Pumpkin Carving Weekend

October 17th through 20th, 1996

Lake Lucerne
We arrived on Thursday with several missions in mind. Carving pumpkins was the primary undertaking, but there was also tossing those carved pumpkins off the fire tower, laundry, covering a boat, eating at Duck's, and checking on the lake temperature (48°F).
Lake Lucerne
Much of Friday was spent canoeing around the North end of the lake checking on the fish and ice. There is no ice. There are some huge fish. While standing on the dock after pulling the canoe out, Mrs Nemo and I saw a huge Brown Trout gliding 20 feet from shore with its upper fin above the water like a shark. It looked to be close to a yard long. I have never seen such a large fish in Lake Lucerne ever.
Lake Lucerne
We went to Duck's on Friday, but got distracted on the way by the new tank at the courthouse.
Lake Lucerne
Prying the kids off of it to get to the restaurant before it closed was no small task.
Lake Lucerne
Duck's featured fish and two soups. Ham Wild Rice Chowder was okay. The Cream of Mushroom rocks.
Lake Lucerne
There are other Friday worthy items on the Duck's menu, most notably the shrimp and chicken dinners, but we stuck with the fish. With potato pancakes!
Lake Lucerne
The service at Duck's is some of the finest in the northwoods.
Lake Lucerne
One of us ordered the Shrimp Dinner. I stole two when she wasn't looking. They were pretty good.
Lake Lucerne
Pumpkin carving was done on Friday night. We usually do this on Saturday, but one of us had to leave early Saturday to go see the Badgers loose to Northwestern 34 to 30.
Lake Lucerne
Designs this year were inspired and well executed.
Lake Lucerne
The finished carvings were arranged on the dock and candled up.
Lake Lucerne
Some of us grew bored with the display and found some larger fireworks, crammed them into pumpkin holes, and lighted them. The results were horrific for the pumpkins and entertaining for us.
Lake Lucerne
On Sunday morning, the burnt remains were hauled to the top of the fire tower at Sugarbush Hill and tossed off. Extra points are given if the tosser's pumpkin hits the "slab".
Lake Lucerne
Sunday's weather was warm, wonderful, and seemingly engineered for running around like lunatics.
Lake Lucerne
Lawns look good for now, but if this weather keeps up, they may require another mowing before the snow falls.
Lake Lucerne
Cabins 1, 2, and 3 at Timber Shores Resort were buttoned up for the the season.
Lake Lucerne
As were 4 and 5.
Lake Lucerne
While hiking back to Knott Lane, Mrs Nemo stopped often to closely examine some interesting rocks.
Lake Lucerne
By the time we had to leave, the clouds were coming in and the wind was picking up. The Green Bay Packers are 6 and 1, but more importantly the home team has a bye this week. Driving through Green Bay will not have any game traffic clogging I-43. It's forecast to get much colder. We'll be back in a week or two to check for lawn snow and lake ice.


-Nemo's a little apprehensive about swimming ever again after seeing that fish.