Fifty Shades of Autumn

October 3rd through 9th

Last Week, Fall finally smacked the northwoods. The lake temperature closed in on hypothermic, most trees were at peak color, and it frosted.

Peak color 2016 was a strange one. Many Ash and Basswood are leafless. Some Maples are still green. The result was an extended and ill-defined peak.

Trees that did peak positively glowed.

The setting sun brought delightful imagery, frosty temperatures.

No snow yet, but there was a quarter inch of rain. The lake level is holding right at the nail.

This season, many cabins on the north end of Lake Lucerne have shed their old shingles and grew a new coat of roof.

The first frost was the signal, for us anyway, to pull boats. The air was cool. The water was cold.

No one skied. Oh, there was talk of skiing while huddled around campfires and the lake complied with exceptional flatness, but nobody answered the call. It was too cold, too colorful, too boatless, and it's nice entering late Fall without having to convalesce some late season ski related hurt. Peak color will be over soon. With its end comes the gray. Then the white. I, for one, will not go gentle into that good white, Old seasons should burn campfires and rave of golf at close of day; Rage, rage against the bringing of the white.<br><br>-Nemo, splitting wood, not yet being sued by Dylan Thomas.

Fall colors around Lake Lucerne.