as time SLOWLY passes waiting for ice out. I’m joining you this morning from the Trillium hotel and restaurant in Ear Falls where we have stayed the last couple of nights trying to patiently await ice out. Patience is a virtue, right? It also happens to not be one of my stronger ones, especially when I want and NEED to get to camp so desperately.
We got into the area late Wednesday afternoon and saw pretty much what we expected. LOTS of ice, getting darker, but still lot’s of it. I knew when we were still 100 miles south of International Falls and the Minnesota lakes were still completely iced over that we were in trouble! I was certainly expecting to see ice, just not 100 miles south of the border still.
Not all has been lost while stranded here roadside as we have managed to get some things accomplished. We got our major supply run for the first part of our season to Kenora out of the way. We got the passenger boat picked up from the marina, washed her up a little and got it in the water ready to go (see: “waiting for ice out” above). The red trash truck needed a little maintenance that we got taken care of also with a front tire that dry rotted out over the winter and a battery that will no longer hold a charge. Rest assured the red “Bentley” will be ready to haul trash again this year!
In addition, the roadside dock required a little spring maintenance as the hardware that holds the two dock sections together was holding on by a thread with most of the lag bolts pulling out over the winter. A couple new lags and some bolts, nuts and washers and it is also ready to go.
Unfortunately, it looks like it will still be a last minute decision on opening week. I think, with the warmup forecast for next week we will make it, but won’t know for sure until I can get into camp and assess the ice condition on the big lake which will be the last to go. Speaking of getting into camp, I am hopeful that early this week the ice is gone from Miller’s Bay and we can sit down in a float plane to hike into camp. We can be ready to rock in just a couple of days provided we can get there!
I have posted a few pics of ice conditions from around the lake/area on our Facebook page so I won’t repost them here. Look for some more on Facebook over the next couple of days.
Well as the snow starts to fall here in Ear Falls, I will sign off and attend to my breakfast. Until next time, send warm thoughts AND weather!