New Sights, New Sounds

Just when you think you are getting the hang of it--you find you don't know anything at all.  We always assumed that all you needed was a nice freeze to make the ice fit for travel--now we find that the wind has a major roll to play. 

We had some warm temperatures (as high as 54) a few days ago, and a few small patches of the ice gave way to water.  Then the winds moved in and the temperature plummeted to well below freezing.  Now--incredibly--we are typing this with 9 degrees outside and the lake mostly open!

The wind worked to create relentless waves against the ice edges--expanding the open water almost shore to shore.

A neat side bar:  The sound of an ice retreat is the sound of a thousand castanets at one hundred times the volume.  All of those countless ice cubes being created and jangled together before the wind.  The closest thing I'd heard before was the sound of tens of thousands of agates being bounced together as the surf hit the appropriately-named Agate Beach on the Olympic Peninsula (now in private hands, alas).

We had to haul the rowboat away from the iced in shore and relaunch at the boat ramp.  We were able to get our mainland chores done today--but it was a struggle.

Ice Abstract

Here we have the clouds reflected on the ultra smooth ice of Lake Manitou.

WE HAVE ICE!

This is the tricky time.  How much will hold the weight of a kayak?  I'm guessing a half inch will do the job (we push the kayak with screw drivers).  The tricky part--how thick is the ice away from the island?  We can measure it here--but by the time we get to the middle of the channel it is too late.

The birds are in the same quandry.  There is a solid line of geese between Big Island and Honeymoon Island.  I can't see from here whether they managed to keep open water there.  We also have two eagles having a feast on the ice closer to the north shore.  There is a big mass a few feet to the East of them.  It is either the body of the deer that drowned (see earlier post) or it may be a hapless group of mudhens frozen in--can't tell with my binoculars.

We'll stay here today and take the ice on tomorrow.

Winter Island

For those of you who have visited in Summer.  We thought you might like to see what Treasure Island looks like in the Winter.  On this first day of the new year, we have the lake flirting with its first skim of ice.  It may become a done deal by morning if we hit the 9 degrees in the forecast.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sad Doings this Morning

The hunters were out in force at Big Island this morning as the duck season resumed (don't think the goose season ever ended).  There were three blinds set up and lots of gun fire.  One of the boats had a dog to boot.

The commotion seemed to have spooked a pair of Lake Manitou's swimming deer.  We saw a buck leave the island in the lead followed by a doe or fawn--couldn't be sure.  I was amazed that they took on the near-freezing water of the lake--they must have been terrified.

As they reached the mid-way point heading for Wolf Point, the second deer began to lose speed and dropped back from the buck.  The buck turned toward the laggard deer for a brief time, and then turned for the mainland again.  The following deer struck us as losing steam for sure, but continued gamely on.

Unfortunately, the hunters were breaking camp at this time and a hunter in one of the boats saw the buck.  He circled the buck once in his boat (with dog in front), probably out of curiosity to see this large thing in the water.  I don't think he was aware that he intervened in the path of the following deer.  At that point I think she gave up the fight, as she disappeared under the water never to be seen again.  The buck soldiered on toward the point, and the hunter to his credit continued on his way as well.  The buck made it to shore--but I can't imagine him surviving--soaking wet and exhausted on a twenty-five degree day.

Ask any farmer in the area, and they will tell you that we have way too many deer.  Still--it is sad to see them go out this way.

First Snowfall

A good day for a first snow.  It is, after all, the shortest day of the year and the first day of Winter.  It may well be around for a white Christmas--it depends upon the Swans.  I still feel that ice on the lake is reliably predicted by the presence of the Mute Swans in the water at Big Island.  So far they have just done a fly by.  I'll keep you "posted."

The bell in the foreground, by the way, was used to respond to the bell on the shore--letting visitors know that we heard them--and that we would send a boat over.  Amazing the changes that cell phones have made to our daily lives--also amazing how quickly this all happened.

Bliss

We've had a couple of unseasonably warm days.  The lake has been a mill pond--perfect for rowing to shore.  The days were each capped by a beautiful sunset.  Here is the one that came today.