Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

March 29, 2008

Weekend here at the lake and already there is someone out on the frozen water chasing a few crappies. When I took the access road I could see the bright yellow coat and a blue one dragging a sled across the ice heading for what I think they think is a hot spot. Good for them.. Some of our summer residents stooped in at the Lodge last night and hands were shook and backs slapped. Cabin fever I hear is being felt in the big city. Lot of the snow is gone there and nothing but dirty sidewalks covered in sand and wet muddy grass with snow mold on top. For them winter seems to be gone except for the heating bills that still come to the mailbox waiting to be paid. Garages doors are open as long as someone is in the garage to keep an eye on things. Funny thing about the city as things have a way of walking away by themselves if you don't watch them.

Took a stroll yesterday in town here. Decide it was time to light a cigar and just wander some. Spent some time on the bench under the only street light we have and Hammering Hank came and sat with me for a spell. Wearing his faded blue work bibs with the back pocket bulging with index cards of jobs around town that need to be done. In his front pocket next to his two pencils he now sports pink index cards, but they are written in Tess his wife's writing. Her home/cabin business is doing well and now she to adds to Hammer Hank and Skinnys work load. It being a nice sunny day and no wind Hank seeing me sitting on the bench decide that he should stop and smell the roses. Just because there was none does not mean he still can't stop. Actually there may have been the smell of lilies that are on closeout coming from the direction of the General Store. After a little chit chat Hank moved on but I continue to enjoy the sun on my face and the smell of spring.

From my vantage point I could see Amy working the counter at her shop, didn't take much to smell the fresh bread when someone would open the door to leave or enter. Doc Burriem's car was tied up to the parking meter outside his office and I can see the ceiling fan turning slowing in Reed the Realtors office. He has his tax prep sign hanging in the window and that is why he must be in the office. I wave at Shannon from the Town Hall and she waves back. Always carrying a stack of folders she continues on her way. There another sign of Spring! As Shannon walks away I see a flash of skin above her shoe. She is not wearing any winter boots. Shorts can not be to far away I think to myself.

Earl wearing his red apron comes out to stand on the sidewalk outside of his store. Holding his broom he makes a few half hearted passes at a passing dried out leaf. Wilbur comes up and he pats him on the back and I can't make out what he is saying but I can hear his loud booming voice as he guides Wilbur into the store. I hear the jingling of a bell and turn on the bench as Elmer comes out of Ma and Pa's grocery store. Holding a small black note book in his hands he has his head down as he walks in my direction. Elmer as of late has been writing things down, making a checklist. He says his memory is fine but he does not want to forget anything when he makes his rounds. Just Elmers way of keeping track. I have seen the old tattered school note book that he has at the cabin. His x wife filled it with things for him to do. Everyone once in a great while he will take it out and open it to find a random job. Last summer we replace some basement windows in the cabin. The faded job was then checked off in the book. The book was then tossed back on top of the fireplace mantle till the next time Elmer decides he has nothing to do. Elmer kept on walking by on the far side of the street, not looking up he gave me a little wave and I nodded my head. Not much gets past Elmer.

Mindy and Mandy drive by and wave from their truck, the girls have been busy out on root beer island. Now is the time to get bulky supplies out there before the ice goes bad and they have to use the boat. Nytelyter has not been seen around town much, we know he has been working hard as of late. There was some talk that some of us should get together and just go and get him and tie him to a chair in the Lodge so he can relax for a spell. Sometimes people need to be reminded that work will always be there and you will never not have some work. I have seen some of the plans for the new dock on Root beer Island and it will be impressive. Hoping business will be good and it will be open for more then just the weekends. Duckslayer drove by and pulling to the curb he gave me a HiYA. Some small talk and he asked about finding Frank the plow driver. Needed his road graded as he was having something special brought in but would not say any more. I just smiled cuz I already know he has a new pontoon coming. It is a small town you know.

Well after that I decided to stretch my legs some and headed towards Dug's garage. As I got closer I could hear the sounds of a baseball game on the eight speakers he has hanging from the ceiling in the garage. He was sitting with his wood chair leaning against the wall of the office. A partial map of Lake Iwanttobethere spread out on the metal desk in front of him. Hearing me enter he tossed a dirty grease rag across the map. "O it's you" he said. And pulled the rag back off the map. I came around and looked down at the map. Planning opening day?" I asked. Dug nodded and we both bent over the map. I can't tell you anymore, it is a secret and this is a small town.. From Lake Iwanttobethere (26215)

March 29, 2008

Bobby Bass, the way you wrote that post, I feel like I was sitting right beside you.......I want to go to Lake Iwanttobethere

March 30, 2008

HiYa from the Lodge. First off Nytelyters money is no good at the Lodge on Monday night as we have forgotten about his birthday. Was going over the calendar here and I saw we had missed his birthday. Was going to put out the big 48 oz beer mugs out since he said he was buying. But will stay with the 12 oz glasses now. Looking at the calendar here we are coming up on a Lodge meeting in April. We hold meetings on the fifth Tuesday of the month and that will be April 29th also Town Hall meetings are held on the fifth Friday of the month and the next one will be May 30th We still have found nothing to spend the money on from the sale of the Old Mill and the suggestion box has been pretty much empty other then to buy some Wild Turkey and put it in storage. The thought there was that as it ages it will become more valuable, just our investment against inflation. We do have several cases of Boonesfarm Strawberry Hill wine that was bought back in the 70's and as soon as that goes over three dollars a bottle we are going to cash in.

A cloudy day here at the lake but it is 52 outside. A steady trickle of water is flowing across the parking lot as the banks are melting. A few of the guys were out with push brooms sweeping off the motorcycle parking pad and putting some oil dry down where Reed the Realtor had parked his RV after the fire. The RV is still parked alongside Dug's garage and I think they are waiting on parts. We were talking about going down to see a baseball game in the big city on Monday but we will instead have Nytelyters surprise birthday party. Sap is running a little and Chuck has been busy out in his shop. A slight breeze carries the smell of wood smoke and syrup boiling across the lake to us here at the Lodge.

Got a few telephone calls yesterday, we do a little guiding here on the lake and some past customers were calling and confirming their bookings. Guess cabin fever is reaching out farther and farther as we roll into April. Also got a few calls about garden tilling. Have been doing that for years here around the lake and with the snow starting to go a little quicker everyday the thoughts of planting is taking root. Earl at the general store has his garden cart out front I noticed. Packages of seeds and gloves and shovels and them kneeing pads. Still the winter shovels are stacked against the wall just in case. Well the snow has melted enough that I can open the door to get in the greenhouse. Think I will grab a cigar and go in and start cleaning things up in there. Still going to be a while before I can plant anything out there as I don't heat it. It still is getting pretty cool at night but we are getting closer to fishing and planting and sitting at the fire pit. A few more people have come up this weekend to check out there cabins. Some have not been here since deer hunting or maybe even since they pulled their docks up in the fall. Dew Drop and the Sunshine Inn have been busy with customers and the Dinner has been doing a brisk carry out business. Del's pizza cannon was test fired yesterday as he sent a few free samples off across the lake.

Out on Root Beer Island there is a growing mound of building material forming under the blue tarp on the point. Nytelyters dock should be taking shape as soon as the ice pulls away from the shore line. Lights have been on late at Mindy and Mandy's cabin as they to are getting ready for fishing just 41 days away. My ice house is put up for storage and I have the dome secure on the rack. Put a few mouse traps in just in case and rods have found there way to storage in the garage ceiling. Time to clean out tackle boxes and keep an eye on the ice. Pulled the tarp off the old wood rowboat on the shoreline. We get another nice day here I might even do some cleaning on it. From the Lodge on Lake Iwanttobethere (26312)

March 30, 2008

April 3, 2008

HiYa from the Lodge here at Lake Iwanttobethere. The days continue to grow a few minutes longer and the sun continues to climb a little higher in the sky. Temperatures rebound to the mud making stage before noon now. With luck any snow and ice scraping of truck windows is nothing more then a memory for this year. As a matter of fact I remove my ice scraper from the truck and set it just inside the garage. It is still at hand in case it should be needed. I also moved the snow shovel back and in it's place the stiff push broom has made it way to the first spot by the door. Now that we have had a fifty degree day can sixty be to far away? Ice is pulling away from the shore and Mystery creek is now noisy as water is flowing from edge to edge tumbling over the small rapids and making the mouth where it enters the lake an area of open water. Last weekend the casters were in the chasing steelhead and dodging floating debris.

We did receive a light snowfall and Sunshine Ray was right on with his prediction as most of the snow fell on the far side of the lake. Another sure sign of spring is the changing of footwear around town. The heavy insulated boots are gone and no longer to you hear feet being dragged across the sidewalk. Now everyone is sporting some kind of pack or knee high mud boot. Today the towns fire truck was pulled out and the water that had been sitting in it all winter was used to hose down main street. As soon as the water started flowing shop keepers were out with push brooms to sweep off sidewalks. By late afternoon the street had dried and was as clean as it can get with out the aid of a thunderstorm.

Some action being made in regards to the money from the sale of the Old Mill. I sat in on a conversation with several members of the town along with the John from the power company. We are working on installing a wind mill on the hill behind the Lodge. The Lodge will provide the property the town will provide a partial payment in good faith and the power company will maintain it and add it to there power grid. Since the Lodge is right there the electricity will power the Lodge and then the lighting for the access. New lights will also be installed so no longer will you have to stick a quarter in the power pole at the access if you want to launch your boat in the dark. Hammering Hank and Skinny won the unannounced bid for building a new fish cleaning house down at the access. The quarter powered light will be installed in the shack so you can have light to clean your catch. They will be relocating a pink shanty that was abandoned on the ice. With some modifications and a coat of primer and paint it will make a fine fish cleaning house. There may be a question of the perfume smell but that should go away after awhile.

