Diving Back into an Ocean of Winter

Late last week, the Lake Lucerne area dove off the island of spring back into the ocean of winter. Temperatures dropped, a dusting of snow fell, and the lake ice grew. It's getting later in the season, so there's hope that the rest of winter will be more like a dip in a small, cool, calm lake rather than a drown in a deep, angry North Sea.

Just before the cold returned, the sun sort of came out, the temperture soared above 50°F, and the talk turned to February golf.

Soon after arriving at the NCC course, we noticed that the netting that lines the right side of the first hole was not up.

The tees were clear enough, but the snow on parts of the fairway was judged too plentiful.

What the greens lacked in flags, they made up for in snow cover. The signs were subtle, but golf was not meant to be.

It should be noted that some signs were not very subtle.

Before the cold came back, it was warm-ish. Some on Knott Lane took advantage of the weather and did a little cabin renovation.

Down the lane, local squirrels were spotted doing an impression of a mammalian version of a Cleaner Wrasse fish.

Farther north on the lane, small birds were expressing their love for the deer shaped suet feeder that was put up late last November.

An eagle was spotted over the north end of the lake last week as it floated around looking for its own, more meaty feeder.

During the warm period, some sunsets were truly spectacular.

The warm little isle of spring we lived on and enjoyed for over a week ended on the weekend with a little rain. And then a dusting of snow.

With the cold weekend, snow still in the woods, and no taps in the trees, it was as if the island of spring never happened.

The top of the lake melted during the day and iced overnight during last week's celebrated warm period. Now Lucerne is one of the greatest skating rinks in the northwoods.

As the temperatures dropped, growing lake ice started to push up on the shore.

With the early ice push on the north end of the lake, it could be a damaging ice-out this year.

Well...that was fun. Campfires that did not require snow shoveling, walking on roads not covered with ice, and not wearing a hat are a few of the springtime events that concluded with last week's epilogue. Those events and more will be back, but it could be a while. At least a week or two. Until we wash up on the shore of spring be careful on the ice, no bare feet on Knott Lane, and no golf at the NCC.

-Nemo's treading water in a golfless northwoods.

Diving Back into an Ocean of Winter

February 5th through 11th, 2024