IT'S SNOWING!!!!!

“Great news, nowslimmer. I'll be teaching summer school, so I know I'll be around. I'll double check the calendar for any potential conflicts, but I'm guessing we can plan a get-together. Maybe Snake Eyes will be around, too. The Anvil Trail is a nice set of loops that have links to several other trails. Popular with mtn. bikers, too.

That's right at Summer Solstice time, so there will be nice long days. Maybe we can even hop over a couple miles to the Blackjack Springs Wilderness trail. Boy, I hope this will work out.”

“I was thinking of the bars in Eagle River! (Even though my strongest drink is diet pepsi.) But I should be in fair shape when I arrive.

I did a short part of that trail 53 years ago. Passed an open cabin(shelter?) on the left, while going south. It seemed to be a ski trail. There were a number of downed trees across the trail.”

“Oh, we can hit a tavern or two, as well, nowslimmer, lol! No shortage of those in the area.

The Anvil Trail still has that shelter for skiers. There are short and easy loops. Never had my path blocked there by downed trees, but its been a few years since I was on it. It is a pretty popular trail and gets good maintenance.

Don't confuse me with some buff mountain goat of a hiker at this point. I will hopefully be spending the spring getting in some fairly easy walking/hiking and testing out my various aching joints, as well as hopefully getting my sailboat tuned up. I'll have to check the size and shape of Avil Lake to see if my little boat will work there. Anyway, whatever your intentions, I'll try to keep my schedule as clear as I can. I won't be teaching on Mondays, so that offers possibilities.”

“Anvil Lake is definitely large enough for a sailboat. I have been water skiing there.

A hike sounds great. I found the trail loops which you mentioned. Anvil National Recreation Trail I could use some help pin-pointing the area you suggested for hiking.

It would be great if Snake Eyes can join us. I was hoping to be able to see him after I leave Anvil Lake.”

“nowslimmer, my recollection is that when starting from the trailhead on Hwy 70, that the second path from the left on the map (which ends up at the shelter) is the hilliest. The outer sections seemed to be the gentlest. But each section is marked for difficulty since they are X-C ski trails this time of year, warning everyone of how much up and down is involved. Probably some bodacious skiing today, as there is lots of snow, but fairly warm temps. That pic is a pretty good representation of present conditions.

Whoo hoo, I hope we can launch the sailboat. BTW, do you know how to sail? You better hope I've gotten in some practice by late June!”

“You're talking to Barnacle Paul! I've spent a lot of time sailing in the Pacific and Bering Seas on the USNS Observation Island (pictured). On smaller sail boats I've been out twice. Once in a small craft race in Lake Michigan off Grant Park in Chicage and once on the Starnberg Sea in Germany. On both occassions we experienced windless days.

You should be able to sail after the last snowstorm in mid-May. Get out often so that you can reduce the average cost of each outing. I'm ready to come up there now. Maybe I can calm down over at Hooters!”

“Based on your remark about the last snowstorm in mid-May, you'll appreciate what we christened our little Catalina Capri 14.2 -- Ice Out, 'cause it ain't going sailing until there's "ice out," the northwoods term for lakes opening up in spring.

Someday I'll have a boat big enough for radar, but I don't plan on competing with the Navy.”

“Have you forgotten that I lived for a number of years in Minnesota, and spent most of four years in Appleton. No matter what the weather, one goes fishing on opening day. It is a long, gloomy period from the day ice fishing houses have to be off the lakes and opening day. That's one reason so much beer is consumed in Wisconsin.

The ice will be out long before May, but there will still be snowstorms. The only relief from the gloom is the Smelt Run and the opening of the Rainbow Trout season. Ahhhhhh, Opening Day for walleyes on the Wolf River and on Mille Lacs Lake. How sweet it is! Why, o why did I ever leave the North Woods?”

“BTW, that is an Air Force ship, paid for by the Army, operated by civilians and under Navy command as dirceted by a group of representatives from different agencies. (Sometimes it seemed to be misdirected!)”

“Oh, I didn't forget about your northwoods past, but all those 70 and 80 degree days in the Florida sun can addle a person's memory!

And it's an "addling" that I hope to endure someday. I've begun the protracted indoctrination of my spouse that the perfect retirement will be on a boat that is anchored in Marquette harbor in the summer and somewhere in the Keys in the winter, with an adventurous passage in between each stage. It helps that we'll likely already have a house in Marquette to supplement the plan.”

“My own BTW: From my kayaking, I have a wetsuit, splash top, etc. I can wear for early season sailing. We'll see how early I feel like enduring, though.

As for the mixed-branch orientation of your ship, I'll mention it to my retired senior chief petty officer dad -- he'll probably have a chuckle or two.”

“Just got back from your neck of the woods. Helped my daughter and her boyfriend with a house they're renovating in Eagle River. Ended up at both Home Depot and Menards in Rhinelander. You have quite a bit more snow on your side of the state. Looks like I'm going skiing tomorrow.”