Deer continue to wander around in small herds. On more then one occasion travel had to wait on main street as the small herd took it's time crossing. No one is in a big hurry so trucks and cars just wait for them to cross, yesterday I think I saw three trucks in line waiting. Sheriff Tim has been on the other side of the lake. With snow over there they are still riding sleds and four wheelers. His dog Bailiff has been making the rounds here in town for him. Usually with Grace at his side they check out the back alleys and look for any suspicious activity. To there credit not a garbage can goes unchecked. Shop owners have taken to leaving a pan of ice cubes near the rear doors for the dogs.

Sap is running and so is Chuck. Still behind last season in the amount that has come in but doing better every day. I have already tasted this years syrup and it has the distinctive taste of Lake Iwanttobethere. I help out when I can, keeping the fire burning and answering phones for him. Barney is over there a lot acting as a door dog as you can hear anything when Chuck is in the garage cooking away. The sweet smell of sap boiling and the smell of maple wood smoke hangs in the air. Well needless to say we are staying busy as is everyone here at the lake. So much to do before the fishing opener comes and it seems like the days are not long enough. Baseball game can be heard around the lake as garage and boat house doors are open a little bit wider everyday. Frank the plow driver made a few passes at the end of my drive and the mud bog has now drained back into the ditches. Kids on bikes have moved on to find some where else to ride their bikes. Grand kids will be up this weekend so I put the two battery powered kids jeeps on the charger so they will be ready for them. They will not be allowed to drive down on the road but there is plenty of mud here in the gardens for them to share the experience in. I am sure there mothers will be happy. So from Lake Iwanttobethere. (26446)

April 5, 2008

Sometimes I hate this time of year... Not because fishing is just weeks away and all I can do is look out over the ice covered water of the lake but..... Because the snow is melting and more projects are appearing everyday. Yesterday I met with some of the guys over at the Toast House. We don't have a Waffle House or a Pancake House here in town but we do have a Toast House. They serve up these big pieces of bread that they toast in an oven one at a time and then they just put your ham and eggs on top. I was a little off my feed so I just had the five egg and slab of ham kids meal. So between toast, egg and ham dipped in a new batch of Lake Iwanttobethere maple syrup we went over projects for the Lodge.

Since the fire truck had already washed off main street and it was out we had it brought up to the Lodge and we washed down the outside of the building. This is when we discovered that the front steps are rotting some and we will have to replace them. Also several slabs of sidewalk will need to be replaced. The more we hosed them down the more they kept crumbling. I guess if we had gotten another tank of water from the lake we could have washed them out completely. They are OK for now but we have put them on the "List" We also talked about the Hot water heater at the Lodge which decided to go out on us, just when we needed it the most. Looking back on the "List" it was due for a cleaning. Well Hammering Hank took the stack apart and discovered a hole in the pipe. A trip to the General Store and that was quickly replaced. We knew right then that it was going to be a long day because that was just to easy. Well of course it didn't work, unless you kept coming down to hit the little red reset button. A call was made to Hank's cousin in the next town over who just happens to be a repairman and fishes the lake. He arrived a few hours later and decided there was problem with the hot water heaters motor and that it should be floor tested. He unbolted the motor from the heater but kept the power cord connected he then placed it between his feet and hit the reset. This is where someone should have said " Watch this" Those oil fired hot water heaters motors hit high speed in an instant! The gear on the end of the shaft was flung from the spindle and bounce off several items before burying itself in a wood post. "Well there's your problem" Hank's cousin said. With that we left him to work alone and went back upstairs.

The new ice house/ fish cleaning station is in the Lodges work garage. It has taken several coats of primer to cover the pink up but no luck in removing the perfume smell. The fold down seats were removed and some support added to the cleaning table. No work was needed for the floor as it was surprisingly very thick with a double layer of plywood. It should get painted and if the weather holds it will be out sometime next week. The wind generator is way ahead of schedule. Some scaffold was donated and already it is half up on the hill behind the Lodge. The power company made quick work off digging out four holes of for legs and they were dropped in and concrete has already been poured. We might even see the generator mounted next week. Will take some testing time I understand to work out the bugs. Dug was going to donate all his batteries that he has stocked piled down at his garage but I hear it comes with a converter so we can just plug it right in to out panel here. Hank is taking care of that end of the deal along with the power company licensed electrician. Maybe we can have him check the wiring in the Lodge while he is at it.

Ice on the Lake is looking a little blue and thin today. Snow is all gone from it and I would not go out on it. This Spring has been long and if Sunshine Ray is correct it is going to get a little longer. We are under a winter in the spring storm watch or warning. I never can get them right. Either way he is saying that we are going to get some snow on this side of the lake. Maybe as much as a half a foot. Am hoping it stays warm and we just get rain. Mystery creek is running pretty good and a nice steady rain will really open up the smaller creeks and I am sure help the guys fishing for steelhead. I was at the Masterbaiters shop working a little. Mostly shopping for myself since no one was in the shop other then the guys who come in everyday to listen to the sound of the minnow tanks and watch the spoons on the wall move back and forth from the heater fan. Anyway I found some replacement seats for the Puddle Humper. I just can't decide if I should buy the gray ones or the gray and red ones. Guess I will have to have a few Hamms and sit in the boat to make that decision. Well back to the garage to bring the snow shovel back to the front. It don't look good as Earl at the General store has put the garden sale cart back in the store and the winter cart with ice melt and shovels is back out on the sidewalk. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27069)

April 5, 2008

April 7, 2008

Well there will be a delay in Spring this year. It seems that the far side of the lake has already gotten over twelve inches of snow and it is still falling. Last night after dark the storm came by here and we sat in the Lodge and could hear the long rumble of thunder and flashes of lighting across the lake. The wind did pickup and it has been raining lightly off and on all day. With the driving wind it does makes it seem like it is bad out but if you stand on the lee side of the Lodge it is not all that bad. You can smoke a cigar and the smoke curls up till it reaches the roof line then the wind grabs and it takes it away. From time to time a car or truck will drive through town and the roof or hood will be covered in snow. Most are making stops at the General Store and the rack of shovels that Earl had out on the sidewalk are disappearing at a rapid pace. Saw Frank the plow driver go through several hours ago and he had chains on the grader, not a good sign.

Sunshine Ray was at the Dew Drop as he is working on a Sunday. I over heard him say that it is rain to the south of us and then turning to sleet here at the lake and then snow as it passes over to the far shore. We may or may not get any snow tonight. We will just have to wait till morning and when we open the door to let the dogs out we will find out what we have. Lodge was kind of slow as people were staying close to home just in case the snow did come. A lot are like me and have a snow thrower pushed to the back of the garage and the boat is already blocking the way to the garage doors. I don't have any gas for it anyway. Grand kids were here for the afternoon but they did not get a chance to go out and mud bog. Grandma didn't want the kitchen floor that she had just cleaned tracked up. Just like us grownups they are getting sick of being bundled up in boots and snowsuits and having scarfs tied across their throats so tight they can hardly take in a breath.

After lunch they did make it over to Chucks and helped put labels on syrup bottles. They are rewarded licking their fingers of syrup from the buckets. Looks like Chuck will meet his quota as after a slow start the sap has been running well. Quite a few people are bring in sap and leaving with a few bottles of syrup. Less work for them but more sap for Chuck. The path to the wood pile is a muddy mess as all the wood in the pile in the driveway is gone. Normally we would just drive the truck up and bring a load down but to muddy to do that. So it is done with a wheelbarrow and mud boots. Dogs are going through the rags and towels kept at the back door of the cabin for them. They would prefer to lay on the floor in front of the fireplace. I think they are ready for summer to. Cabin smells good at least. Roast was in the oven and bread raising along with rolls. Grandma and the kids made cookies and I managed to get a few off the cooling rack before getting caught on a return trip.

Was a good afternoon to take a nap and that is what I did. Dogs and grand kids all found a space on the big couch and we had the baseball game on in the background and watched the lake. Woke up finding bubbles landing on me. Grandsons had gotten into bubble making stuff that they had left at Easter. Was real cute till Bud launched himself at one and landed on me. Dang dog needs to go on a diet! Well from the lake and a return to winter, at least for awhile.. (27257)

April 7, 2008

Just getting ready to pull out here. After yesterdays spring winter storm we got a few calls of Lodge members in trouble on the far side of the lake. It being a Monday and all, nothing was planned for the day so after some eggs and bacon we decide to mount a rescue mission of sorts. We made a few calls and Hammering Hank and Skinny have hooked up a trailer and we have loaded it with snow throwers, gas and shovels. We would be on the road right now but Hank is working on a short with the CB radio. Word has gotten out and people are dropping off stuff for us to bring over. Amy from the Deli has made us a box of her loose meat sandwiches and Ma from Ma and Pa's grocery has given us a big jar of them Vienna sausages. The Lodge donated an outdated jar of pickle eggs ( I have no idea how old these eggs can be if they have reached their expiration date) Earl tossed in a few shovels and Reed the Realtor gave me some business cards to pass out. Just in case anyone has had enough of winter and wants to relocate.

