January Thaw Week

January 16th through 22nd
It warmed up last week. A January thaw is not uncommon nor unwelcome. The transitory nature of a January thaw inserts more than a minor amount of melancholy into the 40℉ air, but for a brief while the roads were ice free and melt water was flowing into the lake. The metal roof curls have crashed. The thick roof snow slowly (4 inches/hour) cantilevered off until it also fell. Mid-week, a large roof related avalanche detached the power to the knottlane webcam. It took some digging and re-plugging, but the camera is currently fine. The flock of wild turkeys continues to gobble about the North end of the lake. Some turkeys were roosting in the pines. This was not one of them. It was pretty warm, but not that warm. Burning wood for warmth is still the rule rather than the exception. Later in the week, some of the predicted rain got all fluffy and frozen. It was a cold, white reminder that this was still January. The sapping fields are spile free so far. There might have been a run under that bark, but it wasn't going to last and the ATV currently lacked feet. Tapping season is coming though, so feet were joined to hub while the temperature hovered just above freezing. Huzzah! Lake Lucerne is still frozen. As is Lake Wabikon and Devils Lake. The above freezing weather didn't last. They're not going to open up anytime soon. Metonga is also covered with ice and more than a few fishing shacks. It's getting colder again. Snow is forecast to fall. Permits and plans have been passed and filed. The 26th Annual Lake Lucerne Bottle Rocket War will officially start this Tuesday with the cornerstone placement of the South's fort. Ablative snow armor and battlement construction will continue through Saturday afternoon. Over 5,000 bottle rockets are ready for the big show on Saturday night. Whether you fight from a fort or watch from the shore, the bar will be open to all Saturday night.<br><br><br>-Nemo, rocketman, burning out his fuse up here not alone