Wind from the North North West, blowing like all get out, had to put the boat on the South side of the South dock to protect it from the wind and wave action. Come sundown the wind subsided.
Photos from today:
Before there was the blog the Caretaker sent out posts via e-mail, the following is from the Caretaker's second winter on the Island:
Island Ice Report for 2/18/07:
Outside temp: 10 F
Ghetto temp: 55 F
Wind: occasional breezes from the North
Sky: mostly clear
Precipitation: none
Today the Caretaker had some visitors, S. and L. and their dog H. trekked their way up from the Albany early this afternoon. The Caretaker met them in town where
S. and L. were kind enough to treat the Caretaker to lunch. So after we all got our fill we headed out on the ice to the Island. The ski was more of a walk with skis on and the occasional slush beneath the snow didn't help because slush on skis quickly freeze. The trip out to the Island was with the wind, we had all hoped that the wind would switch direction for the trip back but no such luck. They didn't stay very long, given the fact that the conditions inside are not much different from the conditions outside it isn't any wonder that they came, they saw and then they left. H. the dog did seem to enjoy the water and the dog food, but S. didn't seem so keen on the Nocello he asked to try. And that was that.
In other news, a reader was kind enough to mention that the animal from the StarWars movie is called a "tonton" (we aren't sure of the spelling but the word is pronounced like "tom-tom" the drum but you replace the "m" with "n"). And to answer your question about the snow drift, I will not be tunneling into it to make a snow fort because I'm using it for the downhill section of the Island cross country ski course.
Another reader asks:
Do you spend of lot of your time being wet from snow and getting stuck between boats and beams and skiing and picking ice?
Sometimes, but for the most part I stay dry, as long as I keep moving when wet, it is not all too uncomfortable, overall though you just get used to it, well, perhaps I should say I get accustomed to it.
Do you have an open fire anywhere or just gas?
There are two fireplaces in the main house, but I rarely use them, the stone of the fireplaces are so cold that it takes at least an hour to throw heat so to "sit and warm myself in front of the fire" is rather labor intensive and time consuming. The last time I had a fire was the Sunday of the Superbowl.
And lastly this reader states:
"I understand to the Caretaker, these must seem like trivial questions, but to me--a spoiled student living in dorms having no control over the extreme heat she lives in these would be my major worries."
In response to this the Caretaker would like to remind his readers that he encourages everyone to feel free to ask questions, as far as he is concerned, none are trivial nor stupid.
E. from England asks:
Are you alone up there most of the time?
Yes, today's visitors to the Island are the first since the end of October. The Caretaker does usually get into town at least once a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, but as far as the Island he is pretty much the only one he sees there for the winter months.
What is the nearest town?
The nearest town is Bolton Landing, it is a bit of a one horse affair with only two traffic lights and they flash yellow and red for 6 months out of the year. Most of the tourist trade here is busy during the summer months so town gets quite busy in summer and quite quiet in winter.
S. asks:
How can it be that water forms between the snow and Ice? We have had nothing but zero weather for a week. I have seen the ice sink and water form on top and refreeze (very dangerous) but not when it was this cold.
When the Caretaker wrote "water has formed between the ice and the snow" he was using it as a short hand for: when a heavy snow comes down on the ice, it pushes the ice down, this can cause cracks to form allowing water beneath the ice to come up above the ice, also, water will come up through cracks already present in the ice. Also, the snow will act as an insulator and it helps keep the water that has percolated through to stay just above freezing, lastly as the sun beats down on the snow it will cause some of it to melt and that resulting water follows gravity.
S. also writes:
Like Caeser, if you remember your Latin. Alia Gallia est divisa parte tres.
The Caretaker does not remember his Latin, but that is because he never had any to forget, if there is anyone who could translate the above Latin the Caretaker would greatly appreciate it.
Mr. B wrote:
us
i
o
um
o
i
orum
is
os
is
The Caretaker wouldn't mind a little help on this one also.
G. and E. ask:
Where do the bats go in the winter?
The Caretaker believes that most of them "hibernate" but some may migrate south for the winter months. Now where do they hibernate, I would guess that some are in the Ice House, perhaps some go to a cave somewhere?
--The Caretaker
No comments:
Post a Comment