Home again

The view out of the cab on the 5th street exit off of 280. Warm, not a cloud in the sky, San Francisco skyline and home.

Rollin...

Left 11:11 EST. On our way back to Chicago.

Snow flurries for our departure.

Camp Close Note 2

Plenty of paper plates for the 2009 season. No need to add to the supplies.

Olive's first visit to Shag

Of course, Olive insisted on a half-slab at Up North Lodge.

Winter camp close note

This is an important addendum to the Fall Camp Close notes. The emergency supplies were tapped during the winter visit. Three bottles of (mostly) cooking wine and the one remaining bottle of Shag Stout is all that remains.

The Ice Tent II - Intermission

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley."

After the prep work last week, we thought we would be able to easily set up the ice tent again this week during the return visit and do some fishing/spearing. Alas, a warm spell and rain rendered the ice too slushy in the meantime. We need to head back in the morning, so not sure when the next attempt will be made.So it goes.

Fresh snow last night...

...and some picture postcard views at the lake.

Skiing on Marquette Mountain - The Movie

Scenes from a Mountain.

Well... more like a big hill. Some pictures from an excellent day of skiing at Marquette Mountain Big Hill.

Break time at Marquette Mountain

Jonah made it down the hill five times in a row without falling down, then demanded to move on to the big hill.

Winter Dining at Shag

Harlan sets out to prove we can actually prepare a real meal in winter conditions at camp without running water.

Turned on the gas and picked up some oil at Tall Timber for the latkes. Dug the Weber out of the snow and fired up the grill for the steaks.. Finally melted snow on the kitchen wood stove to wash dishes.

A fine dinner of potato and parsnip latkes accompanying a medium rare grilled sirloin. The kids had S'mores for desert, toasting the marshmallows over the grill. All in all, a great success.

We arrive!

Arrived around 2:30 EST, and Leah immediately climbs Mount SnowShag. Much warmer (32ish) and more snow than last week. The drive had been plowed in the last couple of days, so it was easy getting in. Thanks Carol!

The Swedish Pantry

We stop at the Swedish Pantry for lunch in Escanaba


Jim Harrison from "The Raw and the Cooked":

"The next morning before I left I called the Swedish Pantry to check on its soups. "We always have the same soups," I was advised, the phone voice informed with what passes for mystery among the Swedes. It was, however, the best pea soup I had ever eaten, and, accompanied by limpa bread and side of herring, it was a fine load of fuel for the drive to Appleton, Wisconsin."

Apparently they don't make the herring any more, so I had a side of potato sausage with the split pea soup. The soup was indeed very good, as was the limpa bread, but I am not ready to call it the best ever. I liked the potato sausage even more.

MI

Winter wonderland

Driving through Green Bay

There is a bad smell emanating from the back seat.

Rolling...

Left at 6:15. Milwaukee by 7:40. It was a little dicey getting out of town. We must have seen 15-20 cars off the roads and on the shoulders. But the worst of bad ice is behind us now.

Heading North again...

Black ice - coating the car and the roads. I slipped and fell on my ass just walking across the parking lot to the car.

Holiday celebrations.

The seven cousins show off their new matching pajamas, continuing a family holiday tradition.

The big kids table at the Ott's "casual" holiday dinner. We are happy every one is out of the hospital, (relatively) healthy, and we can get the whole family together for the holidays.

The cousins table.

Neptune passes on his trident to the next generation of ice fishermen.

Ice Tent - The Movie

Matt and Olive

With matching hair styles.

Why dogs have a cold nose.

Well... at least this dog.


Gryff wins.

We may not have caught a fish this round...

But Gryff contributed some game and flavor to the afternoon soup.

Yum.

Looking in the hole.

Inside the tent.

Looking n the hole. It is as much fun as it looks.

FW: Your ice tent is ready

Brian's Christmas present.

Got the last ice fishing harpoon in stock at Ishpeming Wilderness Sports. This is Brian's Christmas present. Don't tell him. It's a surprise. I am going to leave it up here for him.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

I set up Jeff, Robyn, Roy, Katy, Harlan, Leah, and Jonah's Hanukkah and Christmas present for them. I assembled it in the middle of the camp living room, but I can't figure out how to get it out the door.

Close Call

[Click to expand]

I walked out to middle of the bay, when suddenly I was surrounded and attacked by a pack of wild feral Brittany Spaniels. I barely escaped with my life.

It's cold

Seriously cold.

Frosty morning

-11 degrees.

Harlan forgot to change

The screens in the fall.

-11 degrees this morning.

Shag

Arrival

Escanaba

Pricey... Cheaper in peshtigo

EAT

Stopped for a break

At EAT Mickey-Lu in Marinette. A grilled brat, double cheeseburger, chips, home made blackberry pie a la mode, coffee. 10 dollars plus tip.