October 20, 2011 -- In Leech Lake

As is typical, the weather report about today's weather have so far been inaccurate. So much for AccuWeather.

Forecasts had called for light winds of 5-7 mph out of the NNW when instead they closer to 8-15 mph out of the north. Temperatures were supposed to be in the low 50s. Well, at 8:30 a.m. the temperature here at Leech Lake was 30 degrees and the ground was covered in a white blanket of frost. The overnight low, according to Minnesota Public Radio, was 19 degrees in Bemidji. I guess it could still warm up to the 50s, but it sure doesn't feel like it. The forecast also predicted sunny skies with no clouds, when the opposite is the case. The sky is completely cloudy and grey without a sliver of blue sky to be seen anywhere.

I had hoped that the forecast would be accurate because I need to take the boat out of the water today and I probably still will. It's just that it will be a more difficult task with windy conditions.

I ate a light breakfast then decided to bite the bullet and get the boat out of the water. I drove the truck next door and hooked the boat trailer to the receiver hitch on the truck. The next step in the process was to remove the canopy from the boat lift. First I removed all the bungie cords that hold the canopy onto the metal frame of the lift, then removed the canopy itself. With the north wind blowing it was a bit tricky but I managed to get the canopy onto the dock where I could then drag it on shore.

I then backed the truck and trailer down the ramp and into the water. With the trailer in position, I donned my wadders, lowered the boat off the lift and into the water, got into the water myself, guided the boat around the dock and lined it up straight to the trailer. I then clipped the hauling strap onto the boat, and began cranking the winch to pull the boat onto the trailer.

With the boat securely on the trailer, I got into the truck, and carefully drove up the ramp with the boat/trailer in tow. I came to rest by the garage where I proceeded to unload everything from the boat which I'll store it for the winter in the garage, and then put on the boat cover for transport into town. Before I left for Bemidji, however, I took the time to fold up the boat lift canopy and store it in the garage.

By the time I was ready to drive the boat into Bemidji, around 3:00 p.m., the wind had died down to nearly calm, the sky was clear and blue, and the temperature had warmed to 52 degrees. The weather report was correct after all, just six hours late!

I'm still very nervous, and cautious, when I tow the boat into town or back from Bemidji to the lake. Ever since I had the trailer hitch come off the ball while driving down Sucker Bay Road I'm always on edge when pulling the boat behind the truck. Luckily, the adjustments I'd made to the hitch were adequate and the trailer remained connected to the truck until I separated them purposely in the side lot of Corner Sports in Bemidji.

I spent about a half an hour inside Corner Sports talking to the woman behind the counter, Rhonda, about the things I wanted done to my boat -- winterize it, check the back running light which had been finicky during most of the season, replace the spark plugs on the Verado, and do a double check on the trailer hitch to make sure my adjustments were done correctly and in a way to ensure safety.

With the boat in safe hands for the winter I left Corner Sports and drove back to the lake, stopping briefly in Cass Lake to get some gas in the truck. Once home I had some dinner, and relaxed for the rest of the night in front of a roaring fire. I listened to some music, read a little and then went to bed. A busy and productive day at Leech Lake. I love it here.