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	October 5th through 11th, 2026

Last week started off frosty, steamy, and sunny. The frosty and steamy were the signs and portents of things to come. The sunny part gave hope for a short term time of warmth and hatlessness.

The patchy frost burned off quickly, a few clouds moved in, and the air got warm enough.

This year's post-peak color is fading at the same rate (maybe a little slower) as the harvest moon. We aren't looking forward to darker nights or more frosty mornings, but at least there is symmetry.

The start of the week also included a very flat, very ski-able Lucerne.

The warmth of last week was a delicate thing. A chill would fill all the shadows under a passing cloud.

The clouds may have made the area feel less warm, but they did spice up the sunsets.

The NCC golf course is still in pretty good shape, just avoid hitting into the growing piles of leaves.

The splash park that activates just before sunset on the 9th green is a new, interesting, and dreaded water hazard. The drenching makes the green slower (that's good). While hilarious for onlookers, getting sprayed by high velocity, ice cold water during a putt is a little distracting (that's not so good). Not a fan.

Early last week, the DNR pulled the Pier of Extreme Helpfulness from the lake. If you still need to use the landing to get your boat out, plan accordingly.

Many days last week were warm, especially on the weekend, but the nights were cool and called for campfires. This was especially great for drying out after encountering an unexpected splash park. This Golden Age of Campfires ended later in the week when the lack of rain and strong winds pushed the local fire danger to HIGH.

Just west and down the road from the lake are the Eau Claire River Dells in Marathon County.

It's always fun to visit the attraction this time of year to catch peak color, climb around on the rocks, and not die. Peak color here usually follows the lake area peak by a week or so. Not this year. Much of the Dell's forest was in the same state as the trees around Lucerne.

The rocks and cliffs were in the same place we left them last year,

The water seemed a little lower.

The bridge over the river was subtly decorated for halloween.

A hike up river confirmed the low water. The flat looked walk-able. It was not. Sinking into the smelly mud had us longing for an unexpected splash park to hose off.

South and west of the Eau Claire River Dells in Marathon county are the Wisconsin Dells. Attractions here include more dells, splash parks, and the only surviving Ponderosa Steak House in all of Wisconsin.

Having had our fill of dells and splash parks for the week, it was deemed time to have our fill of mostly hot buffet items, pleasant-tasting desserts, and steak. On Nemo's Buffet Rate'o'meter we'd give the location 4 out of 5 burps.

If it weren't for the shorter days, cool mornings, and lack of boat traffic, last weekend was indistinguishable from any in July. Unless you dipped a toe into the lake. Lucerne "warmed up" to 58°F on the weekend thanks to the hot air and strong southerly breeze. That's only 20°F or so cooler than July, but that 20°F is the fissure between joyful (swimming and diving) and sorrowful (screaming and shivering). With Halloween approching, perhaps screaming and shivering should be taken as an integral part of the season. Perhaps, but we're not running for our swim suits anytime soon.<br><br><br>-Nemo perfers his buffet food hot and his splash pads not on nine.

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