Sunrise - Monday morning

December 15, 2020 - Tuesday morning

-3 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I think one of today's activities will be to find all the ice fishing equipment, service the auger, and get everything ready for another action packed season. With the temperatures dipping into the negative numbers, it won't be long before we'll be pulling giant crappies and bluegills through holes in the ice. (Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?)

Sister-in-law Nancy sent this a bit ago as a reminder that it's time.

I tried out some different clothing methods yesterday while purposely taking a longer walk than usual. Winds were howling at 20 mph with the thermometer registering in the low teens. Rather than wear a heavier winter coat, I donned three much thinner and lighter layers, lighter than I normally would have worn.

I'm test driving my winter wear for weight and efficiency. Since I'll be leaving in February of 2022 on the AT, there's no time like the present to start narrowing my choices.

I was very comfortable walking into the wind wearing a long sleeved under layer, a light down pullover, and a synthetic down puffy jacket and hood. I love my down gloves purchased while Sargie and I were on our drive through the central Midwest last fall. They're the first pair of gloves I've ever owned that actually keep my fingers warm. As many know, I'm a mitten man which can make dexterity difficult at times.

At any rate, I'm hoping to keep my winter pack weight well below twenty five pounds, twenty if possible, while remaining warm and safe.

The sunrise was beautiful Monday morning. I must have taken a dozen or more snapshots over various fields and woods.

Back home and with the shop warmed to working temperature, I spent much of the morning removing rust from various tools with an emory cloth.

Condensation caused by frigid nighttime temperatures with indoor daytime highs in the 60's to 70's makes perfect conditions for corrosion. I used emory cloth to remove anything with rust before coating it with either a white lithium grease or WD 40. It's something I deal with every winter.

The rest of the day was spent finishing the next section of the Lord's Prayer.

I'm a slow scroll sawer, I admit. To have it finished by Christmas, my original plan, might have been a bit optimistic. Possibly Easter?

My lack of attention span doesn't help. I'm good for time spans of a half an hour, give or take twenty-nine minutes, before my mind begins to wander. Trying to keep the tremors that call my hands home at bay, is also frustrating.

I'm not sure what I'll do with the Lord's Prayer once it's finished, probably give it to an area church.

The sun has risen and it's time to layer up, strap on the hikers, and put a few miles under these feet of mine. Then there's the ice fishing equipment. No doubt, Sargie Pants will have a plan or two of her own, so it'll be busy day in the neighborhood.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Niece, Marley, holding her cousin, Aria, while at Derek and Leah's.