We experienced some encouraging signs today that spring is getting close, along with it, the much anticipated ice out. For the first time this winter, there were Canada geese at our shore.

The old husband’s tale is that geese send out scouts. Sure enough, there were just two geese who decided to brave the winter conditions and find out what Minnesota held for them.

There has been a slight warm up, with temperatures crawling into the high 30s. Inevitably, the morning fog is dense, denser than any I’ve experienced before with all of the snow.

We take heart though and realize that this weather is signaling the spring warm up. It won’t be long before we talk about getting the boat in the water. If it weren’t for the annual spring boat repair costs, we’d be celebrating right now.

Well, the ice houses are off the lake. By law, February 28th was the last day you could have a permanent ice house on the lake in Minnesota. I’m sure ice fishermen dreaded moving off the ice.

Yet, even though the houses are gone, the cars are still there. Last night, we watched some small passenger car darting around the lake, doing donuts. There was no danger of him falling through. The ice is thick enough. Gez, there’s still two foot of snow covering it.

I’ve never been brave enough to drive on the ice. On our lake, cars routinely drive all over the lake. They even have roads plowed through the snow, making it ever so convenient.

As we watched the car and its occupants enjoy the lake, we watched a couple of people, one of them carrying a bag trek across the ice toward an island about one mile away. I know it’s a mile since we walked it last year.

Anyone looking at them would have thought, what the? What’s in the bag? We knew. Geocachers placing a geocache. From the looks of it, it was probably a regular-sized cache. Good for them, I thought. Another way to enjoy an ice-covered lake.

Soon, it won’t be long before we start thinking about that custom canvas cover we’re going to have to get for the boat and the new boating license that we’re going to have to get.

The average ice-out is April 9th. We can only hope, but I have a feeling it will be late this year.

“At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.”
- Robin Lee Graham

Photo by nickfrost

“Only the guy who isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat.”
- Jean-Paul Sartre

Photo by Andrea Kratzenberg

“Only the guy who isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat.”
- Jean-Paul Sartre

Photo by

"Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit."
- Brooks Atkinson

Photo by fgreen70