In the extreme southwestern corner of the lake, the trees were still stubbornly holding on to their leaves when we got the call from the College of Loons to return to Lake Lucerne to monitor Ice-In.
When going back to the shore, you pass a few hills suitable for downhill skiing. Some were apparently not getting enough of the white stuff fast enough, so they were making snow at an amazing rate.
There are plenty of places between there and here to stop for fuel, food, and restrooms. Some are more tempting than others. Who can resist the allure of a nice gas station buffet (it turns out we can).
Sidney Nebraska, home of the "Classy Restroom".
After almost 30 hours of wheel time, we were greeted with a snow dusted raft and an ice free lake.
The creek in the northeastern corner is a flowing!
The lake is 14.75 inches below the nail. That's a quarter of an inch above the level at ice-out and almost 5 inches better than before ice-in last year. So, Yay!
The lake temperature is currently around 45 F. There's no ice.
That cold water is as clear as crystal.
When we last trod on the shore of the lake, there were a few leaves, having not got the memo about Fall, clinging to branches. They're gone now.
The snow on the ground is not deep enough to cover the grass. An expected warm up (above freezing) should erase much of the white and may even inspire some late-late season golf.
The condition of Knott Lane is about as good as it gets. There's very little ice and practically no snow. That'll change soon enough.
