Melting Has Begun

The warmer temps for the past few days have made a big difference already in the melting. After being on the lake on snow shoes just on Saturday, today the tracks from the snow mobiles all look slushy and probably not great for snow shoes or skiis. That might be the end of the season for frozen lake fun.

On this afternoon's walk, the road was pretty much clear of snow, but a muddy mess. Yesterday's drive was a lot of mud surfing and hoping that we wouldn't meet a car going the other way, since the tracks pretty much decided where you were going. Today, the wind has dried things considerably. On our walk, we took a few pictures to share.

Backing up a bit, this is a picture of the road sign at the corner of Point Road and Salmon Lake on March 24th. Snow was still kind of white and the sign was barely visible over the banks.

Same picture again today. Banks are dirty and noticeably lower. And you can see the road in the background.

A few large holes near the shoulders, marked in some creative ways.

Here is a long shot of the road, which gives you a good idea of snow quantity and the muddy bits.

And although we haven't seen a robin yet, we saw two of these little rascals today. This one actually made it across the road. The first one we saw wasn't so lucky.

But all the signs are encouraging. It sure won't be an early spring, but at long last, it seems like we might actually get one.

Spring? What spring?

If "sprinter" was the new handle for last year, you ain't seen nothing yet!!

Although spring officially started more than 48 hours ago, you sure wouldn't know it by looking out the window. Since that "event" we have had two days of steady snowfall - just in case we didn't have enough already.

Before I start to feel too sorry for the Salmon Lake folks, check out what a friend on Georgian Bay bought this year - after being stranded for 18 days. That is one serious piece of snow removal equipment. The 60" snowblower ensures he will NEVER be stuck again!! (And he figures he can hire himself out at $100/hour. More than one way to pay off your investment!!!)

Compared to being unable to get out for 18 days (which would be very scary), I guess a frozen septic pipe and a shifted water line are not so bad.  And running away from it all for a while should have helped more than it did. According to rumour, we have another 3 weeks of this ahead of us.

So, "sprinter" may now be the new "spring". The sun is out today and warm enough to have things dripping outside, but the cold cold temps at night are not helping with the thaw efforts.

Fingers crossed that when it does warm up, it will do so gradually. Already the road is a complete mess with flooding in the lower parts, mud in the dirt parts and icy patches in the shade. It's like Mother Nature designed a special all-terrain course for us to drive through every day.

I will keep everyone posted on the thaw - or lack thereof. Maybe on the bright side, we can avoid black fly season altogether!!

It Never Stops Snowing!!!

Day after day, we wake up to another accumulation. And we're not talking small potatoes - between 4 and 8 inches every day. This is not a sport for old folks!!!!

The snow banks are so large now that those being plowed have no place left to put the snow. The big equipment is regularly in town putting snow into trucks to go who knows where!! And those with snow blowers just end up looking like the abominable snowman on a daily basis, thanks to the blow back from the machine.

Yesterday on our way home from town (it was clear here when we left), the white outs were so bad that I actually got out and walked in front of the car so Rick could stay on the road.

Everyone we talk to cannot remember this much snow so early in the winter. It's gonna be a long, long one. I am sure the snow machine operators and businesses are happy, but we are not amused!!

Or, if you want to snow shoe or cross country ski, there sure is the snow for it.

Here are just a few pictures to show you what real snow looks like.

This morning's view up the stairs from the front door.

The deck and BBQ, were cleared day before yesterday.

The railing this morning.

The big pine down by the water is bowing under the snow.

Having been in Toronto during that awful ice storm makes me happy this is not ice!! So I guess that adage, "Cheer up - it could be worse1" is correct. And, when you are just looking at pictures of it, it really is quite beautiful.

Holy Snow!

If you have been watching the news, you already know that we have been pummelled with snow in the past two weeks. It's unbelievable!! Everyday, we wake up to another 6-8 inches of fresh stuff. Yikes.

The temperatures in the early part of the week were hovering between -18 and - 21, but have turned positively balmy today at - 3. But the snow continues to fall. Driving back from town, the flakes were ever larger on the way in the road, so I took some pictures out the window.

Here is what you are in for if you are venturing this way over the holidays. Check out the size of the snowflakes.

The trees really do look beautiful, and if you never had to shovel the snow, you could admire it all day long.

Here is our front door. My hanging baskets have completely disappeared and our snow bank is already February or March size. Everyone is running out of places to put the stuff.

But I will wish you all happy holidays with this pretty picture. It does look suspiciously like a gingerbread house, doesn't it?

The Ice Man Cometh

Wow, hard to believe I haven't posted in nearly two months. But I guess that's because things have been relatively boring up here lately. You know how November is. Once the leaves are down, it's just a matter of time before the white stuff follows.

We have had to shovel once so far. Not a lot, but being married to someone who likes a clear driveway can be a bit frustrating. And now Lurch (our overly-macho snowblower) is in for a tune up. Seems someone was nesting in the bag.

Anyway, this morning when I got up, here is what I saw and photographed. It was the coldest night yet, so not surprising the first skim of ice is on the bay. It may not last, since the sun is shining, but it's the beginning.

The lake that Trailside is on (I can never remember the name) has had ice and snow for over a week now, but ours has been clear and still is in the channel. We always seem to be the last to freeze.

And I took a few snaps through different windows to remind you what snow looks like up here.

So hopefully your boats are all out and the lines are drained. Maybe this year, we'll have a lake we can actually skate, ski, walk on.

I will keep you posted. 

Awesome October So Far

The past two weeks have been absolutely sensational here. The leaves are even more spectacular than I remember them being last year. I think it's because there are distinct red, orange and yellow hues, so driving in the road is like being in that Group of Seven painting that arrives every fall.

Here are a few pictures that I took on the drive in the other day.

And it truly is the blue sky on a sunny day that makes them all look their best.

There is more good news to report!!! The new portage on the Otter Lake side is finished.

Work just began a couple of days ago, but today it is finished, so here are some pics to share. The sequence is how the pathway looks walking down from the road. It is great!!

I took a couple more looking back up from the bottom to show that they even left cedars where they were on either side, so not too much was disturbed.

Signs of Fall

As well as crazy temperatures that have the smell of fireplaces in the air here, there are other signs that we are well into fall.

The fall foliage is well under way with new patches of colour coming daily. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago, when the swamp maples were leading the charge.The sumach are starting to put on their red coats as well.

But a tell-tale sign of the ups and downs of the temps is the water. Yesterday morning, before the sun burned it off, this was the mist that covered the lake.

It looks almost like a snow blizzard. And it dances across the lake in pretty much the same fashion.

After the 30+ degree day last week, we are now into single digit nights, which is why this phenomenon occurs. Pretty, but an omen of colder things to come.

I will share more pics of the colours as they appear.