The date is actually August 26, 2011, but I won't be here for Labor Day to take a measure of the Leech Lake water levels. I typically like to take measurements on Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day and then again as close to Halloween as I can.
As of today, the water is covering three (3) cement pilings at the boat ramp at the cabin. That is down from a high of seven (7) earlier this year. I suppose the Army Corps of Engineers has already started the Fall "draw down" of water in anticipation of the northern Minnesota winter snow fall.
When I return in the Fall I will report again on Leech Lake water levels.
Friday, August 26, 2011
August 26, 2011-- Leaving Leech Lake
At 1:00 a.m. this morning I was still awake. I'm not sure why, but I always have trouble sleeping the night before I have to leave Leech Lake. It's not that I'm anxious about flying, since I've logged more than a million miles in the air. It must be all of the things running through my head that I must do before leaving. Because once I leave, I won't be back for several weeks, or even months.
I must of dozed off shortly after 1:00 a.m. because I woke up and looked at the clock to see it was 2:00 a.m. I woke again at 3:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m., 5:30 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. The last time I gave up trying to sleep and got out of bed.
After making the bed and straightening up the bedroom, I went next door to the cabin and began securing the boat. I took out all of the rods and reels, put away the landing net and tackle boxes, then raised the boat in the boat lift fairly high just in case there are any storms that produce high waves. I don't want the boat battered around in the waves.
From there it was back to the house where I ate a little breakfast, started gathering up the food to give to the Malays, throwing away food that was no good and collecting the garbage. Normally all of these cleaning activities are done throughout the week, but when I'm getting ready to leave for a period of time, they are all condensed into just two days or so.
Since I had gotten up so early I was actually ahead of schedule in terms of my preparations for leaving. That gave me an opportunity to lay in the hammock for 20 minutes or so and I took it. It was great laying there with the 8-12 mph WSW wind blowing through the trees. The temperature was 64 degrees, but it felt a bit humid and I wasn't cold at all, even with just a t-shirt and jeans on. The extra time also gave me a chance to post to this blog before I leave.
Well, no sooner than I thought I had extra time than the plan has changed. Instead of leaving at 11:30 or 11:45 a.m., the Malays want to leave at 11:00 a.m. so they can stop at the bank in Cass Lake to get something notarized. Luckily, most everything is complete.
I just finished taking the left over food to the Malays (that's when I learned in the change in plans), took the garbage to the community center drop-0ff site, put the truck away in the garage with the trickle charger on the battery, closed up the cabin and activated the security system and then came home and took shower and got ready for the flight to Minneapolis.
One last weather report. The wind has shifted and has picked up slightly. It's now blowing out of the north at 10-15 mph. The sky is still clear and blue, and the temperature is 70 degrees. It should be a beautiful day in the northwoods.
The Malays should be here in 10 minutes and I've still got a couple of things to wrap up, so I'll say so long. This will be the last of my "on site" posts from Leech Lake until my return in the Fall. Until then, goodbye from Leech Lake.
I must of dozed off shortly after 1:00 a.m. because I woke up and looked at the clock to see it was 2:00 a.m. I woke again at 3:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m., 5:30 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. The last time I gave up trying to sleep and got out of bed.
After making the bed and straightening up the bedroom, I went next door to the cabin and began securing the boat. I took out all of the rods and reels, put away the landing net and tackle boxes, then raised the boat in the boat lift fairly high just in case there are any storms that produce high waves. I don't want the boat battered around in the waves.
From there it was back to the house where I ate a little breakfast, started gathering up the food to give to the Malays, throwing away food that was no good and collecting the garbage. Normally all of these cleaning activities are done throughout the week, but when I'm getting ready to leave for a period of time, they are all condensed into just two days or so.
Since I had gotten up so early I was actually ahead of schedule in terms of my preparations for leaving. That gave me an opportunity to lay in the hammock for 20 minutes or so and I took it. It was great laying there with the 8-12 mph WSW wind blowing through the trees. The temperature was 64 degrees, but it felt a bit humid and I wasn't cold at all, even with just a t-shirt and jeans on. The extra time also gave me a chance to post to this blog before I leave.
Well, no sooner than I thought I had extra time than the plan has changed. Instead of leaving at 11:30 or 11:45 a.m., the Malays want to leave at 11:00 a.m. so they can stop at the bank in Cass Lake to get something notarized. Luckily, most everything is complete.
I just finished taking the left over food to the Malays (that's when I learned in the change in plans), took the garbage to the community center drop-0ff site, put the truck away in the garage with the trickle charger on the battery, closed up the cabin and activated the security system and then came home and took shower and got ready for the flight to Minneapolis.
One last weather report. The wind has shifted and has picked up slightly. It's now blowing out of the north at 10-15 mph. The sky is still clear and blue, and the temperature is 70 degrees. It should be a beautiful day in the northwoods.
The Malays should be here in 10 minutes and I've still got a couple of things to wrap up, so I'll say so long. This will be the last of my "on site" posts from Leech Lake until my return in the Fall. Until then, goodbye from Leech Lake.
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