« Previous

In Like A Lion, Out Like A Fish

 Next »

June 2nd through 8th, 2025

Last week started off hot. Monday's 84°F high made the lake's 62°F water...well...not welcoming, but tolerable. The lake level's two inch drop during May and the heat's acceleration of the evaporation rate was concering. That changed. The lake's water started off at 62°F and clear as crystal. It bopped around a bit and ended at 64°F. It's even more clear judging from the amount of tree pollen that washed out of the lake and up on the bar's beach. The first batch of storms hit on Tuesday. After they passed, the air was cooler and the lake 1.5 inches deeper. A second bout of rain hit late during the weekend. It all added to about 2 inches for the week. Take that falling lake level! Trillium season is at an end. You can still find a few if you search, but the forest floor is far more fern green than trillium white. Last week, fresh off the "Great Orange Heist of '25", the north end's squirrels mostly cheesed it. Those of us familiar with the evil little critters assume that they are just in a planning phase for their next major caper. Last Wednesday was the first ski show of the year. Many of the acts were executed with the polish that we've come to expect during mid-July. The pre-show was pretty good, too. The final pyramid passed the small, well behaved crowd at 7:41 PM. There was enough light left in the evening for a quick 9 holes before glow in the dark golf balls were required. This spring, when you look up, you're more than likely to see an eagle floating up the north end of the lake. The local hummingbird population has exploded. I don't remember ever seeing so many of them this early in the season. Last week's little swimmers are getting bigger. They gather into a fluff pile when the eagle floats by. The only thing more jolting about the humid green that permeated the forest last week was the realization that we were just a little over 2 months out from <a href='/WeeklySummaryPages/2025/0330/IcedN.html' class ='defaultlink2' target='_blank'>The Great Ice Storm</a>. During the few evenings that were cloud free, sunsets were redded up by yet another year of Canadian wild fires. The damp, calm, cool air of the evening holds many things this year. The call of a loon taking a break from fishing and the smell of a fresh cut lawn are common staples of early summer sunsets. So are mosquitoes. This year we've had a bumper crop of the buzzy little blood suckers. The mayfly season was cut short by late May frosts, but the mosquitoes seemed immune to the unseasonably cold mornings. If anything, it made them stronger. And hungrier. If you are coming up to the northwoods, in addition to the normal summer supplies of ibuprofen, bactine, and tourniquets, be sure to pack plenty of DEET based bug off stuff. Also plan on getting some Benadryl®, foods rich in iron, and a transfusion or two.<br><br><br>-Nemo notes that a dunk in the 64°F water reduces the swelling.

2025 Archives All Archives

Classic View Home

knottlane.com