Frank the plow driver is idling in the parking lot as he is ready to head back that way and said he could wait a little while and then break trail for us. Here at the Lodge all we have is a little slush and overcast sky. Sunshine Ray says it is still snowing on the far side of the lake and it looks like over twenty four inches has fallen. Chuck has just pulled into the lot and he has a load of firewood in his truck. Elmer is going to stay behind and keep the sap boiling so Chuck thought a load of fireplace wood might come in handy. Dan has Grace and Bailiff in his truck and they are both hanging out side windows, noses in the air waiting to get on the road. They are our towns rescue dogs after all. A few more guys have shown up as word has spread that we will be heading out. Most feel that we were lucky and should have a day of from work but the snow just fell on the other side of the lake. In a sign of strength the local kids boycotted school when they heard there was no school on the other side.

Hank has got the CB working and I can see him talking and making gestures to Skinny. Skinny jumps out of the truck and runs into the Lodge to return a moment later with a case of Wild Turkey under his arm. " There all out" he says as he climbs back into the truck. With a grinding of gears and revving of engines the caravan pulls out of the parking lot following Frank in the grader. The slap slap slap of his chains on the wet pavement leading the way. I grab a few extra cigars and get ready to follow in the Dodge. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27288)

April 7, 2008

2000 posts and about a million words I figure!

April 8, 2008

Well I don't care where you live when you get thirty-two inches of snow that is an event! Yesterday we set out to help Lodge members on the far side of the lake and as we went from bay to bay the snow just got deeper. It was a good thing that Frank the plow driver had been to Dug's garage and they installed the big vee plow on the grader along with the chains. There was no way that the plow on Hammering Hanks wood truck was going to push through the deep snow. Calling ahead on the CB we had Lodge members put out there pink Flamingo on the snow banks to mark the end of their driveways. It didn't take long to get a system down and we made pretty good time. Having several guys working as teams we open up the driveways and moved snow from in front of garage doors. Spent more time loading and unloading then actually moving snow I think. The weather was a little breezy but it was warm out. Coffee was flowing freely and as the word spread that we were there the Lodge wife's greeted us with sweet rolls, pies and cakes. Bags of cookies and brownies and thanks you were exchanged as we moved from cabin to cabin.

We were taking in a lot of good food and diets were forgotten. We explained it away by how hard we were working. Mix in a few other driveways that did not belong to Lodge members but were owned by others on the lake. Got to where if there were signs of life we just cleaned the drive. By late afternoon we were getting a tad tired and Frank was about ready to fall asleep at the wheel. We decide to have a time out and took a break at a public access to the lake. Frank was fast asleep taking a nap and the rest of us started a fire in one of the rings. We sat on a picnic table that we uncovered and with steam rising from our clothes enjoyed the fire and a cigar. Bags of goodies were passed around till we could eat no more. Yup thirty-two inches of snow is a lot of snow. That is almost yard of snow in the yards. Glad it came now instead in the beginning of the season. It will melt here and help put some runoff in the rivers. Fishing will pick up some. Don't have to clean drives to good as the sun will help melt the edges back. Will make spring last longer but it has been a slow cold one so far. Talk of fishing and jabs were taken at each other as men tend to do when working together.

Well after a break we decide to make a pass back towards our side of the lake, there were a few more cabins that we had missed and not a pink flamingo to be seen. Not many people know about the Lodge and the flamingoes. Everyone needs a distress sign and the bird is ours. Surprisingly we didn't break anything. Maybe a few shear pins but that is to be expected. Getting back to the Lodge was a lot easier then the trip out. Already the county had followed our trail and with the bigger graders and trucks dropping chemicals the road back look like a black ribbon. We went ahead of Frank and his grader and the last we saw of him he had the wing out moving snow to the ditches. Arriving at the Lodge we shed coats and boots and going down to the basement got dry clothes out of our lockers. Some had already changed out winter clothes and the lockers held changes of golfing apparel. When Elmer came by he found us sprawled around the main fireplace in our leisure clothes. Most were napping, the crackle of the fire along with the rhythmic dripping of water from the eves had put them to sleep, kind of like being rocked in a boat on a mid summers afternoon.

Well this morning finds the parking lot here at the Lodge empty. Everyone has made there way back home to do what they do. It being slow here yesterday Gus was doing some work around the Lodge and pointed out the Lodge front steps to me. Being the building inspector I agreed and we closed off the main door till we can make repairs. The back door, which is closer to the parking lot remains open and with warming weather the entrance off the deck will also be left open. We have the stairs on the Lodges do list. We also have been talking for a long time about closing in the front steps. Adding glass and making it more solar friendly, guess it might be awhile before we open the main doors. Yawn, I did not sleep all that well on the cot here in my office so I think I am going to head for home and get a good nap in. I have had enough of winter for this year. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27343)

April 8, 2008

Always a good read Bobby!

Hunter

April 9, 2008

Here we are talking spring and winter is not done till the fat lady sings! Sunshine Ray is predicting blizzard conditions for this end of the lake on Friday. Hard to see that as water is dripping from the eves here at the Lodge and the bass thermometer on the wall points at fifty-one. But Ray has been on a roll the past few weeks so we are stocking the wood box and making sure the chili pot is full. Lodge is busy today as the guys from the power company are here and they have the new windmill up and running. Well at least the blades are turning. Needs some fine tuning I understand before it will start making juice for us here in the Lodge. As you can see by the picture we have a new weather station also installed on the support. This will give us a better idea of the weather here. I think they are talking about adding a light near the top so that will be another landmark for guys when they are out on the lake fishing. Right now they are just finishing up with a lunch of chili and Coney's. No beer as someone still has to climb the tower and finish with little things. Guide wires are all in place and it looks like a giant Christmas tree. Already we are thinking of stringing up lights next year.

The small deer herd that has been in town has gone back into the woods. At least no one has seen or had to stop for them the past few days. Might be because they knew of the coming storm and didn't want to have to walk in it. Robins are everywhere and I keep seeing those two geese. I don't think they are headed North anymore. Might just have found the lake and decided to stay. Rain and snow has really weaken the ice here and no one is going out anymore. Vicki down at the Masterbaiters shop has shorten up her hours for the next few weeks. A few steelhead fishermen out but the water in the river is pretty cold. Still several weeks before the smelt will run unless we get some warm rains. With the forecast for a blizzard I don't think that will be the warm water we are looking for.

After returning home the other day I left the snow thrower by the garage door and I filled the gas can, just in case. Muddy mess here at the Lodge. With all the rain and slush and guys walking back and forth to the wind generator there is a muddy path across the parking lot. The yellow pail and mop out by the back door with a signon it to clean up after yourself. Sun is trying to break through the clouds here, just enough of a glow to let you know what part of the sky it is in. Debating on whether we should bring some of the outside deck furniture out of storage. Few of the guys have been smoking outside on the deck. With the new smoking ban they have gotten use to smoking outside, even though here at the Lodge we are ignoring it. Saw something about it being OK to smoke in smoking shacks outside of buildings. We are thinking of building a plywood shack and calling that the Lodge and then use the Lodge as our smoking shack! Don't know if it will work or not. Well everyone is heading back out to work so I better run the mop across the floor. Here is a picture of the new wind generator, from Lake Iwanttobethere (27422)

April 10, 2008

Not a naked ankle in town this morning. Winds are already blowing around twenty miles an hour off the lake and in the distant you can see the approaching storm. Hours away according to Sunshine Ray but it is coming. No longer is he talking about how much snow we may get, it is how much snow we are going to get. KCUM radio station is on the air and is doing it best to report all the closing that are being called in. Not going to be any yard sales and all the rummage sales are going to be canceled for the weekend. Gas -n- Go is doing a brisk business as a steady stream of pickup trucks with plows on are at the two pumps. Walk up business is good also as five gallon cans are filled and then set next to the door as people go in to pay and to chat over memories of storms pass.

Hanging signs are creaking and blowing swinging wildly in the wind, a few gusts are mixing in with the steady wind. Guys at the barbershop are taking bets on whether the new wind generator will survive it's first storm. You can sit in the first barber chair and look out the window the blades can be seen spinning away in the distant. A call to the county tool house has only Mabel the dispatcher answering phones. Frank and everyone else has been sent home to bed. Going to be a long night for them.

Even though liven at the lake we are pretty much OK from storms. Having been here for so long we have wood already piled in the boxes and can go to the root cellars for food. But a good winter storm always brings people out to make stops at Ma and Pa's grocery. Some extra cookies and pop, candy and maybe a nice roast or turkey to cook while you sit in the cabin and watch the snow fall No excuse to be caught with your pants down so to speak. Not like the old days when a storm would blow across the lake with no warning. Now with Sunshine Rays forecast and that TV weather station you can watch it come. Even standing on the deck it don't take you long to notice the small birds are no where to be seen. Out on the farms it don't take to much coaxing and the cows meander into the barn and the horse find the stable. Chickens are in the coop and the dogs are in no hurry to go outside. Cats find the deep hay in the lofts and the only thing flying is the dang pigeons. Being a bunch of showoffs they ride the swirling winds darting back and forth looking like aerobatic flyers at a air show. Of course being earthbound I can't tell if they are doing it on purpose or if it is the wind tossing them around like that.

