Calm, Wet, and Cool

October 16th through 22nd, 2023

Lake Lucerne
The cold weekend flavored last week with more winter spice than was actually the case. The start of the week was frost free and nice if you discount the rain. If you ignored the drizzle, midweek also had its charm. The cold mornings of the weekend had their frost melted away by a little sun, but mostly by the rain. In addition to some cold on the weekend, it also rained.
Lake Lucerne
In the spaces between the rain, we got some sun. Early in the week the lake saw one of the better sun dogs of the year.
Lake Lucerne
Most of the leaves are on the ground but there was enough color clinging to some trees to title this summary "Faux Peak".
Lake Lucerne
The birch and poplars seem to be the ones holding on to peak color.
Lake Lucerne
On the golf course, there are a few maples holding on, too.
Lake Lucerne
The course itself was in great shape once it stopped raining.
Lake Lucerne
There are still a few piers in the increasingly cold, but super flat water.
Lake Lucerne
Most evenings were very flat, too.
Lake Lucerne
Just before some of the better rain, the wind grew strong and the lake chunked up.
Lake Lucerne
After passing storms, Lucerne got foot-ably flat again.
Lake Lucerne
The leaves may have been frosted off the milkweed, but the pods have not.
Lake Lucerne
The hard frost on the weekend turned some of the still green ground cover less green and more translucent.
Lake Lucerne
It was a close thing, but there were enough gaps in the rains and the colds to finish painting the bar. House painting season ended with the cold and rain on the weekend. We only have freezing morning temperatures paired with any non-rain days going forward. I would strongly recommend not painting anymore this season, unless you enjoy doing it all again next year. If you enjoy redoing it in spring, you should be checked into some sort of mental health facility.
Lake Lucerne
When it was not raining, sunsets have been noteworthy. On Sunday evening, the view was accompanied by a very noisy squirrel.
Lake Lucerne
I'm not sure what its problem was (the cold? the rain? squirrel ball?) but the grump echoed off the hills on the north end of the lake.
Lake Lucerne
The squirrel's surliness may be lake temperature related. The water is getting cold.
Lake Lucerne
Last week in Crandon the Cardinal Park tennis court nets were taken down. The NCC course is scheduled to officially close after next weekend. The lake's temperature has fallen to the point where only the cold blooded, crazy, or polar bear plunge practitioners will jump in. With the days of energy drinks and ibuprofen behind us and pumpkin carving and holiday feasting ahead, we are checking stocks of Bactine and tourniquets for over excited carvers and diet programs for those demanding seconds later in November. Look for the annual Knottlane Ice-In contest coming soon.


-Nemo hasn't needed a tourniquet since the Margarita Incident of 2010.