We usually make a winter trip to the lake but it’s been a while due to all the medical activity and who know what other reasons. But, there was a warm spell of above -10° so we made the trip from a Thursday to Saturday. We enjoyed some very quiet lake time, some fog and lots of sunshine and light to no wind. Very pleasant winter conditions.
It’s getting harder as I get older and the heart and lung issues don’t help. Trudging through the snow, even with snowshoes was hard. Multiple trips from the road to the cottage up and down the driveway were taxing much more than they used to be. And then there is the chopping a hole in the 2′ thick ice and hauling water up 70 vertical feet. But, all in all still an enjoyable time. Just more effort than ever before. Something new in this stage of life.
An improved video might be coming soon. Between the iPhone and the iPad and “magic movie” this didn’t turn out as the director planned. However, for the time being enjoy a look at our lake adventure.
After we left Scott, Mandy, Clark and perhaps Easton (?) arrived for some fun in the snow.
It’s that time of year again where fall is well underway and the overnight temperatures are getting close to freezing. That means it’s time to get the cottage ready for winter.
Boats are away for the winter
The boys, Eric and Scott come out with me Friday night to execute the Closeup Checklist. The main focus is taking care of anything that will freeze. We empty the fridge and remove food that won’t survive 6-7 months of sitting around in the cold.
Three big tasks are putting away the boats and cleaning up the dock, draining the water system and winterizing the septic field. We get started, after coffee ☕etc. around 9am
The boys do all the heavy lifting while I handle septic system. I won’t get into the details but it can be a bit yuckie if you think about it too much.?
The 3 of us move through the task quite quickly. May hands make light work.
By about 1:30 were done and heading into Kenora to pick up lunch and drive home.
On the September long weekend Len K. tackled the wood pile and split all the logs that have been stacked up this year and from several previous years. Thanks Len!
During my work life I flew to Toronto from Winnipeg quite a few times. The flight path in both directions flies right over Lake of the Woods. In fact it flies directly over our cottage on Heenan Point and this is the point where they reduce air speed and begin the decent into Winnipeg.
I’ve taken a few pictures over the years but never as clear as this one that my son Scott took on the way back from Montreal.
Henan Point on Lake of the Woods
There are lots of variables in getting a clear shot like this. Are you in a window seat with the lake on the correct side of the plane? How’s the weather, is it clear and cloud free? Are you paying attention and ready to get the shot? The plane is still going pretty fast and you only have a few minutes.
Took advantage of the sunny calm weather to do a little kayaking.
The dock was built a little higher than the old dock so it needed a higher ladder to get out of the lake. To meet an immediate need I stuck in a 12′ aluminum extension ladder. It seemed to be about the right height/length.
The aluminum ladder tied to the swim platform
So, when it came time to build a proper wood ladder 12′ seemed to be a good idea. So did angled steps so the ladder wouldn’t be straight up and down.
If it’s too high it would be easy to cut it down and or remove a couple of steps.
The angled steps seemed like a good idea, but it took three attempts to get it put together correctly. Thank goodness for power tools, and deck screws.
Levels on Lake of the Woods have always been up and down. In fact the regulatory board that governs the lake levels considers a 6 foot variance, “normal”. In practice lake levels don’t normally change quite that much but then there are the exceptions.
2022 was one of those exceptional years where water levels were at record highs, higher than has been seen in over 50 years. On Lake of the Woods this caused problems for many cottages whose dock systems couldn’t handle these high water levels. We were one of those cottages with a fixed dock system that experienced trouble, a lot of trouble. The lake rose over the top of our docks and the wave and wind action ripped 80% of the dock apart. Some of it floated away and had to be “rescued”. This resulted in the dock rebuild project where the dock was rebuilt at a much higher level and to a much stronger construction standard that, in the unlikely event of it being flooded, should hold together until the waters recedes.
At this time the lake level is 322.997 meters or 1,059.69 feet above sea level. The record level for Lake of the Woods is 324.31 m (1064.0 ft), set in July of 1950. In 2022 the levels peaked at 1063.1 which is 3 feet higher that what is typical and the 2nd highest level on record.