Just when the last of the snow has melted we are going to start all over again. Only now the snow is going to cover mud and moving it will be a mess. Few guys here in the Lodge as like little kids we do tend to come out and play in the storms. Four wheel drive pickups with plows sit in a row outside the Lodge in the parking lot. Sorrel boots drag across the floor and coffee mugs are filled from the urn. A loose collection of guys gather around the flickering TV in the corner and Elmer tells anyone who will listen about the old days and the old spring storms. From time to time Hammering Hank will take a peak at the wind generator out the back door. It has become his new baby and he is a little worried if the guy wires will hold and if they can do anything else. CB is on and the squelch is turned up, an occasional crackle breaks through. All we can do now is wait.. From Lake Iwanttobethere, fishing season is coming... We are just having a little delay here (27459)

April 11, 2008

It would appear that we are about halfway through a April blizzard. Something not seen around these parts for a long time. Town is not shut down but like the birds there are only a few people moving around and most just make dashes outside before heading back in to the warmth of their cabins. Straight line winds are coming off the lake and they are strong enough to make it difficult to take in a good breath. We have not receive the snow that Sunshine Ray has been predicting but he says to wait and give it a chance. Snow and the blizzard are going to be going good till late Saturday evening. Talked to Ray in the Sunshine Cafe, his station KCUM has been with out power and off the air since early morning. As a matter of fact a large area in and around the town is with out power as I write this. The snow which is that heavy wet cotton candy variety is sticking to the pines and with the forty to fifty mph winds the combination is snapping tree trunks and downing power lines.

Woke up to the bright flash of lightning that lit the bedroom. Barney was in bed with me and he does not like thunder. I open the cabin door to let all the dogs out and was greeted with a deck covered with snow and a few shingles pointed up right in the drifts. More work to do. I let the dogs back in, covered in wet snow that quickly melted. They all headed for the rug in front of the fireplace. Not cold out, that is a good thing, but I tossed a few logs on to the glowing embers and soon they were all back to sleep. Heading for the kitchen I turn on the small TV there only to find all the local stations off the air. About then the calls start coming in, first question is "Got power" and second is "How much snow" between calls I make a few of my own. Elmer is fine, says he is sitting in his flannels facing his deck doors watching the snow fall across the lake. Told me I missed a pretty good lightning storm around five or so. Chuck was up all night, feeding the fire as he is boiling sap. Hammering Hank called, and said the wind generator is spinning away and the mast is still up, the new weather station on the mask says we had a gust of sixty-two and it has been steady at forty miles per hour.

Might be a record for these parts having wind above thirty five miles per hour for over almost twenty hours now. Funny storm. High winds, some lightning, heavy wet snow and very very bright out. The sun is high in the sky and what light that comes through the clouds is reflected off all the new snow. Almost have to close the drapes to keep the light out. I was going to go out and maybe snow blow some but I see through the kitchen window that there is a drift covering the garage door. So much for that idea. I think I will just let it melt. Had the jeep outside pointed in the right direction so I drove into town. Saw some trees down and pickups with plows working parking lots and the Gas - N - Go was busy. Had to blink my lights at a few idiots driving with out there headlights on. Don't need the lights on to see, need the lights on so others can see you!.

Frank the plow driver passed me going the other way, I got a short wave of his hand as he was pushing snow into already filled ditches. Few trucks at the Lodge. Coffee urn was chugging away and just snow on the TV, stations had still not come back on. CB crackling away and calls coming in about when the pink flamingos should be put out for plowing driveways. Skinny was on the mike and jotting down locations and advising to wait till the wind dies down some. Right now everyone is fine and we are just going to wait the storm out. Twenty eight days till fishing opener, should be an interesting one. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27538)

April 12, 2008

Power has been restored to everyone here at Lake Iwanttobethere. Already the blizzard of 08 is some what of a memory. Driveways have been plowed open and the sun hidden behind clouds has already started to melt the snow on the asphalt driveways and concrete sidewalks. The wind that was with us for so long is now nothing but a breeze. Sounds of chain saws can be heard as a more then a few trees were over come by the weight of snow on their branches and the push of heavy winds. The town has a law against chain saws and lawnmowers on weekends but this has been waved for this weekend as we do need to clean up after the storm. Lodge parking lot is clear, just wet from melting snow. A few pickup's with plows dangling from tired front ends are parked outside the rear door. Men in flannel shirts and sorrel boots line the bar and the sounds of metal spoons in chili bowls clinking away can be heard over the back on the air TV station. The CB sits in the corner on it's shelf, the lights are on but no chatter is heard. The red needle motionless. A yellow pad of paper with a yellow #2 pencil laying on top beside it. No calls for help today.

Hank stands like a proud father with a mug of coffee in his hand. Looking out at his wind generator she has passed the first test here at Lake Iwanttobethere. Through the wind storm and falling snow she stood tall and with the weather center hanging from her mast we recorded a gust of sixty-two miles per hour. Pretty good no matter where you live. Following the light breeze the generator moves slightly back and forth. Her blades catching the wind and spinning away. Later next week we will put her on line an she will start paying for herself. Some talk that we should have a contest to name her but already we have started to refer to her as Windy.

As storms go it could have been worse. Could have gotten more snow, could have gotten a lot colder. For wind it was right up there though. Part of the lake has open water and the wind really mixed it up out there. The shoreline has a mess of broken ice tossed up on it's banks but it is already melting. Today finds birds back checking out now empty feeders. The contents tossed all over the ground. The pigeons are huddle near the main chimney, tired I guess from all the flying they did during the storm. A couple of insurance guys were in here for lunch, they have been working on claims. Seems I was not the only one who lost some shingles and a garage lost all of it's vinyl siding on one side. Skinny arrives with the wood truck and grabbing some Coney's to go he and Hank head back out. Hank has a bulge of index cards in his pocket with places to stop and trees to be cleared up. With ice out going to be a little later this year he has something to do before it is time to start putting out docks.

I did spend some time outside, Standing out of the wind at the cabin I enjoyed watching the blowing wind and falling snow. If I didn't go outside then Bud and Barney did not want anything to do with being outside. So I stood outside with them while they did there thing. Pepper had gone over to Elmers house and no way was she going to come back home till the storm was done. She thinks Elmers cabin is hers anyway. As I was outside I noticed a couple of gray squirrels riding out the storm in a pine tree, they must have been brothers as they sure acted like it. The tree swaying back and forth in the strong winds would move close to the power line to the garage. I could almost hear them daring each other to be the first to make the leap to the power line. If the wind was right I could hear the chatter. One of them was brave enough or had enough of the other to venture out on the end of a branch and when the tree moved in that direction he made the leap to the power line. Thinking the hard part was over he then started to run down the line towards the garage. Except the power line was doing it's best to be like a bull ride at the county fair. The power line was flexing in the wind and the squirrel was holding on with all four feet and I swear he had his tail wrapped around the line to. Just about this time to make things interesting Bud and Barney looked up and saw the squirrel. So now the squirrel had the wind whipping the line, dogs underneath him barking and his brother the other squirrel clicking away at him. Bout this time a roll of thunder came through. Barney headed in a bee line back to the cabin and Bud thinking he was missing something followed. I let them in the cabin and went back to watch as the circus squirrel made it's way across the whipping line. With the aid of a gust of wind he flew off to land on top of the garage and quickly made his way down the roof to the eve and then down the rain gutter to the ground. Catching his breath he barked at his brother who looking at the line came down the tree and ran across the snow to hook up with his brother. If squirrels could punch each other in the shoulder I think I would have seen it happen then. They turned and disappeared into the storm.

So now we wait for the melt, and the return of the mud. But the good part is more water for the lakes and rivers and landings will be better to get in and out of. Bad part is lots of water in the swamps and sketters will be coming out the size of B-52 bombers. It can warm up anytime now, I want to sit out on the deck and listen to the sound of peepers and the first lonely loon. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27597)

April 13, 2008

The sun is shinning here at Lake Iwanttobethere, and to be honest, it is about time!.. Snow is melting and water is running. Of course mud has made it's return also. Robins are looking a little more comfortable as the snow is disappearing and last years brown grass is reappearing. During the storm of a few days ago I would imagine there was some doubt with them about coming up to the lake. Sounds of chain saws cutting echo across the frozen water. Some open water here and there and the small bay by the cabin is no longer safe to venture out on at all. Bud and Barnry have taken up there positions, Bud checking the out buildings and fences and Barney spending time on the dock looking out over the lake and watching those two geese making passes down the shoreline.

The two gray squirrels were seen chasing each other around the base of the big blue spruce. I am pretty sure they are brothers, they sure act like it. Pepper finally came back home this morning. Elmer let her out of his cabin and she made a beeline here until she was side tracked by a surprised chipmunk that she ran over. Both chipmunk and dog recovered from their surprised meeting and the chase was on, only to end a few seconds later as the chipmunk found the safety of the wood pile. From my vantage point on the deck I watched as the chipmunk took up a position at the top of the wood pile while Pepper did circles around it's base. Never said Pepper was smart.

