Summer Bonus Period

September 11th through 17th
Last week started off with some cool days highlighted by cold mornings. The forecasts were telling us that the warm was coming, but weather predictions can be as ethereal as political promises. We typically believe them when we experience them. Lake Lucerne steamed mightily on the cold mornings, giving up its heat and coating everything on the shore with a thick coat of cool condensate. By mid-week, the lake temperature fell well under 70℉. Swimming for any amount of time is getting to be painful. The slimy, fish thingy that was attached to the lake thermometer rope fell off by the end of the week. The inkcaps are popping! We've been told they're edible, but other foodstuffs are cheap and plentiful so there's been no reason to ever try one. Other, less edible, things are ripening on the shore. Some maples are ripening really early this year. Most are still greenish, but a few are almost at post peak. Filling the spaces between the fallen leaves, poison berries, and mushrooms there are fall flowers. Most are small, but what they lack in size they make up for in numbers. Late in the week, the warm arrived along with rough water. Then the rough went away, leaving behind some of the best skiing of the year. Small ski shows spontaneously popped up with many new and wonderful acts. Many of those acts could be part of the 2018 water show. We can say with a high degree of confidence that some of those acts will not be part of next year's water show. The sugarmen are almost done with wood mining for next year's maple syrup season. Above all the skiing, mushrooms, and wood gathering, an eagle hunted the North end of the lake all weekend. The lake temperature has pushed back to over 72℉. A few 80℉ days will do that. It looks like we'll have another small summery stretch coming up with a steamy lake sandwiched between now and then. For the next several days the rules are simple: Keep the boat gassed up and the wet suit handy.<br><br>-Nemo's not sure if smoking a cigar and drinking a beer while skiing should even be called an "act".