“I hate you all.”

“DON'T HATE THA PLAYAH, HATE THA GAME!”

“Snowing here in NH this AM. Lots of flakes, but I don't think we'll get that much today. At least it's cold enough to keep it around for a bit. The roads are now covered. I'm glad I got to work before it got to be a slippery mess.”

“Thank you for supporting our local economy, Snake Eyes. Come back often and spend at will. This was the first weekend in many that I wasn't making trips to the Depot and Menard's. Our remodeling is down to only a few projects, and we have some of the materials already. Nice to take a breather now and then....so I can devote my energies to snowblowing and other fun sports.

Sunny here this morning and supposed to hit the mid 30s. Hope the melt off of the giant snowbanks goes slowly so my basement stays dry.”

“You said your dad was a Senior Chief? What service?”

“U.S. Navy, 1936-56, from China gunboat patrols to North Atlantic destroyer patrols to 3rd Fleet destroyer support for carrier operations and amphibious landings, followed by much milder post-war duties in Michigan, Guam, Hawaii, California and Florida.”

“BTW, fairly nice day yesterday, even some sunshine. But we might get another inch or so of snow tonight.”

“once my parents got married they told me I had to leave. I was a Corpsman and did a couple of very safe tours in 'Nam. My total Navy time was 5 years, 6 months and 9 days (not that I was counting). I retired from the Coast Guard (they don't care if you're a bastard or not) in '92 with 27 years, went back to college and have pretty much been completely irresponsible ever since. I have no current plans of changing. Bright sunny day over here. Time to ski”

“LOL, Snake Eyes, you irresponsible wench! (can I say that to a guy??)

We had unexpected snow here not once but TWICE yesterday. I was quite surprised to leave a night meeting 15 miles of windy road from home (also know in these parts as U.S. Highway 52... LOL)with a new, fresh layer and snow coming down. DOH!!”

“Snake Eyes, my brother was a Navy corpsman. He went in fall of '69 after college, qualified for med. tech. training after corps school at Great Lakes, but had to sign up for extra time, so he did 5 1/2 years too. Left as a PO3rd, I believe; after his Ph.D., he was lured into the reserves as a Lt.jg in Medical Corps., eventually leaving after some new CO said even reservists had to shave their beards.

Since I was born on a Navy base and basically lived in the Navy until I was 4, I figured I'd done my tour of duty at the outset and saw no need to encounter anymore petty officers than I already had.”

“BTW, nice sunny day here with mild temps (mid 30s I'm guessing) at the moment. Was down to +6 at 5 a.m.”

“Just got back from skiing. It was 40 degrees and the snow was sticky. Bright sunny day. I saw something I have never seen before. Snow all over the place, still winter, and....mosquitoes. Others may have seen mosquitoes, but not me. Talk about global warming.”

“I meant "others may have seen mosquitoes under these conditions, but not me." No more drinking and skiing for me”

“Last Wednesday it was 70F, now it's snowing.”

“Well, woke up at 6 to another steady snowfall. Was preceded by a bit of freezing rain last night, so the roads were slick. It has kept up all morning, along with a lot of wind, so the day is generally nasty. At least a couple inches so far.”

“Ditto the freezing rain last night, maybe an inch of snow, but it was only 5 degrees this morning at 8:00. It's a balmy 18 degrees right now. I guess those 2 mosquitoes I saw a couple of days ago had to really hunker down into their down sleeping bags.”

“WTF! TN? In April?

Pandemonium and Chaos on the roads!!
It just took me 3X longer to get back from my client's office.”

“Apparently there is a large pocket of snow on the TH/KY border, just west of Nashville...

y'all have fun!”

“Cottonsocks is on the way to take my kids back to Parsons. She called before she left and told me there was a snow advisory there. I told her she must be confused.

No wonder she got pissed.”

“That aint #&%!$ we got snow in May last year! pfffft!
Tats just talking about upstate New Yawk. No telling with the all mighty Tug Hill

Rookies!”

“You tell 'em snafu.”

“It's so pretty!!

I sure do miss it living down here.”

“Damn you, yam! Damn you to hell!”

“We had snow last night. Nothing stuck, but it was falling from the sky, nonetheless. I won't take the reflectors (for the plow dude) out of the ground yet cause I'm still hoping for one last good snowfall.”

“SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW!

artex has none!! heeheeheeheeheeheehee”

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!”

“Artex, be careful what you wish for. Someday, you may just end up with more snow than you care to see in one lifetime.”

“Indeed, skiracer.... indeed. ;-)”

“Spittin' snow in N Alabama!!!”

“48 in Memphis, but cottonsocks reported 5 inches near Lexington, TN”

“too weird.”

“Chili --

Ifyou got the guys name we can hunt 'im down.


5 inches huh??


You'd think if she was gonna stray it would be for more than that.”

“yow.”

“Lee - Not if 5" is more than she's getting at home...”

“Man, you guys are harsh!”

“Now that's hitting him where it hurts.”