August 5, 2012 -- At Leech Lake

Like yesterday, the wind today is the primary feature of the weather. The wind was blowing at 15-20 mph, with gusts up over 25 mph, out of the west creating a series of rolling white caps across the lake. The temperature at 9:00 a.m. was a cool 60 degrees, and by 1:30 p.m. had warmed only to 67 degrees. The skies today were mostly sunny and blue, with some big, fluffy white clouds moving across the sky due to the high wind.

No sign of my lost dog friend "Buck" this morning or afternoon. With the wind blowing as stiff as it was, I stayed off the lake and focused my attention on on-shore activities. I started with a ATV around the peninsula, with a stop at Norm's for a 30-minute chat. I continued down the to the community center then up Sucker Bay Road and down Ottertail Road. During the entire circuit I kept my eyes peeled for Buck, but I didn't see him.

After my return and a brief bite of lunch, I went next door where I spent some considerable time trimming off dead branches from the red pine trees that are next to the cabin. I now have plenty of kindling to start a good fire in the fire pit once Joe's here.

I also transplanted a small sugar maple tree from a spot near the game room -- where there are literally a hundred or more little sugar maple saplings -- to a spot near the harbor over at the house. I gave it a full bucket of lake water afterward and will keep an eye on it to make sure it adjusts to its new location before Autumn and Winter set in.

A sail boat on Sucker Bay,  Leech Lake

I spent a quiet night at home having dinner, listening to music and surfing the web. The wind continued to blow hard as the light faded from the sky and well into the night. I hope tomorrow it's a bit calmer so I can get out on the lake to do some fishing.

Still no sign of Buck. Good night from Leech Lake.