Jerad scored on a huge pike Saturday afternoon

February 18, 2018 - Sunday morning

5 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I'd say Yooper Brother Mark's little guy, Jerad, did well for himself out on the ice yesterday. Other than fishing in the arctic, I've never caught a northern pike that big. Mark said it measured around 36 inches. Nice fish!

I did catch a pike that, had there been an official scale within a hundred miles, would have been an Alaska state record. The two scales Brother Elmer and I had both registered 34 pounds. I'll dig a picture or two out over the next couple of days.

I kept busy Saturday doing a lot of little catch-up jobs. Sargie didn't leave for work until mid morning, so it was close to noon before I arrived home from my walk. The day was warm, in the low twenties, but breezy.

My first task was to find out why Mom's car leaked where the hatchback lifts. The last two times we've gone through the car wash, water has poured inside.

It didn't take long to find the problem. Seems a hex bolt had worked its way loose and was missing. The piece that holds the rubber gasket had pulled away causing a gap between the body and the door.

For once, I was happy that I've kept every nut and bolt that I've come across since the day I was born, jars and jars of them. After some searching, I found the specialized bolt and the problem was soon remedied.

With the possibility of significant snow in the forecast, I filled the fuel tanks on the snowblower and four wheeler and spent a while doing some basic maintenance on both. There's nothing worse than trying to work  barehanded on a piece of snow removal equipment when it's needed, especially if it breaks down outside in a snowstorm. It's one of those better safe than sorry type of things.

It was mid afternoon before I came in. There were still a couple of uploads that needed to be completed to the Wisconsin Dept of Public Instruction for my substitute teaching certificate.

Transcripts from my undergrad years in the early 70's. I thought when it came to teaching, I had all the answers. All you had to do was ask me. Looking back, I now realize I was dumber than a box of dirt.

I THINK I'm safe in saying that all the paperwork has been turned in to the district and the state. Now, it's a waiting game until the license is issued.

The sun was getting long in the sky and it was simply too nice of a day to stay inside. I strapped the hiking boots on for the second time on Saturday and trekked another four miles, making a total of eight for the day. 

I know there's a fine line between getting/staying in shape and wearing out the knee/leg/hip joints that aren't quite as durable as they used to be. Walking and hiking is something I really enjoy. I guess if something wears out, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. It beats sitting on the couch watching television and eating a bag of chips. 

I have several goals associated with this long distance hiking. The nearest is this summer's Pictured Rocks Trail hike along the shores of Lake Superior that is forty-two miles in length. I've done it three times in the past five years. It's a fun and easy trek that takes three, possibly four, days.

My four sons and I have pledged that we'll summit Mt. Washington in New Hampshire when I turn seventy. Unlike the Pictured Rocks hike, it's a very difficult assent and descent to do all in one day and is not for anyone who is the least bit out of shape. 

Andy, Josh, me, Luke, Matt on Mt. Washington, the summer of my 60th birthday. At 6 ft tall, you'll notice I'm the little guy.

We did it on my sixtieth birthday and I walked away in good shape. There's no doubt in my mind that I could do it now. Hopefully, I'll feel the same way four years down the road.

6,289 feet. Up and back all in one day.

And of course, there's the East Coast granddaddy of them all, the Appalachian Trail. I may give myself a seventieth birthday present and attempt to hike the 2,000 plus mile trail that summer. It's doubtful I'd make it, but I have every intention of trying. Few people that age have been successful, but what a wonderful way to celebrate the later years of a wonderful life. Only time will tell.

Okay, it's time to quit dreaming and move along. Sargie's off today and no doubt, we'll go for our usual ride. With snow in the forecast, it's probably better that we go sooner rather than later.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The skies were red this morning before the clouds moved in. Could it be a harbinger of inclement weather ahead?