Woke up to snow this AM

Wet snow about 2 cm. or less, lasted the whole day and then tonight a sleet, freezing rain. Working on finishing up the drywall, filling up some imperfections and sanding abit again I am now ready for primer. Tomorrow looks like a great day to start as it will be a high of 4 C and sunny but after that the temps go a way up to around 16 C by Thursday. I don't want to be inside when that happens.

Down to the dam to check out the water levels, 2 logs are out of the center of the dam and the water in Gowganda Lake isn't even touching the gauge it's so low. Pic of the river and some balsam needles.

More pics from Diabase

Busy finishing the drywall sanding today and heading to town (ptuiii) for primer so I don't have to look at it any more. A couple more pics of the cliff at Diabase Lake.

Another fishing day

Another day fishing before the ice gets too bad. It's starting to get wet along the edges but still lots of ice on the lake. It was making a lot of noise today, moaning and cracking all over the lake, some of them seemed to go right underneath of you. This happens all the time, a couple of nights ago something woke me up in the middle of the night and it took awhile to figure out that it was Gowganda Lake moaning and cracking.

Good day fishing with 3 nice pike and 3 perch all for the fry pan. Lots of pics of the lichen on the cliff and the talus at the bottom. Some Wooly Foam Lichen and Rock Tripe. Tucked away in a warm spot a fern starting to emerge.

Back to Diabase Lake

Walked into Diabase to see the condition of the ice yesterday, still 4 inches of white ice on top and a foot of clear solid ice underneath. Might even get in another fishing day.

While there climbed up the cliff on the west side, found a new lichen? and a picture of a huge piece of rock that had split off the cliff. Further up a Birch polypore or razor strop fungus.

Lake panorama from Forestry Point

Out to the forestry point as the sun was going down and took several pics across the lake. Put them all in Photoshop and you have a panorama of just about all the east side of the lake.

Pics on the way back from town...ptui!

To calm myself after going to town (ptui) I stopped in Elk Lake to take some pictures. With the melt well under way I ended up at the Makobe River which runs into the Montreal River. The river runs under a bailey bridge one of the few left around. These bridges were used to cross rivers all through the north, they were quick to erect, strong and very functional. The main bridge in Gowganda used to be a bailey bridge and one at the Wapus crossing too, these have both been replaced by modern structures.

Great sunset tonight

Another nice day although a bit cooler. By the end of next week a return to normal temps and even some snow maybe. We can't complain at all, I have had several days where I haven't put the fire on at night at all. It's been cool in the AM but warms up fairly quickly.

Tonight a sunset thru the tamaracks.

Spring around the corner

Catching up on lots of small jobs and sorting out jobs to come.

Out for some pictures today and found with this warm weather and the sun on the south slopes that it's bringing life to some of the warmer spots. Some plants and grasses are starting to sprout. This has got to be the earliest spring I've seen up here.

Out for some pics this afternoon

Just couldn't stay in today, although I did get up and clean the chimney and flue pipes. With all the warm weather the slow fires sure build up a lot of stuff in the pipes. Nice and clean now with a new fire started this evening.

Lots of melting going on all over the driveway is now clear of snow and ice from top to bottom. Creeks are starting to open up with the flow of meltwater and the snow on the sides of the road has changed from white to brown with the dirt.

First coat of drywall compound finished

The weather is just too nice to be putting mud on drywall. Two great big windows to look out at great skies, warm temps and the snow just melting away. I'll have to get some blinds on the windows so I can't look out.

Finally finished the first coat, which usually takes the longest so now only 2 more to go. Maybe I should go fishing instead.

Great fishing

Out on the ice by 9:30 AM. No fish until 11:30 and on the way home by 2:30PM with three nice pike the largest 24 1/2 inches. Two other small ones released. Beautiful day lots of sun and little wind. After fileting there is enough for two good meals,

Cleaning Up and enjoying the sun

Started cleaning up all the tools that I put the drywall on with and getting ready to start the mudding. Still a couple of small jobs but they can be done while waiting between coats of compound. Besides that it was just to nice to do anything inside. Puttered around doing all sorts of small jobs and went over and got some minnows from Ron, tomorrow is a fishing day.

Later on I snowshoed from the bridge south toward the dam and took some pics.

Good look at the International Space Station tonight about 7:18pm, 4 minutes to cross the sky from SW to E. Sky was perfect. You can look this up for your area at this link.

Beautiful weather

Not quite as nice working on the drywall, still. I'm just one job from starting the mudding, thats boxing in the pipes that come from upstairs. The plan is to box it in with 2.5 inch steel studs (to save space) and then cover with drywall. This will be tomorrow's job as the walls and ceiling are done even the one door way is drywalled in too.

By the way if you notice that yellow brace on the tresle, thats Slim my helper together we have pretty well finished drywalling all of this house. He's very quiet and I guess thats why we get along so well.

Back on the trail again yesterday

Luke was ready to try the long trail south of the highway after having done the short one. Started around 1:00 pm, lots of snow on the trail as we have only gone around this once this year. I reflagged and cut some new spots but that was back in early February. We have had quite a bit of snow since then. In the bush it was pretty good going most of the way and staying away from the shore where the wind had blown the snow helped too. Later in the day the snow started to stick under the bindings with the higher temperatures. Took over three hours to go around. Good trip turned into a good workout.

