or 20 cents cheaper than here in Warren. Today it cost me $2.79 a gallon versus $2.99 in town, despite it being from the same refinery here in Warren. There has never been a good explanation other than monopoly and greed, for Warren is a somewhat isolated location so the eight stations in town raise and lower their prices in unison. The state gas tax in PA is 50.4 cents per gallon versus 42.64 cents in N.Y., so that does not fully explain the discrepancy. In Erie the same gas costs 5 to 15 cents less than in Warren despite the transportation costs, so monopoly and greed seem like a reasonable explanation. Letters to the editor by local citizens never get a response from the company.
    More snow is predicted for tonight ( April 18-19th) then a gradual warming, which for millions of people is long overdue.