Snow is gone from the front of the garage and I never did get the snow thrower out. Pushed it back under the stairs and it can sit there till next winter now. Garage door is open about half way but Sunshine Ray says we will see sixty on Tuesday. If that is true then the garage door will be open all the way and the cover will come off the Puddle Humper. Did have a small fire going in the fire pit as there were a lot of small branches that came down during the blizzard. Makes a fine cooking fire and I did spear a few wieners and stuck them over the fire till they spit down the sides. Sitting with my back to a sun warmed side of the cabin I had hot dogs, chips and a can of pop. Yup, starting to look good around here... From Lake Iwanttobethere.. (27655)

April 14, 2008

Met up with Hammering Hank and Skinny at the Dew Drop Inn this morning for breakfast. Over a platter of fried tatters and ham with French toast, eggs and some bacon on the side for flavor we went over his pocket of index cards. From time to time when. Hank gets to many jobs I help out as best as I can. Can't do the roofing jobs anymore, as I am old and slow and don't have the young legs to hang off ladders and straddle roof peeks. But as long a my two feet are planted firmly in the earth and I can reach it I can do it. So between mouthfuls of French toast covered in some fresh Lake Iwanttobethere Maple syrup we sorted through cards. First off was a tree top that needed to be sawed up and hauled away. One of our seasonal residents who is new to the lake heard about the storm and decide to come up and check out his cabin. When he arrived he found a decent size birch tree split and leaning towards his boat house. Being a fan of the AXE man show on TV he convince his wife that it was something he could take care of. He has already seen three shows and it did not look like it was a big deal dropping a tree, and beside this birch was not half as tall as them trees on TV.

So he went down to see Earl at the General Store, told Earl he had some brush work to do around the cabin and bought himself an axe and a small chain saw. To his credit he did buy a extra chain and a gallon of bar oil. The saw came with a orange case and a plastic wedge. Earl tossed in a gas can and some oil and a pair of glasses. Arriving at the Gas-N-Go wearing his flannel shirt and walking with a new found swagger he filled the gas can and then added the oil. Putting it in the back of his SUV he then went in to pay for the fuel. He told the young lad behind the counter he was going to cut some trees and then waited for his change with his thumbs tucked in behind his red suspenders. Getting back into the SUV he noticed his wife had rolled all the windows down and was sitting with her head out the window. Asking why his own question was answered with the smell of gas fumes from the can in back. He got back out and after buying a couple of bungee cords from the kid inside the Gas-N-Go he secured the gas can to the ski rack on top of the SUV

Arriving back at the cabin he unloaded his new chain saw and headed down to the boat house. Taking out a step ladder he check the roof on the boat house and standing back he survey the tree and laid out where he wanted the tree to fall. Cutting out a nice notch he used the axe to knock out the cut piece of wood then did something that if you cut trees you should not do, He took a coffee break. Back at the cabin the wife asked him how things were going and he told her "quite well" Coming out of the cabin with coffee mug in hand he was just reaching for his genuine leather gloves from his back pocket when he noticed that the top of the birch tree seemed to be moving across the sky slightly. Picking up the pace heading for the boat house he now can clearly see that the birch tree is swaying back and forth. About this time he hears a loud crack and watches as the birch tree breaks off right at his notch and falls backwards, towards the boat house. With just the sound of branches dragging across the boat house roof the trunk of the tree misses the boat house and lands on the ladder. His wife hearing the sound of the falling tree comes out and meekly says " O My"

An hour or so latter Tess, Hank's wife calls him and tells him to swing on out to a friend of hers from the sewing club. Seems her husband dropped a tree and his chain saw is buried under the trunk. Hank stops and says he will have to return to clean up the tree later. He slides the card over to me across the blue checkered table cloth. They just want you to cut it up into fire wood length and if you find the chain saw the wife says it's yours. I grab the card and head out the door to the Dodge. I do so love city folk.. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27700)

April 15, 2008

All in all a pretty good few days here Lake Iwanttobethere. Red needle on the Bass thermometer nudged 65 here this afternoon. Garage doors were open wide and the sound of tinkering could be heard coming from inside of them. More then one had the bow of a boat sticking out into the sunshine. Yesterdays Birch tree took a few hours to clean up. I did find the chain saw under the trunk, no damage other then it was muddy as the ground was soft and the chain saw just kind of sunk into the ground. The ladder was a loss as the tree pretty much crushed it. I loaded up the work trailer with the brush from top and the rest I cut into stove length and left it laying on the ground. The owner of the cabin asked if I thought the axe he bought would work for splitting the wood. His wife standing behind him shook her head back and forth and held her hands up in a praying position. I told the guy that he would be better to stack the wood and let it dry till fall before splitting it. He started to haul it away stick by stick, his wife thanked me and pressed an envelope into my hands. I told her that the chain saw was more then enough payment but she insisted and I did not refuse to hard.

Later at Earl's I brought in the now clean chain saw and he gave me credit on my account for what it was worth, less a day's use. The brush went to the landfill which was open for free drop off. There was even a line of people bring in tops and branches from the blizzard. Next index card from Hank had me picking up an old stereo with an eight track player in it. A box with over a hundred tapes was also included. The stereo went to the dump and the eight tracks found there way into my garage. I even found a few that I brought to the Lodge. Next stop was another trip to the dump, this time with a old refrigerator and some tires. Aluminum cans to Mike at the junkyard and a mess of florescence lights to the recycling center. I made my way back to the Lodge and met with Hammering Hank. I handed over my completed cards and he added them to his.

He had another stack ready for me and I just tucked them away in the front pocket of my bibs, tomorrow is another day. I see Gus has gotten the Fishing Challenge board out of storage and it is up and mounted over the main fireplace. A smaller one for the Crappie Challenge is in place over the smaller fireplace. Even though the contest does not start for a few more weeks we want people to sign up and already there is some chatter going on over cold Hamms here in the Lodge. The three man /person teams have yet to be picked so no one can really pick on anyone yet. Just some banter back and forth by those who think they have the right spots on the lake. Mr. Big might just bring me a grand prize this year.

All the pink flamingoes are accounted for and the flock is gathered here at the Lodges garage. About that time of year when we will be looking for donations and the flock will find it's way into someone's yard or along the shoreline. Ice is going out on the Lake but I think we are going to have a late ice out. My old wood row boat is wet as it is tied to the dock and I think Elmer said he was going to take it out and row as far as the ice and try for crappies this afternoon. He should be here at the Lodge soon and I will find out if he caught anything or not. Baseball game on this evening and after that a playoff hockey game. Think I am going to stake out claim to a chair front and center of the Lodge TV and make sure there is fresh popcorn and a new keg of Hamms tapped. We have a few windows open and a fresh clean breeze is working it's way through the Lodge. Tomorrow I think we will open all the windows and give it a good airing out, Get the rest of the furniture out on the deck and maybe even take the power washer out. For sure it will rain if we do that. From Lake Iwanttobethere.. (27757)

April 16, 2008

Can ya smell it? I took a stroll around the lake this morning. Warm with an overcast sky, as I took the trail I could smell it. The smell of dirt being made. Have not got a good whiff of it since last fall when I was out deer hunting. Back deep in the woods where the big trees are you can just smell that deep woods smell. I have always said that if you could put it in a can you could retire off it. Guys would just spray it in there trucks or in their office cubes. Spray it on their boots so they could walk in the smell. Gardeners get to smell it from time to time, When they get to that good compost, the stuff you pick up in your hands and take a good whiff of. The kind that is just right to add to the crawler box. Today on my walk I got to smell that smell again.

Can you hear it? The sound of running water over rocks and across fallen tree branches. Not yet the rushing sound of a summer thunderstorm, but the sound of snow melt in the creeks. Not the bubbling brook noise with a waiting trout in a still pool but just the clean, crisp sound of running water where it was quiet and covered in snow a moment ago.

Can ya see it? The woods are all gray from the popple trees, but if you keep looking then the white of a birch appears and another and another. Green from a pine tree and white from unmelted snow at it's base. The splash of red from a robin's chest and light brown from deep fall grass pressed down to the ground by winter's snow. More green as grass is already trying to poke up from beneath the old long grass. A yellow sun tries to burn it's way through the over cast sky. A hawk comes into view, slowing riding the wind it makes lazy circles as it to looks at the ground like you. You are both hunting, you for spring and he for lunch. From Lake Iwanttobethere (28007)

April 17, 2008

County truck just pulling out of the parking lot here at the Lodge. They have the last of the orange barrels stacked in the back of the truck. There might be a few of the newer ones out behind the garage that Hammering Hank says are needed for our 4th of July celebrations. That sounds good, talking about 4th of July celebrations instead of snow and ice. The county did drop off some new garbage barrels for the access. Of course they took the clean and newly painted barrels that Hank and Skinny worked on. The new fish house cleaning station is in place and awaits it first customer. Windy, our wind mill generator is online and there is a new bank of lights down on some control panel in the Lodge's basement. Some new lights and some replacements have been strung in the parking lot and also in the access area. There is a timer next to the panel that we will have to change every so often as the days get longer and of course later get shorter. The way the wind has been blowing the past week we should be seeing a credit on our first months bill, that will be a first. The power company paying us!

On this mornings walk I brought the camera with and was going to take a picture of some rushing water down a small water fall. Was quite impressive yesterday but today it is just average. Snow is all but gone and the melt water is slowing down. Ground is soft though, going to be a while before that dries out. Didn't get farther then one step into the garden before I was ankle deep. Just closed the gate and walked away, dragging my mud covered foot behind me. Down at the General Store the snow shovels are finally gone from the front sidewalk. They have been replace with rakes and a lawnmower. Of course the sign "Last One' is on the mower. Shannon from down at the town hall now has the job of emptying the two parking meters. I gave her a hand as she was busy with helping out with taxes and just now had gotten around to emptying the meters. Taking the coin box out of the first meter several coins fell to the sidewalk as it was slightly over flowing. The small money bag she had with her was filled and as she removed the second meter she had no where to put the change. She did however have her shoulder strap purse with and the coin box was dumped into that. She headed of in the direction of the bank and to her credit she was only leaning slightly from the weight of the coin, which I must say was mostly quarters. Guess no one reads that parking is but a nickel here.

