All Solsticy and Stuff

December 17th through 23rd

Last week was missing some of the elements that normally accompany the holiday season up here in the northwoods. There were no single digit mornings. It was cold, but temperatures remained above 10°F. There was not much daylight. That was due, in part, to increased cloudiness, the solstice may have had a hand in that, too. Mostly though, there was very little snow. With the warmer daytime temperatures, the snow we had is down to the final inches.

The snow that still exists on the North end of the lake has formed into patches that look like giant divots. If we don't get more snow in the next few weeks, we'll be mining these patches to make the forts for the 28th Annual Lake Lucerne Bottle Rocket War.

It's been 2 weeks since the ice went in. Currently, 50 feet from shore in front of the lots that once held the Lake Lucerne Resort, the ice is 9 inches thick.

On the weekend, a hoard of ice fishermen were drilling holes and drinking beers just off the big island.

The ice on the North end of the lake is only 8.5 inches deep. Some areas have as little as 6 smooth, crystal clear inches. It's been reported that you can clearly see the bottom while walking around in these places. It's a bit unnerving.

Knott Lane lost its power poles last week. With the undergroundification of the utilities, they were no longer needed. A skid steer with feet plucked them out one by one, hauled them North in a manner that looked like a bizarre Viagra commercial, and piled them in a ditch at the end of the lane.

The de-poling of Knott Lane has the strange fuzzy bird that has been resting atop the bar's old sign pole more tetchy than normal.

At the tail end of last week, the lake got about an inch of very light, fluffy snow. We need more. Not for the lake level, we have plenty of lake level (some say too much), but for the snowmobilers and bottle rocketeers. There is some predicted for the coming week, but we've seen one too many 5 to 8 inchers turn into just a wintery mix to get very excited. The plan last week was to get some pictures of the lit tree in front of Johnnie's and the lights at the Court House, but the time and weather put the kibosh on that. We'll get it next week for sure.<br><br>-Nemo's less tetchy after his morning coffee.