Even after emptying them earlier in the day, we found each gallon bag completely full late Tuesday afternoon.

March 25, 2020 - Wednesday

37 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Maple maple maple maple maple... EVERYTHING maple. After two days, we're maple'd out with at least two more weeks to go.

Well, dang, just like every tapping season, our lives have suddenly become completely absorbed in the world of sap, more than I would like to have at this moment.

You see, I encountered a problem yesterday. The man from whom I was buying the new evaporator backed out. Something about a virus, the amount of miles he'd have to drive to deliver the thing, and being unable to find a hotel room.

So, there I was, nearly a hundred gallons of sap in storage and no way to begin boiling. I started out the door to sneak into town to purchase twenty four new concrete fifty pound blocks when the always calm, cool, and collected, Sargie, said she'd found a Wisconsin company on the internet that manufactured evaporators in our price range and shipped for free. 

In the throes of having a mental breakdown, I told her I was SURE they wouldn't have what we needed and besides, how could it get here in time to help us?

She insisted.

I reluctantly called and got hold of my newest BFF, Jenny. I told her of my predicament and that time was of the essence. She assured me that her company had what I needed in my price range and they would guarantee delivery by this weekend.

I made the order and later, called back and talked to my second newest BFF, Jimmy, who said he was loading the pallet and the evaporator would be ready to ship via FED EX overnight first thing this morning.

Whew, dodged a bullet on that one. As usual, Sargie was right, something that she enjoys reminding me of. (I know, Miss Jody, I just ended the sentence with a preposition. I'm short of time and can't think of another way to word that thought.)

This baby has a divided boiling pan, warming pan, automatic float, four on the floor with overdrive, a four barrel carb, and of course, a Purple Burpee that can't be beat. 

No wonder women want me and men want to be me. Simply everyone will want to drive my new evaporator.

No Jambo, you'll have to enroll in the course, Evaporator's Ed, just like everyone else before you can get behind the grate.

Tuesday was a near perfect day. It began, as most, with a beautiful, mind-clearing, walk to Pentoga Village.

When I wasn't collecting sap, the rest of the day was spent making the east wood shed ready for the non existent evaporator. Oh well, at least it's ready for the new one when that arrives.

I've failed to mention that when Sargie's not doing chores in the house, she's usually outside working alongside of me. Gathering sap last night, we about worked ourselves down to the bone.

Over eighty gallons have been collected which will be boiled into about two gallons of syrup. I'm already looking forward to next year when the sap will flow to us via lines and a vacuum pump rather than Sargie and I having to cart it in five gallon pails. Neither of us are quite as young as we used to be.

In other news: Sarah sent this picture last week and it's gotten shuffled to the bottom of the digital pile. I'm happy to say that Isabella came through her tonsillectomy in great shape and the last I knew, was helping her mommy paint a wall in their home.

It's time to check the sap bags and see if the liquid that I both love and hate this time of the year ran during the night. If it did, I'll start collecting first thing. If not, I'm going for my walk and get mentally ready for a brand new day.

After all, a man's work and this time of the year, his bride's, is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Today's random Alaska picture:
I believe I was in Point Lay where the village was celebrating a successful harvest of a bowhead whale.
Though I was a holder, I wasn't a flying participant in the blanket toss. I did score a huge hunk of delicious muktuk, fat and skin of the whale, eaten raw.