A couple of stings of geese came through this morning and have not seen any deer for a few days now. Looks like they have headed back into the woods. With the snow all but gone Dug down at the garage has been outside of the garage picking up tools and parts that went missing during winter. They now reappear with the melting of the snow. The welcome sound of ten horse outboard bubbling away in the test tank can be heard. A haze of two cycle smoke drifts out the open garage doors. The chain gang makes there way down the sidewalk past Ma and Pa's grocery store. Well not really a chain gang from some prison movie just the local day care. The youngsters all holding on to a long rope with a loop for each one. The Daycare helper in the lead and the owner following behind like a warden. Seems to be a field trip and today's exercise all in one. The group marches down the sidewalk left right left right, except for the little girl in the pink coat who is out of step right left right left. I stop and watch, I don't remember the rope and taking walks. If we did I think we used real chains. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27865)

April 17, 2008

Taking a stroll today I found myself sitting for a spell with Elmer. We shared a spot on the old wood bench in the center of town just down from the street light. We sat in the sunshine with our backs against the old warm wood slats of the bench. Did not seem that long ago when I would sit on that very bench and my feet would swing in the air. To short to reach the ground back then. I would take a time out as they call it now to drink from my bottle of orange crush soda. When it was done I would carry it back with me to the General Store and get my deposit. Now there sits a garbage can next to the bench for pop cans and paper wrappers. From time to time Elmer and I play " Good Ole Days" I never thought that I could play the game with Elmer but with each passing year I have a good ole days memory or two added. While we sat there a funeral procession made it's way down main street.

A black hearse with tinted glass made it's way past us and was followed with a sedan and the a long stream of cars and trucks. They all rolled past us and it took a while in passing. Elmer made the comment that the deceased must have been very young, very rich or well liked. No one we knew met any of those categories. We watched as the possession made it way down main street and headed toward the Lodge. Now we were getting really interested at this sight. The hearse drove through the Lodge parking lot and then down to the access. It paused for a moment and then headed back towards town. Passing by it continue on it's way. The cars and trucks all following and now a few others added to the end. Mayor Tom was in his truck and nodded at us as he pulled up the rear.

We later found out it was an old rich guy who spent summers at Lake Iwanttobethere in his youth and his last request was that he see the lake one last time. He had worked hard and made himself quite wealthy. Thing was he was always working and never had time to come back to the lake till it was to late. No one here remember him, not even Elmer. I rather prefer to play "The Good Ole Days" while I can still add to them. Elmer is getting to the point of age that he is writing stuff down now. He carries a small notebook in his pocket. I kid him some and he tells me it is so he does not forget stuff when he comes in to town. But today he tells me that if you flip the book over he is writing down things he sees. " Let me take a read" I say. He smiles and slides the book in his pocket. "When you see me drive by in one of them black buggies, then you can read the books." I nod and lean back again into the wood slats of the bench. " Besides, you are to busy writing about what you see, don't need any of my memories"

Elmer sits back and the old bench creeks a little. The two of us sit there, both lost in our own thoughts. I wonder to myself what he is thinking, what is he seeing sitting next to me. I am happy to call him my friend but I get that little feeling that Elmer is tying up his life. I look at him sitting next to me, eyes closed, white hair under his hat moving in the slight breeze. One eye pops opens and stares at me, " I ain't dead yet" he says. Chuckling I turn away. Guess I do have a little black book and all of you are reading it. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27885)

April 18, 2008

I must be in high spirits as of late because I seem to be chuckling a lot to myself. At least that is what the wife tells me. Maybe it is because fishing is now just a few short weeks away instead of months. Maybe because the snow is all but gone or perhaps because I can go out on the deck not wearing boots and looking for a pair of gloves. A few days of temps in the fifties will do that to a guy. Shorts and no socks can't be to far behind as I see it. Soon the only hat I will be wearing will not have an ear flap on it. But a cold has managed to find it's way into my head and so winter will still linger. The cold and nose tissue in my pocket will be a reminder till finally one day the cold disappears.

Someone sent me e-mail yesterday with a comment that made me chuckle. I don't know the origin of it but it said that a gal was talking to her friend or answering a question about Lake Iwanttobethere. The question was where is this place and what kind of a town is it. Well if you read this as you are doing now you already know the answers. But this gals answer made me chuckle as she said " It is about a small little town on a lake way back in the 80's and they are not to modern or up to date."

Now that has me wondering some, are the good ole days now the 80's? Is something only twenty five years ago considered to be old? I guess if I don't write about pop in glass bottles and pop can openers they will soon be all but forgotten. Telephones with a line connected to them and snow tires will be a thing of the past. Buying a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread and getting a candy bar all for under a dollar and still getting change back. Smelt parties on the beach, bicycle's with playing cards in the spokes. Skinny dipping and eight track stereo. Fiberglass fishing rods, red flannel hunting jackets and wool coats. Glass pac mufflers, eight cylinder gas guzzling get you down the road broke cars with no hoods. Drive in theaters, black and white movies and cooking wood stoves. Hamms beer, church dances, mid summer baseball games on a vacant sand lot. Fishing barefoot in the creek tipping cows and riding electric bumper cars at the county fair. Uncle Gus and Uncle Mike Grandma Grace and homemade apple pie....

Remember today, because in twenty five years from now, it will be the good ole days.. From Lake Iwanttobethere (27971)

April 21, 2008

Sunshine has returned to Lake Iwanttobethere, for now at least. After a weekend that our Nordic fore fathers would have thrived in some sunshine and heat now peeks through the clouds. But not to worry Sunshine Ray has it raining by afternoon and the clouds will close up ranks and block out the sun again. Did a lot of running around over the weekend, between errands needed to be done and some of the background leg work for the Lodge meeting and a Town Hall meeting both next week. Not to mention the local Bass club will be getting together next weekend and I had to polish up a few of my lies, er I mean fishing stories as I am the keynote speaker. Unless we can find someone else who is willing to stand up to the Lodge members and tell stories. Car wash should have been called the Boat wash this weekend as everyone going through had a trailer behind their truck. The no bucket, no rag rule was waved as you can't really clean a boat good with just that pressure wand. Guys would get in line and then gather around a truck like they tend to do at a boat landing. Kicking truck tires and hanging on fenders, hats pulled down and hands waving. Stories of last year and where they will be come opening day. As a boat makes it's way out of the wash another follows it in. The doors close and the group outside moves to another truck, another inspection and the conversation continues.

Several weekend residents were up and Hank's phone was ringing as they found jobs that needed to be done. People are still cleaning up after the storm and Earl at the General Store was doing a brisk business selling rakes and lawn bags. Even in the crummy weather that we had people are glad to be back at the cabin and already there is an evening crowd of walkers and bikers making there way around the access road to the lake. Grace and Bailiff were seen walking side by side through town, on patrol. Tails wagging they are making rounds of known giver of dog treats. Windy the wind mill is a new point of interest, as the walkers make a point to check it out. Which is good for business as they have to walk through the Lodge's parking lot to get to the base of the windmill. Some of them then stop at the Lodge for a beverage and a excuse to use the washrooms.

A few of the gulls have returned and along with the robins they work across the grounds of the softball field and picnic areas. Several times during the day car and trucks can be seen pulling into the access, sometimes people get out and walk to the end of the dock and look out at the lake. They stand there and then turn and get back in their trucks. Some drive down to the Masterbaiters shop to come out later with stuff in there hands, Even saw a few rods heading to new homes. Others park in the lot and take a walk along the shore and still others gather again around a pickup truck and kick the tires. A truck with a boat on the trailer pulls up by the access and eyes all turn towards it. Is he going to launch? But no he is just looking and soon pulls out and heads towards the car wash.

Nineteen days to go. Over four hundred and fifty hours or twenty seven thousand and three hundred minutes. That is if you have nothing better to do and you have time to figure that out. Of course give or take a few hours and minutes. Plenty of time to clean the boat, wash the trailer, lube the bearings replace the broken compass, charge batteries buy gas fill up the oil and WD-40 all the hinges. Then of course the tackle box and rods, reels with new line and few trips to the Masterbaiters shop and of course Earl's. Watch a few last fishing shows and check the lake map. Look over notes and the new can't miss lures. Four hundred and forty nine hours and fifty nine minutes or twenty seven thousand and three hundred and fifty nine minutes. Is that enough time? From Lake Iwanttobethere (28145)

April 23, 2008

Finally, after a few brushes with spring it has arrived today here at the lake! 70 degrees out and the sun is shining. The smell of BBQ is in the air here at the Lodge and we have all the furniture outside. Hammering Hank and Skinny have the power washer out and are cleaning things up. Lodge windows are standing open and the skylight is cranked wide. Hanks wife Tess came over and took down all the drapes and has promised to bring them back clean, mended and smelling good. Gus is on the BBQ as lunch today will be served outside. We have the deck window near the Bar open so you can still order up a beer and we can just pass it out the window to ya.

