The Last Week Before the Equinox

September 16th through 22nd, 2014

Lake Lucerne
The last week of astronomical Summer was better than many of the weeks during the more meaty parts of the season. It wasn't cold on most of the days and the flat lake called to those with eleventh hour skiing and footing runs.
Lake Lucerne
The rain total for the week was a little weak. We got just short of four tenths of an inch. The water temperature is just under 65°F. We really wanted to report a more exact value for the lake temp, but the pier with the thermometer had some issues...
Lake Lucerne
Late in the week the lake became angry. The higher lake level combined with the anger beat a section of pier. The thermometer is hung on the end of that section.
Lake Lucerne
By the time the wrathful lake calmed, steel connectors snapped off leaving the pier corpse floating and pinned between lifts. Recovery efforts are scheduled for next Tuesday. Angry water; fear it.
Lake Lucerne
We'd like to thank everybody for their offers to launch the drone from their properties on the South end of the lake. If the boat landing had GPS issues we would have taken you up on the invites.
Lake Lucerne
The boat landing worked fine and served a dual purpose. We got some good images and helped man the landing for a total of 1.5 hours. Our understanding is, in order to keep their grant, the LLAA needs about 40 more volunteer hours for the remaining days this September.
Lake Lucerne
The lake level is going up, but it still looks shallow around the islands.
Lake Lucerne
If you have any free time during the remainder of this month, consider visiting the boat landing. Don't forget to sign in and out of the log book in the little plastic building.
Lake Lucerne
Didn't see the North end eagle this week but a great blue heron has been feeding in the northeastern corner of the lake all week.
Lake Lucerne
Again, we didn't see the eagle, but eagle food remains jumpy.
Lake Lucerne
Late bloomers can be found all around the shores and roads. There are three of these between our cabin on Knott Lane and our neighbors. One (this one) had a bee on it.
Lake Lucerne
There were horse rides in Crandon on Saturday in conjunction with Art on the Square.
Lake Lucerne
The courthouse square was very well populated during the one day event.
Lake Lucerne
There were plenty of people, vendors, and food.
Lake Lucerne
There was some craft-type stuff too.
Lake Lucerne
Fall leaf displays are not yet at peak, we'd say 50%. Lots of orange and red this year. This week seems to also mark the passing of tubers on Lake Lucerne. Aside from the occasional ZOMBIE TUBERS, it looks like that "sport" is dead for the season.
Lake Lucerne
Some mourned the passing of the tubers with solemn slalom runs. Note the black bindings of somberness and we think the sprays are supposed to symbolize tears or something.
Lake Lucerne
Others...well, we all mourn the death of tubeing in different ways.
Lake Lucerne
If you like your ski lake at 65℉, this was the best skiing of the year (when the lake wasn't angry). If you like getting your hypothermia on, this was also a good week for swimming. Streams and creeks are still flowing into the lake, albeit at a trickle. The four tenths of an inch of rain should be, for the most part, flowing into the lake rather than seeping into the ground. For the most part. We'll update the lake level just as soon as we fish a pier carcass out of the lake.


-Nemo, not the guy that crashed a drone into a crowd at Art on the Square.