March 2010

[ashriverguy]

March came in like a lion and didn't get around to updating today.

Great weekend, good rides, acquired a sheep, and blew up my sled twice in the same day.....

[ashriverguy]

It was quite the weekend around here.  Lots of fun going on, and a bit of riding for myself.

Saturday, Puddin' etal and I took a cruise up to Lu's via lakes.  Headed to Thunderbird by trail and then cruised across Rainy.  Came down the trail from Kettle and called her a day.  Nothing to complain about conditions wise at all.  A blown belt and a tricky starter were the only small issues.

Sunday I headed out to meet up with the girls.  Had a small issue and lost two girls before we even started.  But the four of us headed out and went to Thunderbird by lake.  They had some hockey thing going on.  Again whizzed across Rainy to Kettle again.  The trail coming down from Kettle was a little bumpy, but I've seen it way, way worse.  Got some fuel back on the trail here and headed towards Crane.  Made it just off the Mukooda portage and all the green stuff puked out of my sled.  So, I got towed to Voyagaire.  Let the thing cool off and acquired some more anti freeze.  Fired it up and let it idle for a while, no issues.  Figured I'd take it easy for a bit just to make sure I was ok.  Made it all the way back up Namakan and Kabetogama to the Ledge, no issues.  Said goodbye to the women and started back home.  Made it about three miles past the Kab VC and the old cat puked all the green stuff again.  Filled it up with what I had left in the jug and thought I was in the clear.  Made it another hundred yards or so and it was over.

Looked to the east at the towers here on Ash, and looked back west to the Kab tower trying to decide which way to walk.  Then I remembered I had my cell phone on me.  Dialed up the Ash Lake Aaron towing service.  Stared at bright moon and waited.  Finally made it home and hang up my 'Ash'ly hat for the day.

I didn't really hear of anything terrible trail wise over the weekend.  There are some icy corners and bare spots on hills and road crossings, which is pretty typical for this time of year.  Sitting a little higher on the temperatures than we'd all like, 36*F right now and the next couple days look to be about the same.

We have a group out riding today and they were headed to Tower today.  They were going to run all trails, so, I'll look forward to seeing what they report, good or bad, when they arrive back.

The Snow Foxes trip seemed successful too as they stole a sheep and played ransom with a big monkey from a few weeks ago.

I'm obviously not going anywhere on sled anytime soon.  Waiting for pistons to arrive and crossing my fingers that the jugs are still in good shape and nothing went in the crank.  Probably tear it down tomorrow or so and see what damage I did.  I also need to find the culprit of leaking green stuff.  Right now all I can figure is a bad radiator cap.  Both times she lost it was all out the over flow, never had any white smoke, so, we'll see how that goes.

Thanks again to everyone for a fun weekend, looks like we'll get one more and then the snow machine is gonna have to get turned on again!

[ashriverguy]

Well, the fat lady has pretty much got on stage.  But she hasn't quite sung her final tune yet.

Guys headed south towards Tower yesterday.  They reported south of Orr being horse "bad word".  Around Elephant was beat to "bad word".

From Echo to Crane and Crane to Ash is fine still.  They were grooming the Morgan, and it looks good from the road, I'm sure the big hill is rough.  North towards the Falls still looks good.

The weekend is probably gonna be busy.  The lakes are still good running and will be for some time, unless it rains.

Forecast is pretty much looking like the fat lady is gonna sing Sunday night for the season 

[ashriverguy]

Our gazillionith carbon copy day is here again.  Sunny.

All the folks riding yesterday reported exactly what we all thought: north of Orr is fine.  Some of them actually said the trails were better than they thought.  There were a few guys that needed some snowflap modifications, but thats for other reasons.

The fat lady is probably in her warmup room getting her voice ready and makeup.

The traffic and high temps this weekend will probably kill the land trails.  Lakes will be good for a while by the looks of the forecast.  But, maybe I'm wrong.

[ashriverguy]

The opera house is full and the curtain is down.

General consensus is that the fat lady will be hollerin' very soon.

 

I hope we can get a snowfall while we can still make use of it and not in the middle of April.

[ashriverguy]

Thats it, its over.  Not very creative right now as I just got out of bed.

The karaoke machine is the devil.  Not only did I have to get towed in from Lu's on the trailer, but I had to teach ALA how to sing, which took until damn near most of you probably got out of bed.

Conditions are not really conducive to snowmobiling anymore up here.  The lakes are still nice.  Portages are shot.

My head hurts and I need lay back down....

[ashriverguy]

ish.  Started raining last night, and pretty good at times.  Raining again this morning and its just ugly.

I had water issues with my sled on sunday.  Found a defective part of the water bottle and hopefully I can put the cat away in good running order for next year.  Didn't burn down or anything, just figured playing it safe was better.  Got towed into Lu's and called Steve to come get me with the trailer. 

Looks like quite the water starting to stand on the river.  The lakes could be suffering quite a bit from this rain.

Plan was to go fishing today, but not sure if I want to stand in the rain, have to take a vote with the crew.