You can get a discount on your lunch if you grab a rake and work for your meal so to speak. Hank has the tractor parked by the front door with trailer attached. With all the pine needles around the Lodge the trailer is filling quickly. The ground is drying with the sunshine and warm wind blowing. Guys go over to Gus and order up some dogs or brats and then grab a rake and make a few passes at the bed of needles. Staying out of Hank and Skinny's way as the pressure washer tends to wander in the direction of guys making comments about their cleaning methods.A little spray feels good after a long winter and an even longer wait for Spring. With all the furniture out of the Lodge I took advantage and cleaned out the grates in the fireplace and even the wood box was taken out to get a good rinse. As long as we were at it we took the air compressor from the garage and putting together a few lengths of hose came in and blasted the dust off the ceiling fans and lights. It's taking awhile for the dust to settle, another reason why we will be eating lunch outside.

With picnic tables already dry we sat with a few pitchers of Hamms and enjoyed the sunshine and the smell of wet pine and cedar. The rustle of tree branches and wind chimes reminding us of how good it is to be sitting outdoors again. The smell of BBQ just adds to the experience. The migration of hawks and eagles is on. Sitting back against the picnic table top we watch a flight of ten birds drift over head, No eagles yet but they wont be to far behind. We are in a prime flight path as the birds every spring riding the winds come right over the top of the Lodge. Rain in the forecast says Sunshine Ray but that is a few days away, For now we are going to enjoy our first day in the seventies.

Lot of windows getting washed and sidewalks getting swept off in town. Big Earl can be seen wearing his red apron and holding his broom outside his store. Not moving much dirt but he is greeting everyone coming in and saying good bye to everyone going out. Rakes and bird seed and even a few fly swatters sit in the outside display. Big bin of seed potatoes and onion sets greet you when you enter the store. The earthy smell greets your nose as you walk pass. The big bay windows has flats of tomatoes plants and peppers growing. Not ready for sale yet they do add color to the place. You can feel the breeze go through the place as the back garage door in the shipping area is open and with Earl standing in the open front door the air rushes through the store. A display of lawn decorations with plastic flowers and pinwheels spin in the breeze.

Mayor Tom was walking through town with his new trophy wife. Nice gal. He refers to her as his trophy wife and others make the comment that she is a trophy just not first place. Town Hall is busy today and Sharon is on the phones. I had a few calls from her in regard to building permits and I enjoyed the newly installed waiting music we have. Just like in the big city when Sharon puts you on hold you get some music from the 80's played back into your ear. Much better then what we had before. Sharon would put you on hold by setting the phone down next to a 32 key Casio mini piano. She would then play her old high school dance songs, sometimes I even recognized a few passages.

Well time to get back in the Lodge and get the shop vac out. Looks like the air has cleared and most of the dust has settle to the floor. By late this afternoon we should have the floor clean and all the furniture back in. Guess we should wash windows while we are at it. Just though of that as I tried to look out. Anyway drapes will be back on and screens in. Hmmm guess we should go get the screens, Just thought of that to. I better stop writing here as all it is doing is making more work for us. Have a good afternoon from here at Lake Iwanttobethere (28297)

April 24, 2008

Just one of them days here at the lake today. Cool and rainy, low clouds rolling across a gloomy sky. But there is always something to be done. I spent time in the garage with the door standing open and a small fire going in the old pot belly stove. From time to time I would pick up a scrap of wood or add some paper to the fire. Cleaning off work benches and rearrange tools that some how did not find three way back to shelves or hooks on the pegboard. Used to be able to blame it all on the kids working on their bikes and latter on go-carts and scooters. Now they have there own garages and I enjoy borrowing half inch wrenches and not bring them back. Cover is off the Puddle Humper and storage doors are open and rags and polish and cleaner are stacked on the carpeted boat floor. Charger is on and the wires head back to a waiting battery that has been asleep for the winter.

I have a couple of stools out and I move from one to the other. One by the pot belly stove for when I get a little chilled. I look over old empty part boxes and paper instruction sheets tucked away inside. They get torn up and tossed into the fire along with nail boxes that only hold a few nails. The loose nails find there way to a waiting coffee can to be mixd with others and someday sorted out. Another chair sits by the Puddle Humper, a can of metal polish and some terry cloth towels close at hand. I work on cleaning the hull a section at a time, wiping on the metal cleaner and then wiping it off and buffing it. Still another chair sits near the garage door, just inside far enough to avoid the light falling rain and giving me a view of Lake Iwanttobethere. A clipboard with paper and pencil rests on a small wooden keg that I use for a table. Already on the second page as I sit in the chair and look at things that should be added to my honey do list.

Elmer comes over during a lull in the showers and pulls up another chair. I had brought out most of the deck furniture yesterday to enjoy the 70 degree weather, today it is fighting to stay above 42 A few chairs sit in the garage and out of the falling rain. Elmer making himself comfortable lights his pipe and looks out over the lake. We sit and say nothing for awhile, just enjoying watching the raindrops make dimples on the water. I can see Bud laying on the floor on the other side of the glass door in the cabin. He has no intention of coming outside in the rain but he wants to be close so he does not miss anything if it happens. I am sure Barney is in a bed snoring away. Smoke from Elmers pipe curls upward and then the draft takes it out the open garage door to disappear from sight. Sparrows are in the bird feeders, two knocking seed out to fall to the ground and then others feeding on it. After awhle Elmer taps his pipe on the heel of his boot and put it back in his coat pocket. He gets up and wanders around the garage. He goes over to the Puddle Humper and sees the metal polish and rags and does not say " Cleaning the boat eh" he just nods and wipes his finger across the gunnel and picking up a towel wipes it a little.

On the work bench a new fish measuring board sits. I just made it yesterday and the Maple board is drying. I had just put a second coat of finish on it and it was an excuse to have the pot belly stove going. The finish needed heat to dry. Elmer returns to the chair and packs his pipe bowl with some tobacco. He puts flame to it and smoke once again curls towards the door. " I remember when you caught a fish you weighted it, not measured it" he said. I nodded. " So do I " In the old days you could say you got a loaf of bread walleye. Either a little loaf which was a pound or a big loaf which was a pound and a half. A gal of milk fish was a real keeper that being about eight pounds. Even a sack of tatters being five pounds was a nice fish. Now everything is inches, How many inches did ya catch? I think them tourists from Wisconsin brought that to the lake. Remember they would come in the Lodge and sit at the bar talking about catching 12 rainbows out of Mystery Creek. We tell them there are a lot of nice rainbows there and then they would tell us they were twelve inches long! And here we thought they were talking about catching twelve rainbows. After that we started asking people where they came from so we would know what they were talking about when telling us there fish stories. Made more sense talking about 26 northern and 18 walleyes then.

We sit and watch the rain fall a little heavier now. Not a lot but enough that if you stood outside you would get wet. Looking skyward a fewer darker clouds are mixing in. Winds picking up a little to. I get up and throw a few real pieces of wood in the pot belly stove. I return to my chair and hunker down in it. "Well better it rains now then ruin a good day of fishing later" Elmer says. I nod and pick up my pencil from the clip board. "You want me to make ya a fish measuring board for the challenge?" Elmer says " That would be nice" I add it to my honey do list and put the clip board back down on the wood keg. The pot belly stove behind me is tossing heat and I am content just to sit and watch the rain with a warm back and a few rain drops falling at my feet. Just another slight delay here at Lake Iwanttobethere. (28384)

April 25, 2008

Ok I don't know what we did to deserve this. The winter that will not end. The far side of the lake is expecting 6-12 inches of snow tonight and early tomorrow. At this rate we will have to take snowmobiles to drag the boats to the landing on opening day. Big Earl down at the General store had to take the screen door back off and put the storm door back on. The task would have gone quick and smooth if he did not have the constant advice of Nora Knows. Nora better known around these parts as "Nora Knows It All" makes a weekly trip into town to pick up supplies and offer unwanted advice. A rolly polly gal dressed in colorful wraps and a bright moo moo she carries her cloth sack as she makes her rounds from store to store looking for clearance items and occasionally doing some dumpster diving. On more then one occasion Bailiff, Sheriff Tim's dog has had her trapped in the dumpster behind the General Store. He knocks her peach crate over and she can't reach the ground. Today she was giving Earl advice on how to screw his screen door. Earl just waited her out because you can't out talk her, you can't out explain her and you sure can't be right about anything with her. Most people just tolerate her and hope she moves on. She did try and stop in at the Lodge today, Hank saw her climbing the steps and ignoring the closed entrance sign and danger tape she walked around to pull on the locked handles of the main door. After awhile she moved on down the trail to the access, checking the garbage cans on her way.

Sounds like most people around the lake are just sitting back and waiting out the weather. Not much we can really do about it. We did not get the heavy rains that Sunshine Ray was predicting. No one is going to hold that against him and his streak of good forecasting remains intact. Mystery creek is running high and there are a few guys down there with nip nets looking for smelt. Today the smelt fry was to have gotten under way here but the tent did not get put up in time down at the park. Hank has promised if we don't get snow he and Skinny will have it up by noon tomorrow and the fry should be up and ready by dinner. The min donut trailer is down there and looks kind of lonely by itself. Mindy and Mandy will have some good Lake Iwanttobethere root beer on ice and a urn of hot chocolate. Hank does have the firewood racks filled and the fire rings are out along with the picnic tables. For sure tomorrow night people will be out with their seines going up and down the beach looking for smelt.

Well it looks like we picked a good time to wash the Lodge furniture and clean the drapes. All is back inside, clean and dry. A number of tables are full and the clinking of spoons in chili bowls can be heard and the wiping of chins with the backs of hands can be seen. Smell of popcorn in the air and a few chairs already have been pulled up around the TV for tonight's baseball game. More then a few guys are in the hallway looking over the big wall map of Lake Iwanttobethere that is hung there. A few marks in colored wax pencil have been made on the plastic cover showing crappie hangouts. There is a code and each colored x is a different kind of fish. Members of the Lodge know the code and we don't speak out loud of it. The general public uses those washrooms and walks right past the map of the lake.