Lots of new snow overnight

Well we finally are getting snow, the drift around the garage was up to my knees this morning. The snowblower wasn't very happy when I woke it out of its slumber to go for a walk. All cleaned up and it still kept coming down till about noon and then tapered off.

What a better time for a snowshoe, fortunately Dave Kronk and Luke from Ohio just arrived the day before from Ohio. They were checking out the cottage on the lake and it was Dave's first trip to Gowganda in the winter ever. They both came armed with snowshoes and were ready to tackle the trail.

We started at Hedlund marsh and went into the prospector's cabin and then took off up the trail. Snow conditions were perfect, the bush was great and the trek perfect.

Both Dave and Luke commented that these are sights that you just don't ever see from driving down the road.

This AM's ice fog

Pics of the ice fog this morning. With the blue sky and early sun who could ask for better than that.

Some more fresh snow

Paul and I out on the trail today and half way thru the sun finally broke thru. At last the sun caught up to the old forecast. What a difference it makes after several days of cloud.

One more panel of drywall tomorrow and the walls will be covered and on to the ceiling.

Snowshoeing on fresh snow

Dull skys today but a bit of fresh snow on the trail. Temperature just below freezing so the snow didn't even stick to the shoes. Spotted a mink running just inside the bush line when I got to MacIntosh Lake, followed him almost to the south end of the lake, I don't know why he didn't run back into the bush further. Maybe he thought I would make a meal.

With the dull skys there really isn't much to photograph even the snow doesn't show a shadow, but I did find some shelf fungus on a dead birch.

South side drywall done

After taking off all the old z-brick as it was called from the chimney it turned out to have quite a sway in it. This chimney is not used anymore as the new furnaces oil and wood are downstairs under the back porch. It is right in the centre of the house and starts right at the basement with block and mortar and then in the dining room upstairs it turns to brick and the brick continues thru the upstairs and outside. I should have taken it down years ago but now it would be a job and a half especially working up on the roof.

It took a long time to shim it all out sometimes using 2x4's for shims at one end and tight to the block at the other. I was trying to get it as small as possible. Anyway done now and move on to the north side and take some cupboards down to get behind at the walls.

Here is a pic taken a couple of days ago at the feeder with my new lense.

Over the last two days we have had about 13 cm. / 5" of snow and even had to get the snowblower out for a walk today.

Out for some fresh air this afternoon

Finally finished drywalling the walls in the dining room as far as I can go, now I have taken down the covering of the chimney and will go around it with drywall too. The section over the door will be done to. Going any further is next years job the kitchen with cupboards and all.

After dusting myself off I hauled all the old material to the dump, this is the third trip. After lunch headed out west of town to see what has been going on took a few pics along the way including this one of the Wapus Creek as it gets close to the highway.

By the way if you use Google Maps check out Gowganda, Ontario the Google Eye drove right through the town and has impressive coverage of either side of the road. These were taken early last summer. To get there go to Google maps and just keep zooming down to the road or click on the little person near the zoom in tool.

Flagging the trail

Out this afternoon flagging and cleaning up the last part of the the new trail. Found some more of the old trail and then added all the flagging that we missed last year. Lots of rabbit tracks, fox and a couple of wolf tracks. Took a couple of pics on the way out.

Finished up vapour barrier

Now it's on to the drywall. I think I will wait until Monday to start. With all the nice days it's hard to be working inside. I also find it hard to be working in such a small room, hardly enough to swing a 9 foot piece of drywall in.

First full trip around new snowshoe trail

Yesterday Paul and I went around our trail we worked on last winter. Started off going south from the Hedlund marsh and down to our marked trail we cut last winter. With the lack of snow this year there was more than enough obstacles sticking up through the snow. It was difficult manuvering through the bush, at one point there is a narrow gap between rocks where the creek runs this year there was barely enough snow and ice to get over it.

Finally got down to Gowganda Lake and across to where we cut the long trail across to the North arm. This was even tougher in spots than the last area and when got about two thirds of the way through we lost the flagging we were following. This section didn't get flagged as we run out last year and never got back to flag it. Some areas we could follow by looking where we cut on the sides of trees and branches.

At last we were in the North Arm and it had started snowing real heavy (this is where I took the pics). From there north to the snowmobile trail into Single Lake and west on the highway back to Hedlund Marsh. Paul had been tracking on his GPS and sent me the file, the new trail measures in at 7.2 Km.

Prospector's cabin

During 1920, L. O. Hedlund was prospecting a claim 1.5 miles north of Gowganda Lake. The claims were around McLoughlin Lake which has since been drained by blasting in aid of the waterpower supply of Gowganda Lake and is now represented by a marsh. Highway 560 runs right through it west of town. It's in fairly good shape but it has a tin roof that doesn't look as old as the cabin. He may even left his most important item behind the coffee pot.

On the trail

Out for a snowshow today, less that 3 inches of new snow since the thaw we had back in January. This video shows a small part of the trail if you notice I have turned off the huffing and puffing this time.

You could walk just about anywhere today and not break thru the crust which encourages going in places you wouldn't usually go. I ended up at a cabin owned by Mr. Hedlund who was the local prospector in the 1920's . I took some video and pictures which I will post tomorrow.

Back in town

Got home yesterday afternoon from having a great Christmas with Jeremy and family in Sudbury. Great eats and I got to bring a freezer full home too. Spent the evening beside the pool watching the kids swim, what a hard life.

Out today at the forestry point, didn't realize that Ron Quick had such a large skating rink going on out there. Must be part of the olympic venues.