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	May 18th through 24th, 2026

Last week started off with a touch of gray. Then a slap of cold. Then summer. Of the three, we'll take the latter ten out of ten times.

The gray at the start of the week came with complementary rain.

It took all day Monday, but the rain eventually moved on leaving behind damp hills, a low fire danger, and a deeper lake.

The rain and then sun is giving the hills around Lucerne a good summer green.

By mid-week, the wildlife in the northwoods was in full summer mode. The hummingbirds were particularly hyperactive.

The geese gang on the north end grew to 16 before the end of the week. All the activity of Memorial Day weekend chased them off to parts unknown by Sunday. With a little luck, they'll stay there.

We've been very successful attracting orioles to the bar by putting out oranges. It's been noted that some of the birds are uglier than others.

By mid-week...Bugs! No wait, it's just cottonwood season. The bugs would come in vast swarms by the weekend.

The trillium continue to dominate the edges of the forest floor.

There are quite a few of them.

By mid-week, other colors started to emerge from the green.

There were also ferns.

Just before the weekend, the men were tasked with plopping the no wake buoys into the lake around the backside of the islands.

By the time the final float was tossed overboard, the boat shook off the last of its winter accumulation of aches and pings.

For many, the main event of the weekend was joining boat to water. The launch was busy, but not too congested as the drop in rate seemed to match the arrivial rate. It was almost like many had repeated this ritual many times before.

We saw one crazy wake surfer, but for the most part, the water was judged too cold to ski up.

On Sunday, one of our favorite pontoon boats was waiting on the edge of the launch for a part, or lift, or something.

By Sunday evening, it apparently got what it needed and was seen two storying up the north end of the lake.

On Sunday evening, there was a little automotive excitement on the north end of Lake Lucerne Drive. A car went off the road and struck stuff with enough force to deploy airbags. As we walked by, several peace officers were attending to the mostly uninjured driver.

It may have started off a little cool and wet, but Memorial Day weekend 2026 was, weatherwise, one of the best ever.

On Thursday morning, the temperature hovered around freezing. That looks like the last such event until after Labor Day. With the lake temperature going up to 60°F, it's summer activity time. Time to grab a swim suit, towel, and pass the tanning butter. After a few days of this, it might also be time to break out the Bactine, Ibuprofen, and tourniquets. Remember, if you're not going into Labor Day weekend without a George Hamiltonian tan, interesting anecdotes, and a collection of activity related aches and pains, you're not trying hard enough.<br><br><br>-Nemo's not limping much yet.

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