Category: The Lake
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The heavens declare
A sky shot I took at the lake last summer combined with a little Photoshop work, nothing fancy.
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Will it freeze?
Sort of like “will it float” but different.
For the last little while I’ve been thinking about being at our cottage for the day or evening when the water skims over with ice for the 1st time of the winter season. So, I planned a late in the year visit to the lake to see if I could catch the day. I thought that I’d missed out as I’d heard reports of other lakes freezing over already.
I arrived after dark so I couldn’t really tell what was going on and I didn’t feel the need to go down to the dock to check it out. After all there was the unloading of the car and firing up all the heat generating sources to turn the cottage around from 0°C to a more comfy 20°C. This involved turning on the electric furnace, getting the fireplace going and hauling out the kerosene heater and bringing it upstairs.
The next morning, to my surprise, when I looked out at the lake, there was no ice!
No ice yet on Thunder Bay in front of our cottage. However, the lake is trying to freeze up and in places it’s pretty much a done deal.
Coney Island at Cameron Point Most of the Kenora harbour has ice with only a few open spots. At Cameron Point the current is still keeping a section open. Even as the water flows under the walking bridge to Coney you can see large star shaped ice formations drifting by.
Ice crystals in the flow Perhaps tonight or tomorrow night will be the day! Winds are forecast to be low and the temperature will take a bit of a dip to -10°C to -15°C tonight. So, will it freeze?
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Kneeboarding
The next generation is starting to master many lake activities that Eric and Scott enjoyed. This August long weekend Parker (7) and Dane (4) took their first of many spins around the bay on the kneeboard. I’m sure water skis & wakeboards won’t be far behind.
Good time at the lake with family. The best!
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Lake Thoughts
As it starts to warm up a bit lots of the family are starting to think of the lake. Apparently so is Apple photos.
A memory video cooked up by Apple -
Paper Maps – Pleasure and Purpose
Recently, a friend gave me several paper maps of one of my favorite places, Lake of the Woods.
Nice waterproof maps for LOTW I find something quite pleasurable and almost magical about looking at paper maps and wondering what it would be like to explore over here or over there and how would I get there. Plus there is a fascination with the markings, symbols, legends and colours. I find paper maps a pleasure to look at and explore.
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Fall Fishing – Is it really the best time?
This week at the lake I went out fishing twice. Both times had some similarities and some differences. Both times nobody caught any fish. 🙁 however, one trip was way nicer that the other!
Last Wednesday it was warm, sunny and calm as Shirley and I went out so when we didn’t catch anything we at least had a nice time on the lake and enjoyed the fall scenery on the lake.
In The Hades Yesterday, the weather was a different story. Roy invited me to go fishing and in spite of the cool 3°C with drizzle / rain I was up for the adventure. I layered up in some warm clothing and headed out to Roy’s place on Blindfold lake. What I wasn’t prepared for was the high water level on Blindfold Lake and what that would mean in terms of going over the boat lift into Lake of the Woods.
On the way over to the boat lift there is some casual talk about how the water might be flowing over the road! Sure enough the dock and road are under about 2-3 inches of water and I don’t have boots. So it’s shoes and socks off, roll up the pants and wade around in the water to get the boat over the lift. Going over is not too bad. The water is 60°F and we’ve only been out for 15 minutes. Two hours later we’re much colder, it’s now raining and coming back up to Blindfold is a little more involved.
Step one, get the boat on the dolly and use the hand winch to get it started and then hook on a rope to use with the power winch.
Getting ready to bring the boat up with the power winch. Step 2, use the power winch to get the boat up the steep side and onto the flat section
Step 3, here she comes.
Boat coming up the steep side of the lift. Step 4, pack up the rope & power winch back into the boat and push the dolly over to the Blindfold Lake side, which of course requires more walking around in the cold water.
My feet in the water. A quick 10 minute but frigid boat ride back to Roy’s and were in the cabin where it’s toasty warm and having a much welcomed hot coffee.
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Out on The Lake
It’s a calm day at the lake with a sun/cloud mix that is quite pleasant with temperatures in the low 20°Cs. A perfect day for some boating and fishing!
After picking up some minnows and catching up a bit with Al of Smith Camps I’m back at the dock picking up Shirley and we head out.
Goin’ Fishin’ However, the fish were not cooperating! We try a couple of spots with no success. At some spots the fish finder shows lots of fish, but the end of the line is still empty.
We cruise through Eagle Pass, Moore Bay, The Hades, Copper Island and our very own Needle Point before returning home. A very enjoyable couple of hours out on The Lake.
In The Hades -
Fun Weekend with Family
Wonderful weekend with family at the lake.
We arrived on Friday evening for a 10 day stay and after unloading we spend some time with Gail & Gord as they are finishing up their month stay. Eric, Parker & Dane arrive late at close to midnight and get settled in for the weekend.
In the morning Parker & Dane meet Bentley & Zoe (schnauzer dogs) and there is a lot of excitement, a few tears and lots of barking. After breakfast Gail & Gord pack up and begin the drive back to Saskatoon.
So much happiness and joy especially for me. So special to see the Grandkids taking in the lake life and having so much fun and adventure. We seemed to do it all hiking, biking, swimming, playing games, building Snap Circuits and Geocaching. Strong warm winds make the lake a little rough so no boating but other than that we squeezed in a lot of action. The weather was fabulous with sun and almost 30°C! Seemed like a July weekend not mid September!
Searcing for a geocache on the Storm Bay road 
Checking out the new ladder on the tree fort. 
The Stewart Boys