More pics from yesterday

Here are some pics from an abandoned cabin that is in the bush near the river. I have never seen anyone around it since I have been here. Years ago there was quite an opening in the bush but it is quickly growing in. There is an old artesian well just to the side of the house that is still spouting water. The wood shed has wood in it. It would be a cold trip out to the outhouse. The roof must still be pretty strong to hold up all the snow.

Finally some time for pictures

Weather still a bit cool but allowed a trip along the edge of the Montreal River from Highway 560 to the dam. You could walk on the frosty crust most of the time but every once in awhile you broke through.

Not a lot of runoff has started as the cold is holding it back.

Back from Sudbury Part 2

Went back down to Sudbury yesterday AM in a bit of a snowstorm, Highway 560 in good shape as nothing had been on it going west (I left early). Got to 144 and they had salted the heck out of it and it was all slush, not even scraped up. Anyway took a little longer but arrived about noon. First off to Future shop as my new LCD screen of 5 months packed it in with something burning inside and leaving quite a foul odour. A great time to give up the ghost as I was going to Sudbury anyway. Service Dept. looked after it in no time gave me a brand new one with few questions. Soon as I said there was a burning smell he just started the paper work.

The real reason to go to Sudbury was to go and see the new 3-D IMAX movie screen at Science North, it had just opened at the beginning of the month. I had been there before and seen regular IMAX shows but never in 3-D. Jeremy, Stacey and the boys and I went to see Sea Monsters (dinosaurs). They tied together the skeletons found of several types of sea monsters with life size animated ones. Their life histories of how they lived and died and where the skeletons were found. A great story, but the great part was the 3-D you could almost reach out and touch them, fish were zipping past and huge dinosaurs zoomed above your head. You walked throught the forest and felt that you should move the branches so they didn't hit you. An explosion at a quarry looking for skeletons sent most people off their seats. Anyway you get the idea, if you ever get the chance make time and go and see one of these type of movies you won't be disappointed.

On the way home I stopped and took some pics of Shingtree's new tower. It's about 140 ft and will have 2 dishes on it by the looks of it.

Time flys when the weather is so nice

Summary up to today, Monday, into town, #/$**@, you know. Tuesday outside over 10C cleaning up around where it had melted, oil change and generally enjoying sunshine. Wednesday working on trim around bookcases and by evening it was snowing with the temperature dropping quickly. In other words not many pics taken, will have to change that this afternoon

Out for snowshoe this afternoon, most of the trail still fairly good but every once in awhile breaking through the crust. Only the heavy fell through the crust, not Paul. If it gets much warmer I think the trail will be done in. Going to -20C tonight so it will last a bit longer.

Picture of the driveway, quite a difference than last week. After snowshoeing took a trip down to Duncan Lake for a drive. Paul had said they were scaling the rock cut near the Wapus. The rock was breaking up and falling on the road, so they go in and scrape all the loose rock back. The pic shows the final results of the scaling, and one at the Wapus bridge looking south. The runoff is starting now.

New trekers on Snowshoe trail

This afternoon a beautiful spring day with a cool wind when you were out in the open. A great day for a snowshoe.

First timers, Lionel Venne, Norm Fiset and his sister Danielle from Elk Lake were up to taking the challenge. The trail was hard and slippery in some spots but a great trip around. When we got to MacIntosh Lake on the point with lots of sun and out of the wind we had a great lunch packed by Danielle. Great sandwiches and coffee a welcome break. Thanks for lunch. All in all a great afternoon soon to be followed by supper at Lionel's in Elk Lake. Thanks Lionel tasty ham.

Here is a Redpoll full of seeds and sound asleep in the sun early this AM.

Wind warnings were true

Wow what a wind in some areas 98km/hr. down to the 70's in some spots. I didn't even use the wood furnace as I thought the power would have gone for sure. As it was it blinked and that's all.

Several branches on the Balsam fir by the bird feeder were ripped right off. A sheet of chipboard that was on the ground lifted off and hit the feeder destroying it. and then was heading out the driveway when I coralled it.

The wind finally has gone down but not entirely, expected low temps with the wind chill tonight down to -30C.

Picking up supplies

Into town today to get trim for the windows and a few other odds and ends. Did I ever tell you how much I hate town. Sorry had to do that.

As for pics a March moon and a Redpoll with attitude.

Sunny and cool

Out this afternoon on the snowshoe trail. Started at Hedlund Marsh and went into MacIntosh and along to where we left off the trail the second day. This completes breaking the trail all round. The snow was crusty today from the cool night before, when you went through the crust the tips of the snowshoes were under the crust and if you weren't quick enough there was a wreck.

Took quite a few pictures today, even found a little bit of green showing through the snow. This is a great sign. Finally something more than snow.

Out for a snowshoe

Finally got the other half of the room primed and figured it was time to get out for a snowshoe. It's been close to 4 weeks since I was out last and we have had a lot of snow. Paul and I ventured out on our regular trail and found that the snow had covered in most of the trail and it was pretty hard going. We only went about a third of the way as it was hard breaking trail and not being in shape. We will get back and finish the round trip maybe tomorrow.

There are three pics of Paul one showing the length of the skipole sitting on his snowshoe and two others with random checks of snow depth. These are depths in the bush where there would be little drifting.

As I am getting this post ready it is now raining pretty hard on the windows.

Painting primer started

Today, 3 days behind schedule the east half of the room got it's coat of primer. I can't tell you how happy I am that it's got to this point. The rest of work, framing the windows and bookcases will be a breeze compared to the drywall and mudding.

