A rack was added to the four-wheeler to carry the Clam ice fishing

January 8, 2013 – Tuesday

18 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I am sitting here thinking of the morning ahead and all I want to do is go back to bed. I’ll be riding over to Iron Mountain with Sargie after while and going to the dentist. Directly after, I have an appointment with my moneyman. Hopefully, I’ll be home by noon or shortly thereafter.

Monday was a gorgeous day, but a very windy one. I finished uploading my last course and I don’t mind saying, it felt good to push that enter button for the last time. I’m waiting for our educational technical person to contact me saying it’s ready to roll. She has a few things she has to do from her end, but over all, I think I’m ready to teach for second semester.

It was mid morning and I decided to take my walk. Hmm, sunny, warm, the pavement was dry… why not try the new ultra-light running shoes that son, Matt, gave me for Christmas?

They weigh nothing, fit like a glove, and are so comfortable. I can see now that my feet and those shoes are going to have a long-term love affair.

Matt has supplied my athletic shoes for the past several years and always gets those that are rather…. colorful. He claims that since my eyesight isn’t the best, he wants me to have bright shoes so I don’t lose my feet while hiking. When I’m wearing them, they can run, but they can’t hide.

I wanted to go ice fishing, but it was simply too windy. I’ve been thinking about putting a rack/box onto the back of the four-wheeler on which to transport the Clam to the lake and later, to haul buckets of water (sap) when maple syrup season arrives. Living only a mile from the lake, I can skedaddle up the road and out onto the lake with the four-wheeler and not worry about driving the Blazer or Man Truck.

With a handful of scrap two-by-fours, a few nuts and bolts, some dog eared fencing, and junk plywood, I began.

As of now, all that remains to be finished is a support piece that will run from the trailer hitch-mount to the bottom of the box. I’ll put that on before hauling heavy water. When maple sugaring begins, a fifty-pound block will be placed in the front racks to help keep the machine from doing wheelies when completely loaded. I think it will work.

My last chore of the day was to clean the area around the wood stove and the opposite corner where the firewood is kept prior to burning. I can’t figure out why the previous owners built a hearth of white tile. It shows every little piece of dirt and ash. Sargie and I have already decided that come next summer, I’ll be applying my masonry skills, or lack of them, in an attempt to construct another hearth on which the wood stove might sit.

I went over to Iron Mountain Monday afternoon and leaving the Blazer in the parking lot, came home with Sargie.

While at Walmart last night, I purchased an ultra-light ice fishing rod. Luke’s been giving me advice on how I might better hone my ice fishing skills. An inexpensive rod was the first thing he suggested. If the wind remains fairly calm today, I’ll get the rod ready and go fishing later this afternoon.

It time to get Sargie up and greet the day. My dentist is, no doubt, waiting and the moneyman is probably already pouring over facts and figures deciding to best spend my millions and billions of retirement dollars. I have several chores to do before we leave. A busy day lies ahead. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

For last night's supper, something different... big ol' Pontiac Red baked potatoes from last summer's garden; stuffed, loaded, and delicious. Kept in the dark, cool, basement, they've not started to sprout or wither. I'll keep a few back to use as seed to plant this coming year.