Good morning all:

Weekly Wisdom, from deep in the North Woods:

“Sitting around the fishing hut I often hear that money does not bring happiness; but, it is always from the people with no money who are sitting in the dark on cold ice.” — our local everyman we’ll name Claire apparently contemplating the long cold winter, and not from a warm beach in Florida

”All over the ballpark” is about the only thing the Toronto based weather folk have to say. “Not true” say I. Here in the North Woods it’s been all at one end—cold, rain (by the bucket), and overcast (OK, a break here and there). This weekend promises – drum roll please – more of the same! More coffee please!

Weather – Actually, that last “weekend” statement is based on fact. Last night we got snippets of information that a bit of a nasty storm was barreling in from The Soo. And, did it roll in. Were it ten weeks later in the year we’d all be waking up to news of another Edmunds Fitzgerald style of ship disaster. First, the winds started barreling through at about nine in the evening. This was followed by some light rain. The “light” soon became torrents. “Torrents” then became a solid wall of water that was held up vertical by ping-pong ball sized hail and wind. Imagine Marcia and I sitting in a little cabin, pitch black outside except for the lightning crackling all about us. While the rain kept on pounding the steady wave of hail chunks sounded like rifle cracks through the roar of wind and rain, both continuously slamming on our metal roof. It was glorious!

Kayaking – Earlier in the week I had had it being cooped up. During a break in the weather I took Marcia’s ten foot kayak with the intent of crossing into nearby Pickerel Lake. All went well until literally feet from dumping into the adjacent lake where a Beaver dam stopped my progress.

About this time I also became aware of the darkening skies behind me. Where I was, in the channel, the water was like glass. It became apparent that conditions were changing when I hit open water. Two miles of open water, some white caps, both tackled by non-stop paddling brought that adventure to a successful end. I thought I’d share these photos—my destination is on the far shore beyond the nearby island. I had lost that “cooped up” feeling.

Pontoon “events” – Last week was the saga of what happens when fuel tanks run dry, but not the rest of the adventure. Early the next morning I went and filled one of the fuel tanks. Marcia dropped me off at my temporary berth on the beach by Rev. Bob’s camp and cheerily waved goodbye as she drove back to our cabin. A few cranks and the pontoon’s engine sprung to life. I undid the lines, pushed back, and jumped aboard to man the controls. The new problem became immediately evident—the engine would stall straight away if pushed beyond an idling of about 600 RPM. I tried to creep home this way and all was working fine till the engine stopped one more time and this time refused to start up again.

By now I had learned two things, not to panic, and bring a radio. The lack of panic had nothing to do with it, it was the radio that brought brothers-in-law Donn and David scurrying from the other end of the lake. Twice in two days I required a tow! Not good boating form. Also, it makes for a lot of “buzz” in every corner of the lake and at the nearby Trading Post. Marcia was even asked what was going on before I made it back under tow.

Later I discovered the small spring clip that had wiggled loose on the engine and which prevented a proper air/fuel mixturing to occur. Best of all, I diagnosed it and repaired it without help from the usual cadre of “specialists” I normally require to accomplish such things. If not specialists, then at least just a gathered group to help commiserate on weighty repair matters. This time, none, nada.

Wild Blueberries – Yesterday Marcia and Marlene headed about a half hour’s drive north to where a forest fire occurred some years back. As the forest tries to reestablish itself one of the early arrivals are small blueberry bushes. The ladies prepared thoroughly, containers, buckets to sit on, a GPS to find their way back to the car, and a can of Bear spray since this territory was in reality the Bear’s dining room—Bears love berries.

Wild berries are actually quite small, but flavor packed. It took Marcia four hours to pick 15 cups. Doesn’t sound like the peck baskets you’d expect to pick at a commercial farm in that span of time. But, try to replicate a pie made from wild berries with store bought ones. Marcia has one pie ready for baking (thanks for the crust Marlene) and it took 1.5 cups of berries; this means we have enough for nine more pies—jealous yet?

Animal Planet – I have to sit in a little public park about a mile from the cabin, align my phone to face a cliff across the lake, and then my phone gets two bars; perfect for checking voice mail. Going through this exercise I spotted a Yellow-Shafted Northern Flicker happily pecking away next to the truck. About the size of a Robin this really was a pretty bird.

The Loons are exceptionally busy training their two young. At 4:30 this morning I heard their morning class begin. Apparently they survived any direct kit from the hail. Yesterday Marcia spotted a pair of Blue Herons swoop on by, turn, and casually swoosh across the water and back into the far end of the cove, near the marshland and the reeds.

Just before last night’s storm neighbor Bob, the master Forester, Hunter, Fisherman, Trapper, and lawn manicurist knocked at the door. He’d driven up from southern Ontario along with his forester buddy Art. Assuming no winds, today they plan on bringing down one very dead and very tall tree from the rear of our cabin. This thing is so dead that tapping on the trunk makes it sound like a bongo-drum. This will be tricky and I am glad for their knowledge. The back of their pickup was loaded with coils of rope, cable, a pair of come-alongs, gasoline, and a very large chain saw. They are so ready.

Now, I best move our truck, not only out of the tree’s way, but on the proper (road) side of the drive.

Make it a great week everyone.

Cheers,

Dirk