So it looks like a cool and wet weekend here at the lake, reminds me of fall except there is not a leaf to be seen. A few buds on the lilacs but we are behind in the green up. Don't think snow is going to help us. But it is more water for the lake and the docks will be floating this summer. Now that can't be a bad thing at all!! From Lake Iwanttobethere.. (28482)

April 26, 2008

I am not going to let a little snow set me back, I have the garage door standing open and from time to time I take the push broom and move the snow that blows in back out the door. It will snow for awhile then it turns to sleet and then to rain and then back to snow again. Looking through rolled up maps stored on top of the paint locker I came upon some old forgotten boat plans. Rolling them out on the work bench I remembered what they are. The Ark.... I set down a coffee cup on one corner and a jar of screws on the other. Tossing some real wood in the pot belly stove I turned to watch the falling snow on the Dodge. Thinking to myself if this continues the Ark just might be what I need.

Bud followed me outside and is now sleeping in a chair by the door. Curled up he looks like he is not going anywhere soon. I should go into town and run some errands but I have a good fire going in the old stove and still am cleaning the garage. Not an all out crazy kind of cleaning but more of a sorting and organizing kind of a cleaning. Now if there is a garage that needs cleaning that would be Elmers garage. But Elmer has been alone for a long time he has the huge benefit of having a garage that no one has cleaned for years. How can this be good thing you say? Well Elmer can set something down on the bench and come back five years from now and it will be just where he left it.. No wife or kids to move it or "Put things away for him"

I hate it when the wife goes on vacation. She is good for the first few days and then she runs out of things to do on her Honey Do List, don't ask. I don't know where she keeps it. I think she just dreams up her list everyday. I never know if she is done with it and then my Honey Do List is in trouble. Quote... I am just trying to help you out, means I will not be able to find anything for the next several months in my garage, work shop or the tool room. After thirty years of marriage I do have a slight clue as to where to look for things. I go first to where I would never put it and odds are that is where it will be. If I can't find it in fifteen minutes I head to the General Store and replace it. Much better for my blood pressure that way.

But picking up in the garage can mean a lot of unwanted work. Well maybe not unwanted lets call it getting sidetracked. I find things that I was looking for months before. Misplaced parts and caulking guns along with ½ wrenches seem to be every where now that I don't need them. You tend to come on things that might be broken so you fix them before you put them away. I came on a drill that Pepper as a puppy had chewed the cord up on. I set it on the back of the shelf to be fixed when I next went in town to buy a new cord. Well I found that drill that I put on the shelf then remembered that I had one of them hand steamers that fell and broke. It has a 15' cord on it. Perfect for a replacement cord for that drill. I took the steamer apart got the cord off and then took the drill apart and solder in the new cord. Tried the drill and it didn't work. Took it apart again to find the switch is broke. A little plastic tab that I can't replace. Steamer and drill find there way to the garbage can. 15' cord is cut off and hung from the pegboard for a replacement for something else down the road. Total time spent... One hour .... Two items in the trash can and one more thing added to the pegboard. Another stick of wood added to the pot belly stove and I am where I was at an hour ago. Bud shifts in his chair, the snow keeps falling and nothing has changed.

An Ark, Hmmm I wonder if Elmer still has that cubic stick in his garage.. From Lake Iwanttobethere (28559)

April 27, 2008

Pulled up to the back door of the Lodge and made the short walk inside. Already had the Sunday paper in hand and a cup of coffee from the Gas-N-Go tossed the paper on my office desk and walked pass the dark screen of the computer. Hit a few light switches on my way behind the bar. Plugged in the coffee urn and the little red light came on. Out the other side of the bar and over to the deck windows, pulled drapes back to let some sun come in and cracked the window a tad. Poker out to stir a few coals in the fireplace and I toss in a few logs on top. With fire screen in place I return to the bar just in time to greet a couple of smelters coming in the side door. "Washroom" is all they said and I nodded yes and pointed down the hall.

I settled back in my office chair and sipping coffee I looked over the Lake Iwanttobethere section of the paper. Not much going on, General Store with a big spring full page ad. Ma and Pa's grocery with some coupons and Amy's is having a special two for one sale on her loose meat sandwiches. Golf course opening is going to be delayed with the latest snowfall and Sunshine Rays long range forecast calls for it to be cool the rest of the week. Lot of talk in the sports section about the football draft and the baseball team won last night. Don't take me to long to read the paper as I don't go through the women's section and all the store ads. I take the paper and stick it in the rack by the end of the bar for others to read later today.

Coffee is done so I fill my cup and take a walk around outside of the Lodge. Good thing we got that raking in when we did. Windy is spinning in the light morning breeze and pigeons are making a lazy circle around the Lodge. I come up on the front steps and holding my coffee in one hand and a level in another I rest the level on the middle step. Just as I thought, with the frost all gone the level sits, well level. Stairs don't look all that bad, someone has already tore the warning tape anyway so I set my coffee down and remove the rest of the tape. Taking out my keys I unlock the main door and stick tape and the closed sign inside the door. We will work on the front steps, just not right now.

Returning to my walk around the Lodge I come to the path leading down to the park and access. The Smelt tent sits in the center and smoke is drifting out from it's cooking area. Gus is down there working this morning. Not making smelt but the pancake breakfast is going. I can see Chucks truck parked in the lot so he must have made it in on time to help. A few cars are pulled into the parking lot and some small fires are crackling in the fire rings. A couple of guys dressed in their duck hunting gear and waders are pulling a seign along the beach. A white five gal bucket waiting for them on shore. As I watch a car pulls through the park and stops by the wading fishermen. I can hear a couple of laughs and then the car pulls away, heading towards the pancake tent.

Returning to the warmth of the Lodge I head back to the office and start going over invoices and order forms. Get them out of the way while no one is here. Only a few quiet Sundays left before fishing starts and the Lodge will be doing breakfast and hearing about the one that got away. From Lake Iwanttobethere (28634)

April 28, 2008

So much for Sunday being a quiet day at the lake.. Right around noon or so the smelt started running. A rare in the middle of the day event which was common in the good ole days but seldom seen now a days. A couple of guys made a pull and could hardy pull their catch up on the beach, the net filled with wiggling silver fish. About thirty seconds after that the first call went out and fifteen minutes later the first local pickup truck came to a halt in the parking lot and guys with buckets and waders headed for the lake. An hour later and the place was alive with smelters and kids running around in the park. Smelt fry tent was busy and fire rings all had smoke curling skywards. Fish were also running at Mystery Creek and already stories were coming in of guys with dip nets filling their five gallon buckets with a single scoop.

Lodge got busy to as the washroom was in great demand and we quickly sold out what candy we had in the display case. I had to go down and restock from the storeroom. Chip rack was picked over and no sooner had Gus come back up from making pancakes then he had to open the kitchen here at the Lodge. Earl down at the General store quickly sold out the nip nets he had on hand and Ma and Pa's supply of five gallons buckets were gone as soon as he put a for sale sign on them. The run lasted till mid afternoon but people still kept coming and were rewarded with a few stragglers from time to time. Lots of fish were caught and no one went home with out some. Last I heard they were still dipping them out of the creek.

This morning the sound of hammers and clanking of metal can be heard around the lake. We are eleven days out from opener and it don't look like it is going to warm up. This week is forecast to be cool so the resort people can't wait any longer. Skinny and Hammering Hank are out and about helping with putting docks in. Rental boats are being flipped over and new ropes attached to anchors. Oars taken out of the boat houses and the sound of motors being turned over and tested. Dug down at the garage has been behind the counter most of the morning selling oil and an occasional impeller. Wolfgang Puck and his bait truck has been through town a few times as he is making delivers. Chip guy was in early this morning with his delivery and said it is going to be a long day as he has all the resorts to add to his summer route. Same story was heard by the pizza and sandwich guy and the candy man. Even the beer vendor days will get longer now that the season is almost here.

Saw Tinker flying in his plane from his winter hanger. Must be enough ice out that he can land over in his bay. I know Vicki at the Masterbaiters Shop has expanding her evening hours as the crappie fishermen are out. I have just been down helping out when orders come in and she is stocked and ready to go. Her last seine was sold yesterday afternoon so she had to put up the no sane seign sign in the window. Just Mindy was working at the Smelt tent. Mandy was back on the island getting their shop together and spending time helping Nytelyter out. Still some ice around the island so I don't think the dock is ready to go out yet.

Reed the Realtor working the crowd in the park, shaking hands and pressing new 2008 business cards in to hands. Johnson brothers were there to, smelting and drinking their own brew. Grace and Bailiff were just sitting on the hillside watching. Buddy was in the Lodge with me asleep in front of the fireplace. His brother Barney the dog was sitting on the dock watching smelt go by. Not real interested was he as Smelt are not really fishing fish. He did take notice when a northern came cruising by. At least that is what Elmer told me as he has a lawn chair on the dock and was enjoying all the hoop la.

Well lunch hour here and I am in the kitchen, Gus has the day off after working yesterday. Kind of quiet as everyone is busy working through lunch it seems. I sure do know when to pick the right days to work. From Lake Iwanttobethere (29452)

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Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

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