Almost Time!
With less than two weeks until opener, it’s a busy place around the resort. I’ve been trying to do some posts lately to keep folks up to date but wasn’t able to. Just found out that the space allocated on my host server for the blog was filled up and needed to be updated. Hopefully, we’re back in business now.
The big news, of course, is that the ice is off the lake. Last Thursday, with temps in the mid-70’s and a brisk wind, the ice began to move about 9:00 am. The sheet broke in half around noon and by dinner time, over half the lake was clear of ice. By Friday morning, it was all gone.
Al Roehl and his boys will be here this Friday to help install the docks. Al and the boys have been helping me put in and take out for probably about 15 years now. I love it when the docks go back in. Boats on the water can’t be far behind. I’ll try to post some pictures of the docks going in. If we’re lucky, there won’t be any rain or snow in the pictures.
The other important spring project is spring cleaning in the cabins. This year we had a major change when the two housekeepers who have been with me for ten years decided not to clean this year. There are lots of people out there looking for work but finding the right ones who will committ to being here every Saturday no matter what else comes up and who will do a great job cleaning is a big concern. We think we have them now but time will tell.
This year, all the bedroom carpets will be shampooed. That happens tomorrow. Most of the walls have been scrubbed and the curtains have been washed and ironed. Another big step was turning on the water to the seasonals. Did that today and I’m always nervous. Is there still frost in the ground? Did any of the pipes spring a leak over the winter? Will all the hot water heaters still work? So far so good. Four cabins are on without any sign of leaks and the water is hot.
It’s a great time of the year. The loons are back and calling every day, Wood ducks are in the nest box. Spring peepers are noisy all night. And we have over 4 gallons of pure maple syrup in the cupboard. Soon the crappies will be biting. Great time of the year.
There aren’t any reservations for fishing opener yet but the rest of May is pretty active. Slow openers are not unusual here. The premier opening lakes in the area are Winny, Mille Lacs and Leech. Hopefully, we’ll get some nice weather and the fish will be biting.
So pull those boats out the garage, check out your motors, clean the dust off the fishing rods and pick up some nightcrawlers in the back yard. Or buy some red tails on your way north. It’s another Minnesota fishing opener. See you on the lake.