Not Winter Yet

November 13th through 19th, 2023

Lake Lucerne
There was plenty of sun last week, very little frost, and no snow. Huzzah! If it were not for super long shadows, it felt more like early October than mid November. For those of us that perfer their lake open and their Winters short, it was the best of times.
Lake Lucerne
Early in the week, the sun and not too cold air pushed Lucerne's temperature to 46¡ÆF.
Lake Lucerne
With the warmer air came some wind. At its peak, the 40 MPH gusts chopped up the water and knocked down a few trees.
Lake Lucerne
The wind eventually stopped and the lake got all flat again.
Lake Lucerne
All summer, there was a tank at the bar with a few hundred pounds of air that needed burning off. During the warmest part of the week (58°F!) we got rid of some of it by spending quality time under the lake.
Lake Lucerne
The water was cold. The plants were down from the summer. I saw no fish and a few golf balls.
Lake Lucerne
The water was cold. A few of the golf balls were retrieved.
Lake Lucerne
After the dive, one thing was clear. The water is disturbingly cold.
Lake Lucerne
After the dive, there was golf. The course is a little shaggy and the greens a little slow, but we like it that way.
Lake Lucerne
One eagle was spotted above the lake. More than one goose was seen flying south.
Lake Lucerne
Later in the week, the bar's squirrels started to do prairie dog imitations.
Lake Lucerne
After that, they chose to imitate ravenous bird feeder raiders. That bit of stagecraft lasted a long time.
Lake Lucerne
The weekend had a lot of flat water and more seasonal (cooler) temperatures.
Lake Lucerne
There were also a few fisherman!
Lake Lucerne
And many exploding milkweed pods.
Lake Lucerne
If you like your November weather warm, the forecast is looking ugly. The men talked it over, and it was agreed to pull the last pier from the lake.
Lake Lucerne
It only took an hour. There was no involuntary swimming.
Lake Lucerne
Huzzah!
Lake Lucerne
Saturday's sunset (seen here) was good. Friday's was better, but we were on the road for some reason and didn't get a picture.
Lake Lucerne
On Sunday evening, the smoke from a campfire on the west side of Lucerne hovered above the water.
Lake Lucerne
There was fishing, diving, golf, and even talk of another lawn mowing. If not for the complete lack of leaves, piers, and the Ice-In Contest being posted, last week could have been mistaken for a week in late September. The hard frosts that covered the weekend mornings had the lake area returning to a more November feel. That, and the sporadic shots that echoed off the hills, marking the 2023 gun deer season. So far, the much diminished Knott Lane deer camp has joined only one slug to deer. If the forecast holds, the weather will get more deer-hunty and we will soon see some lake ice. If you're traveling to the northwoods next week, bring a hat.


-Nemo's still a little shivery from Wednesday's water follies.