Winter isn’t going down easy this year. Spring had made some gains over the last week with four days straight of rain and above zero temperatures. However, today, winter struck back, driving the temperature back down below freezing and turning the rain to ice.
Fortunately, Matt and I made it home before the roads got too slippery. Unfortunately, that wasn’t soon enough for our gate, whose padlock was frozen solid. My poor little car was locked out.
Matt and I each keep a bottle of lock de-icer in our cars specifically for this situation. However, smashing the ice that had frozen the chain to the post, chipping at the ice around the lock with my car key and squirting most of my bottle into the keyhole had little effect on the lock.
Abandoning my car, I headed off on the long, cold, windy, wet walk to the house. Did I mention it was cold? Fortunately, I’ve learned some things since moving to the country and was already wearing my rubber boots–with my nice suit trousers attractively tucked into the top.
I was able to get into the house much more easily than I was able to get into the property. I changed into warmer clothes, ate some Easter chocolates and contemplated my life while I waited for the kettle to boil.
This new country life I lead sees me outside with the wind blowing the freezing rain nearly horizontal, trotting down the driveway carrying a steaming kettle.
It took just a few splashes of hot water to release the lock.
Soon enough I was inside, warm and dry. The lock also got to spend some time in the house warming up and drying out.
Hopefully the padlock recovers and there’s no issue getting into the property tomorrow night–I don’t want any delay in starting my weekend!
Home on 129 Acres 
You should look into one of those weather-proof heavy-duty locks that contractors use to lock up their work trailers.
Good tip, Dave. I’ve never had cause to look at those, but apparently now I do. Thanks.
I have seen those weatherproof locks – some have rubber stoppers on the bottom that seal off the lock mechanism, so just pop the stopper and stick your key in the dry lock to open! Have to watch the shaft though – I couldn’t get one because it was too thick to go through the links of my available chain!
I’d probably have the same issue. We have bigger chains, but they’re a lot heavier than we need to hold the gate in place.
Ah! The joys of Canadian Winter/Spring country living. Great, if soggy, problem solving. Have a good comfy weekend.
Auntie A.
I’ll be spending lots of time indoors. I have a bridesmaid dress to sew!
Try using a Jig a lube in your locks. We get a lot of freezing rain here in Ottawa and after I had to cut 2 locks off due to freezing I investigated. I was told any water in the lock is bad. The jig a lube keeps the water out. Haven’t had a problem since I started using it.
Thanks for the suggestion. Is it Jig-a-Loo that you use?
Good thinking! And tea is much cozier when you know you don’t have to go back into the horizontal sleet again that day 🙂
Indeed.