With the current level of 1059.69 the top of our new dock is 57” higher than the lake or 4′ 9″ higher. The dock would be 5″ out of the water in a 1950s level flood so we should be good.
The swim platform is only 24 1/2 inches above the current lake level which makes it good for boat access.
57″ down to the current water level.
Water Level, Swim Platform level and Dock level Also a temporary aluminum ladder for getting out of the lake!
Shirley and I are at the lake for a week and just enjoyed some ordinary times. Nothing crazy happens and we just floated along in “lake mode” on “lake time” taking in the rhythm of the days. Moderate day time temperatures and just a bit cooler at night made for some great sleeps.
Rain and the Downspout
On Lake Time – Coffee on the Deck
Weather wise the days were cloudy. Clouds day after day. No rain during the day until Friday when we’re cleaning up for the weekend crew that is coming and packing up to go home. Very light rain off and on through the day which was not an issue at all, unlike the previous evening.
On Thursday evening it did rain fairly hard and I hear the sound of water falling from the eavestrough onto the deck. You are not supposed to hear that sound as the water is supposed to flow into the downspout down to the ground. I instinctively and via experience know that the downspout is clogged with debris. It’s dark. It’s raining. There is lightening. But I just need to handle the issue now so it’s out on the deck, standing on a chair and fishing leaved out of the gutter just at the downspout opening. Problem solved and the cottage sounds are back to normal.
During the week I had all kinds of projects, big and small to work on and keep me active.
Projects
Project #1 is to re-build the kayak rack at the back of the dock. This should be quick and easy (haha) using the original kayak rack parts. I attach one end to the dock and then realize the top rack which flips open is blocked by a tree. ? I trim the tree and move the rack over about a foot and voila the rack swings open, problem solved. Then I look at the other end and realize that the part that swings open will hit a rock cliff! The rack design needs to change and several hours of work and messing around is wasted. I have lunch and think it over for a while and come up with a much simpler design.
2nd Kayak sits on top in the web strap cradle, I hope, yet to be tested
Project #2 was to make a ramp from the ground to the new dock.
Ramp from the ground to the dock
Another much bigger project is rebuilding the boat ramp and getting the sea-do back next to the Lund. For another day (year?).
Other Cottage Tasks.
During the week many tiny tasks were attended to and notes made for future tasks that need supplies or parts not currently at the lake (pex pipe & unions etc.)
Cleaned up the “pink” room
Q&D life jacket rack in the utility room
Cleaned and organized shop bench
Procured and installed screen door retractor on the lower patio door.
Cleaned both bathroooms
Replaced timer on septic tank backwash system.
Ordered pump out from Bell’s Septic
Killed wasp nest in tree fort w/spray
Hauled wood scraps up to fire pit
Departure
As always the week flew by and just as I feel like we’re settling in to lake life, it’s time to go. Friday morning was coffee with sporadic departure work. By noon we were in full clean up and go mode and on the road to DQ by approximately 3pm. As always a great time at the lake and looking forward to our return.
Eric makes a quick trip to the lake late Sunday night on August 13th and spends two days on dock work as well as taking the sea-doo into Kenora for a repair.
At the end of day one.
In front of the boat shed
The best of the old docks 2x6s are used to deck in front of the boat shed. Old 2x4s are also used in a section.
And a video review of the end of day status . Looking very good!
Shirley and I are down for the full long weekend and the rest of the family comes out for Saturday and Sunday. This weekend the hatch cover is built and carefully fitted into he dock. The rest of the weekend is spent enjoying all the hard work that has been put into this project.
Some of the dock furniture is put in place and I enjoy the view
Before the family arrives I enjoy the first sit on the new dock and enjoy the view.
Eric is out for a solo couple of days prior to the long weekend to get more of the dock in place. It’s almost too nice a day to work with calm and sunny conditions but the build carries on even in the heat.
The hatch to allow under dock access to crayfish and turtles is taking shape.
At the end of day two the main portion of the dock is fully decked and ready for use on the long weekend!