[ashriverguy]

From the park today:

Experience Your America
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American
people so that all may experience our heritage.
Voyageurs National Park News Release

March 9, 2010
For Immediate Release
Park Headquarters (218) 283~6600

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK
RAINY LAKE ICE ROAD CLOSED


Due to the recent warm weather and rain showers, there is a significant
amount of standing water and slush on the ice roads in Voyageurs National
Park.  For safety reasons, the park has closed the ice roads effective
immediately. The park will continue to monitor the condition of the ice
road.  If weather conditions allow, the park may reopen the ice roads.

Snowmobile trails are still open throughout the park; however caution
should be used due to standing water and slush.




              Voyageurs National Park – Celebrating 35 years!
                                 1975-2010

[ashriverguy]

I hate posting this one, its depressing, but sadly, its true.....

Experience Your America
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American
people so that all may experience our heritage.
Voyageurs National Park News Release
                                                                                   
March 11, 2010
For Immediate Release
Park Headquarters (218) 283~6600

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK
FINAL WINTER ICE AND TRAIL CONDITIONS REPORT

Snowmobile trail maintenance in Voyageurs National Park has ended for the
winter season and all trail markers are being removed.   Ice conditions are
rapidly deteriorating and snowmobile travel is no longer recommended.   The
Rainy Lake Ice Road is also closed for the season.  Thanks to all of the
area snowmobile clubs who assisted Voyageurs National Park in maintaining
snowmobile trails this year.


              Voyageurs National Park – Celebrating 35 years!
                                 1975-2010

[ashriverguy]

I still can't believe how fast everything went.  Its just disgusting.

Went down to Vermillion for the Trout lake skips last saturday.  Good time, Vermillion was a skating rink.  The skips were fun, but standing in water was not.  Plenty of law enforcement around, but plenty of idiots too, giving them reasons to be there.

Took Mr. ALA back down to Zimmerman on Sunday.  Drove back home on Monday.

I had to turn the air conditioning on in the car on the way home.

Hope everyone had fun watching the snow meter melt to nothing.  Leavin' it out for a little while yet, I don't think we're done with snow, but I do think we're done riding.

 

[ashriverguy]

Cold temperatures and a dusting of snow came back to the northwoods last night.

I've been out on the lake via passenger on ATV.  Been helping a buddy redo his dock.  We got all the new material out and the old material back to terra firma.  Ice is probably ok, but there are breather holes.  The river has lots of ice, but it is all honey combed, so its not good ice.

Super nice working conditions yesterday; today will be a little different, we'll just have to keep busy.  Hopefully our generator starts so we can charge batteries out there as we have no power.

Was so windy yesterday, got back from the lake and my mound mats were wildly blowing all over.  So, I ran around and retrieved the ones not anchored down and shoved them in the garage for now.  Will wait for a non windy day to fold and stow in the storage shed.

Cheers...

[ashriverguy]

Most notable thing going on around here is that the river opened up in front of our place yesterday.  3-20-2010.  Still some chunks of ice jamming up in places.  But definitely open.

We have one more day, today, on the lake hopefully to get our dock done.  Should have about another week on the big lake before it starts breaking up.

[ashriverguy]

Old Mother Nature sure has done a 180 on us in the last two days.

Tuesday I decided to work on leveling my boat lift since the water is low and the back legs aren't in the water too much.  Needless to say, the water is still freezing and it wasn't pleasurable, but it did get done, so thats a good thing.

Had a cracked exhaust manifold on the 1969 Chevy; tore that apart Wednesday.  Tried to put the dang thing back together yesterday and gosh darn was all that metal chilly.  Still not quite done, if we ever get outta the deep freeze again I'll wrap that project up.

I had 7* F this morning at 7am when I got here.  The river glazed back over too.  Pretty stout wind out of the south will more than likely break that back up today, but who knows?

All my concrete mats are still waiting in the garage because its been so windy that I can't get them moved to boat storage without the hassle of chasing them around again.

With this cold weather I've been doing my oh-so-fun continuing education courses for real estate online.  I think I feel smarter already.

Steve and Deb have been down at the show.  There is a slight chance I'll be heading down there tomorrow.  But, that is not set in stone yet.

Speaking of Ol' Man winter, I see a fairly large system that may affect us next weekend, but it probably will be rain.  Course, ya never know...

[ashriverguy]

Not a whole heck of a lot going on up here.  Very mild weather the last few days.  Today looks like it could rain.  The ice is still on Kab, but it doesn't look very safe.  I'm thinking about taking the snow meter down and moving the webcam back up to it summer perch.  Thinking about one final boat lift adjustment today as well, hopefully the water warmed up since last time I went swimming.  As you can see, I get to do a bit of thinking in the morning.  Not everything I think of gets done, but some things I don't think of right away in the morning do.

Sounds like I missed a pretty good party down at the show.  I was pretty close to headed down, but didn't quite get everything lined up that I wanted to.  Maybe next year....