Christmas Eve Open Water

December 18th through 24th, 2023

Lake Lucerne
Last week was a close one for ice-in. Had the nights gotten just a few degrees colder or the wind a few miles per hour less, it would have went. But it didn't. So here we are.
Lake Lucerne
After mid-week, the temperatures warmed up to the upper 30s°F. Then came the 40s°F. At the annual Knottlane Board Meeting and Amusement Hallery being held in the extreme southwestern corner of the lake, it was about 20°F warmer.
Lake Lucerne
One of the largest amusement halls in the area has a new sign!
Lake Lucerne
The new sign is nice in case you missed the old sign.
Lake Lucerne
Despite some being well over 50 years old, the games inside were in suprisingly good working order.
Lake Lucerne
And some still have all their Wisconsin-ness.
Lake Lucerne
Other machines had a distinct marketing edge.
Lake Lucerne
Not sure how much extra Canada Dry they sold with this pinball, but the game looked fun, fizzy.
Lake Lucerne
No amusment hall would be complete without a mention of Elton John's greatest roll.
Lake Lucerne
Roger's greatest roll, too.
Lake Lucerne
The weeds here are a little more round and pokey than even the lake's thistle weeds
Lake Lucerne
The trees here are not showing any signs of fall leaf coloring.
Lake Lucerne
And they decorate quite nicely.
Lake Lucerne
Unfortunaly while we were here, our hotel was defiled with beer and snack based graffiti.
Lake Lucerne
The squirrels here are better behaved than those nearer the bar. They also sport nice hats.
Lake Lucerne
In between the pinballs and well attired squirrels, the lake lost most of its ice.
Lake Lucerne
What was orginially identified as a rock or merganser, turned out to be the north end's river otter. With all the forecast rain, the little guy will have an ice free lake to swim in for maybe another week. The latest ice-in on record is December 31st back in 2015. I think we'll beat that record this year. Or would that be next year?


-Nemo stopped before carpal tunnel became an issue.