Tomorrow painting the other half of the room. I think I will have to go in and get the new door rather than wait any longer for them to have another order to bring it in too. The area around the door will need to be drywalled and mudded too.

Great sunny day but still a cool wind, tomorrow is supposed to be warmer both during the day and the nighttime temps.

Back from Sudbury

Down to Sudbury on Saturday to have Christmas with Jeremy, Stacey and the boys. We missed having Christmas as everyone was going in different directions, so this weekend was it. Got down there around 11:00 AM and had to visit Henry's camera store and a couple of other places. Next caught up with Jeremy at Staceys and eventually went out to eat. I had booked into the Days Inn and they have a pool. The boys and then Jeremy were in for quite some time. I played lifeguard along with Stacey. I hadn't seen Zach and Brenden since late October and they sure have grown.

Home on Sunday, after a brunch with everyone and then back up to Gowganda, road very rough but the weather was good.

Today was getting ready for paint in the front room. The primer will start tomorrow if nothing else pops up.

Lots of new snow again

Started sometime in the night and kept snowing until 10 AM. Had to work at getting the door open then a huge drift on the way to the garage. It was the most snow I have had to blow all winter. It is finally up to the bottom of the windows.

I took a panorama shot out the top window looking east towards the one mile hill. You will see all the snow that the town has from this pic.

More work on tower today

Again workers are up at the tower. After lunch I went up to see what was going on.

One worker was up the tower attaching brackets to each horizontal bar on the tower, this is to hold the cables that are attached to the dishes. I asked one of the ground crew how many wires were in the cable, he looked up and smiled and said none. Yes it's just an empty elliptical tube with corrugated metal either copper clad or all copper covered with a rubber protective coating. The tube transmits microwaves from the dish to the equipment. One end connected to the dish and the other to the devices in the shed. The tube is pressurized to around 5psi. to keep out the moisture.

Before I could get home the snow was starting to come down pretty good and it's still snowing tonight. Break out the snowblowers again.

Lots of snow

Well here's a pic of this AM, just after snowblowing. I might as well just keep the snowblower idling in the garage, there is even more to come. This is just about the most snow I've seen since moving up here, only once before it was half way up the windows too.

Bright and sunny most of the day but going down to -20C tonight.

Just a few pics from today

Bright and sunny for a trip to take some pictures of the tower. Some close ups with the new lens. Not much else done this week but I hear they will be back on Monday.

Also a panorama of the lodge across the bay as the sun was coming up.

Not to much going on

Last two days busy snowblowing, and it sounds like another couple of days ahead too. The snow we lost during the warm spell is all back. At least it's nice and white again.

Hope to get out on the trail tomorrow, need the exercise. Have been up and down the ladder so many times the last while doing the mudding. Finished the third coat today and will start sanding and hopefully some paint will go on by the end of next week.

Been taking some more pics at the feeder, this one is a Redpoll.

Seeing is believing

Late this afternoon after finishing up some drywall mud I take a look out the window, by magic there has been work on the tower. One of four dishes have been put up and I missed it. As I'm watching I notice 2 workers still up attaching it. I took a quick pic out the window, not very good quality but there will be better, just had to show you the proof. I guess I'm going to have to take back what I wrote last post.

Early this AM the moon was still high in the sky, along with a jay in the feeder as usual.

New lakefront property in Gowganda

With the MNR putting in lake trout for several years , fishing is now getting good. It must be for the number of ice huts that are on the ice this year. They have been pretty well in the same spots since the ice was thick enough.

Up to the tower again to see what has been going on. Nothing as I suspected. It's too bad that the West Tower company didn't have the whole contract, I'm sure we would have all the work done and the old tower taken down in no time.

Some more pics from yesterday

The promised freezing rain never really happened here. It was warm and damp, which wasn't very warm at all. Lots of melting going on, the last of the snow slid off the roof.

Spent some time starting the second coat of the drywall mud and cleaned the chimney and the flue pipes which was long overdue.

Pic of Lost Lake and a couple along highway 560 west of Gowganda.

Beautiful day and warming up too.

To nice to do any drywall mud today. Great day for going out and taking some pics. Took a couple around the house and then went west on 560 out to Duncan Lake and back. Also trying out a new lens that arrived on Friday.
The Evening Grosbeak is on the feeder, I had several dozen there this AM, more than I have had all winter. The raven is still not getting too close, you'd think he would get used to the handouts here.

All the trees were tipped with snow this morning. Great for pics.

Tower Update

Checking out tower after hearing of some workers were around. Went up the road to see what was going on, not to much. The only thing that I could see were three large reflectors (dishes), two about 5 feet in diameter and another about 8 feet in diameter laying in the snow at the base of the tower. Well I guess thats more than we have seen for some time.

Maybe with the start of a warm period coming in some work may be done. Who knows.

Last nights temperatures down to -27C, by Saturday forecast says +3C. with chance of rain. Starting to snow as I type if it keeps up for a while there should be quite a bit.

Not to much going on

With the cold making a return visit the last few days I have been working on the drywall. Have finished the first coat with a light sanding. Will start tomorrow with the second coat, it's actually starting to take shape. The new door I ordered at least 3 weeks ago still hasn't arrived but it's been too cold to put it in anyway.

It's supposed to go to -29C tonight with a warming trend the next few days, with Saturday going to +3. The days are even starting to last a bit longer and there is a new feel to the sun, maybe the groundhog was wrong.

Have been feeding a raven the last few days but he is still a little shy, hopefully he may gain a little more confidence as the food gets better.