December 9, 2012 – Sunday
17 degrees
Pentoga Road
I wish someone would remove that cement block that seems to
be lodged in my eyes and forehead this morning. I’ve never had a problem with
sinuses and other than bouts of hay fever in the summers, eluded any type of
childhood airborne allergy in the past.
I really wanted to remain in bed this morning. With a 100%
chance of snow and several inches forecast, I thought this would be the perfect
morning to stay between the sheets, snuggling with Sargie, dozing and being
lazy. Rather, I awakened at 5 AM feeling my heart beat in my eyes and became
increasingly annoyed as the beating became pounding. When I got up at 7, it
felt like a wrecking ball was making the rounds inside my skull. A migraine
tablet and two cups of coffee is helping. Maybe it will disappear by the time I
take my walk.
It seems as though the audio portion of yesterday’s log
worked well. It’s the same technology that I hope to use with one of next
semester’s courses. Yesterday was the test and it looks as though that dog will
hunt. I’m not sure I’ll continue to record the logs. It takes quite a bit of
extra time.
Dawning clear and cold, I stepped off on my five-mile walk
Saturday morning and enjoyed each and every step along the way. It was a precursor
to a great day.
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| Caution! Turkey Crossing!! |
I decided to tackle the big side of the barn, the place
where I park (and work) on the vehicles during the winter months. My first task
was to attempt to tame a water hose that hadn’t been properly rolled up. Ever
try to roll cold plastic in fifteen-degree temperatures? It doesn’t work.
Giving up, I finally threw the entire mess over the top of everything else that
had been stored for the winter months. The hose will be the first item out next
spring.
It took some time to put away and hang the traps. Though
I’ll still use quite a few, the majority were hung from the rafters. Only an
outdoorsman would appreciate what I’m about to say, but…
I probably derive as much (or more) enjoyment from my
trapping equipment by looking at and playing with it in the offseason as I do
actually trapping animals. I’m always adjusting a spring, a dog, or a pan,
(parts of a trap) and planning what I’ll do differently in the next season.
Yesterday was no exception.
It was time to drag the snowmobile from the very back of the
barn. With six inches of snow forecast, I wanted to have the machine ready.
I wasn’t successful in starting it last winter. A 1989
Arctic Cat, the machine is well worn, but for what I use it for, exploring my
woods and the surrounding areas, it works well.
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| The snow-equivalent of the Man Truck... The Manmobile! It may by some ugly, but it runs and best of all, it's paid for! |
I pulled the cord multiple times and repeatedly dumped drops
of gas through the spark plug holes and into the cylinder. Failing to get the
thing running for more than a few seconds at a time, I donned the magnifiers,
removed the carburetor, and cleaned it out. I also took off the fuel filter to
make sure the diaphragm was intact. It took a couple of hours, but finally, the
Cat roared to life. It lives to prowl for another season.
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| Why replace the cracked gas cap when a plastic bag fastened by a rubber band over the old one will work as well. |
It was almost fun working on the engine yesterday. I well
remember the days at Hilltop Camp or when out traveling, hundreds of miles from
any village, performing the same chores with minimal tools in -40 degree
weather. Those were the days when I often had to start a fire in a pit dug in
the snow under the engine to warm it enough that I could turn it over by
pulling the cord. To be able to work in a shop with lights and the proper tools
was enjoyable.
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| Some would be satisfied fixing a seat with mere gray duct tape. Not me! I only use the best; Gorilla Tape sealed with a hair dryer. Who says I have no class? |
The last chore of the day was to reassemble my wood
splitter, the modern one, where the tire is attached to a stump so the split
wood can’t spill onto the ground. Originally, I fastened the tire with screw
nails… and that lasted for about ten minutes. I’ve done without since.
Saturday, I had to drill holes through the tire, then fasten
it to the stump with lag bolts. Have you ever worked with a tire when the
temperatures are well below freezing? It was a chore, probably the hardest of
the day. In the end, the splitter did its job and I had no trouble in working
up today’s wood.
I finished Christmas shopping for the grandbabies last
night. Megan and Luke had sent ideas and/or links of what to get the kids for
Christmas. It sure made buying easier. Purchasing everything from Amazon, I had
the goodies sent directly to their homes. Since I’m a Prime member, all
shipping was free. Can’t beat it!
Sargie arrived home last night after having dinner with Mr.
Milligan at the VA Hospital. We had a quiet evening together. I was so tired
from working in the cold all day that by 9:30, I was ready to head up the
stairs to bed. It had been a great day.
The forecast promises snow. So far, there’s none and I wish
it would hold off a few more days so the ice might become thicker on the lakes.
Snow is a great insulator and often prevents the ice from becoming safe for
fishing.
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| Ice on Indian Lake Saturday morning |
The Packers have a big game tonight with the Lions visiting
Lambeau Field. There’s almost as big a game this afternoon when Chicago travels
to Minnesota. We’ll be cheering for the Vikings in this household. A Chicago
loss would take a lot of pressure off the Packers to win their remaining games.
I’m going to get this uploaded and try to get my walk in
before the snow begins. After that, it should be a lazy day.
So are the tales from Pentoga Road…
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