The white pines were dropping needles, the wind was becoming cold and biting, and you had better be off the first tee by 5:00 PM else you'd be caught by darkness before nine. It is Autumn.

For the past several years, Autumn has been that time of year where we punt much of the lake level gains we made during Spring and Summer. So far this Fall, we are bucking that trend. The 2.5 inches of rain we got last week has pushed the lake up to just over 20 inches under the nail. Huzzah!

The temperature of the lake is dropping fast. It slipped under 60℉ during the weekend. If you wanted to get that last footing run in, and are sorta sane, the first weekend in October was the time to do it.

With the last runs in, it was also a good time to pull boats from the water.The higher lake level has made loading, and presumably unloading, much easier.

Wind and rain, well mostly rain, raised the lake level and grounded the drone this week. It looks like there will be several opportunities next week to get above the trees to view the post-peakness of the northwoods. We'll be there. One place we won't be is in the lake without a wet or dry suit, 59℉ is 3℉ below our mimimum swimmable water temperature. A colder lake is a negative aspect of Fall. A postive Fall feature is a dramatic lowering of the bug population, or more specifically the mosquito population. The dark clouds of biting bugs that, just a few weeks ago, thundered over the hills and hollows are mostly extinct. The few bugs that are left, combined with thicker clothing, have made pest based exsanguination uncommon. Other positive Fall facets include snow not sticking, lake tubers remaining in remission, declining lawn mowing frequency, and hats.

-Nemo still keeps his mosquito club close.                                                   Previous   Next