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September 7th through 13th, 2026

Last week saw temperatures in or near the 80s°F during much of the week, tumble down to the 60s°F, albeit the upper 60s°F, on Sunday. To anyone who has experienced the northwoods between Labor Day and Peak Color, this comes as no surprise. Certainly not a pleasant surprise. If history is any guide, what many of the men call the "Tyranny of September" will ultimately include lower highs, frosts, and hats. No frosts yet. At the start of the week, there was also some overnight rain that drizzled onto Tuesday. Sunsets were varied. Some were quite colorful. Others were colorful in a different way and augmented by contrails from jets full of wise people fleeing to warmer climes. Around mid-week, we had doings just south of Lucerne that were close enough to provoke a side trip to the "Bluff of Many Steps". The stairs look like a long and rambling piece of art from the beach. It was noted that going down does not increase the heart rate or the leg numbness that going up 'em does. The temperature and sun was great for golf during much of the week. The NCC course is in really good shape. The water hazards are just under full and the cattails are getting all 'splodey. As we watched one of them scamper around, the course's chipmunks appeared greener and shellier than I remember. Peak color is still a few weeks off, but peak pod occurred on the weekend. Most trees are a few weeks from peak. A select few are just days away. It's getting hard to keep the suet feeder plenished when the Pileated comes hungry. It's that time of year when lifts, boats, and piers are pulled from the increasingly cool water. Some people pulled it all out in a day. Others got distracted or bored and wandered off halfway through. As the lake steams away its heat on down right cold mornings, we've entered that part of the season where swimming, skiing, and Rafto are played not so much for the joy of it, but for spite. The desire to frustrate or humiliate Fall's arrival usually lasts up until the water temperature drops below 62°F. It's at that lake temperature that the taunting of Fall gives way to a formal politeness, courtesy, and respectful conduct towards the new season. There's also a realization in the back of most minds that as bad as autumn may be, winter is way worse.<br><br><br>-Nemo's got lifts and buoys to pull.

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