Wutz up widdat???

Seems something is going wrong with this blog. I noticed some pictures had disappeared from some previous posts, now all January posts are missing all their pictures, except the last one done by Rose. Today three or four pix disappeared from that one as well. I'll not post more until I know what's going on.... it takes too long to do if it's not going to last.....

I gotta go, Carlo

A look back in time......

The blog monster ate all your photos, Rosie!!!!!!!

I fixed it and moved it into February........

Winter Fun

When we visited the Old Rittenhouse in Bayfield, we found a nice selection of gingerbread houses. Seems the emplyees in the different areas of the business had a little competition! But that's not what I am here to talk about today.... Today I did a few maintenance items on the plane. Also installed a special wire harness on the battery that will allow me to attach a 'battery tender', a charger that maintains a battery at peak charge. There is a connector so I can put it on and off the plane in a few seconds. I'll leave it attached this winter whenever I'm not flying.




It is an extremely low current charger and will not harm the battery no matter how long it's connected. We use them on the motorcycle batteries during the winter. Also installed a two conductor wire directly from the battery to the cockpit in an attempt to isolate the radio from electrical system noise. No time to test it today. You see, I had to fly the plane as there was negligable wind and I was at the airport, so.... what the hey! I took off, circled the airport and did a touch and go on the West bound runway just to see if I could still land O.K. Then I headed west and didn't climb more than 200 feet, as I wanted to fly around near the ice on Long Lake. I flew the length of the lake at about 5 feet above the ice, banking into some of the larger bays, flying between islands, just generally goofing off. I climbed a little and flew over highway W and back down to Wilson Lake. I've flown over these lakes many times but never had a look at them like this!! I flew back to the airport and headed a little east. This enabled me to descend down to ice level on Lake Duroy, the one right by downtown Phillips. I made a trip around the lake at a few feet off the ice. This is considered safe to do as long as the ice will hold you up if you need to land for some reason.....




I left Duroy and headed toward Cranberry Lake. I buzzed the lake perimeter a couple of times. I suppose the ice fishermen on all these lakes were wondering what the heck was going on. Then I headed South to Ottertail country. I did some slow flight over the Ottertail Landing Strip so I could see how the clearing work looks at the south end of the field. I did a couple of mock landings and headed back north. I noticed Worcestor Lake north of Prentice. I did a slow descent toward it and did an ice level circumnavigation of the lake. Then I thought I would try a landing, which went well on the smooth ice. With all the warm weather earlier, the snow melted on the lake ice and re-froze to leave the lakes a sheet of ice with only a few patches of snow and an occasional bump in the ice. I headed north to Cranberry, did a landing there, continued north and did a mock engine-out landing approach over a friend's field. Kept going north and stopped in for an ice landing on Duroy, headed over the bridge and did a landing on Elk Lake. I followed the river channel, popped up and over Highway 13 and back down to ice level on Long, did a landing and continued on to Wilson lake. I landed near Birch Island Resort, did a u-turn and took off. Flew back along the ice on Long lake and then headed north and did a landing on Deer lake. I was getting to like this, or could you tell!



Hopped over to Solberg flowage, buzzed around there, did two landings and then headed East. I intended to go to Musser Flowage, but there was Dardis Lake! I circled it and then landed from the east. I headed on to the east and found Musser. It is an interesting place, with many bays and islands. I did an ice level investigation, two landings and then I headed back to Phillips to land at the Airport.
2.2 hours of flying at a little under 20°... I was a little cold! I headed home for supper and the Eagles/Saints game. So my first ice landing of the year turned into landings on 10 different lakes today! I'll have to try a few more in the area before snow or more thawing ruins the smooth ice...

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___________Hey!! Scramble those eggs, would ya???_____________

Bayfield update.

This is Le Chateau Boutin, one of The Old Rittenhouse Inn's four facilities. This is how it looks as you drive up from the Bayfield harbor. It is on the high ground just to the north of the harbor. It has a grand view of the lake and the Apostle Islands.



This house was built in 1908 by a guy who made a killing in lumber and fishing. You can read the history in the link above. It's an unbelievable building and no end to the amazing features inside.




This is the room Peg and I stayed in, on the third floor. It was originally the Ballroom, and there were windows to the hallway (can't see through them now) where the 'help' would bring the children to see the ballroom festivities without 'disturbing' the adults.




This is the main stairway. Quite a sight when you walk in the front door. There was also a smaller back stairway that went from the kitchen area to the upper floors.




This is a view of the entryway, looking from the living room.



Across the entry hall was the music room. It had a grand piano (which I played on a bit when no one else was around), a huge red leather couch and a writing desk.



The music room also had a large fireplace,as did most rooms. Several rooms also had a stained glass window similar to this one.




The dining room was huge. It had this giant fireplace, with built in cabinetry in the brick stack.




There were several big china cabinets on the walls, one with a stained glass inset.




Then there was this little arched doorway leading off the from hall. Through it you could get to the servant work are, the kitchen and the 'butler's pantry'.




This is the view out the window in the butler's pantry. Quite a nice sight.




As you head down the street as you leave Le Chateau Boutin, this is the view over the lake......



We drove down through Bayfield and took a tour of the lakefront. Looking back up the hill you could see the Rittenhouse Inn up the slope.

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___________Hey!! Scramble those eggs, would ya???_____________

New Year's Eve in Bayfield

Greetings. We just got back from New Year's Eve in Bayfield!! Some un-named benefactors (you know who you are....) gave us a gift card for our wedding. It was for the Old Rittenhouse Inn in Bayfield. So we inquired about a stay and found that we could use Dec. 31st as a Sweetheart special (for Sunday night stays) even though it was New Years! As always, clicking on a photo will get you a larger version, then click your back button to return.



These poor boats look quite cold, don't they? Not much action in the marina at this time of year, except for the Madeline Island ferry. It runs til the lake freezes, then they keep an ice road plowed, County H, the only road to exist for only part of the year.



There are still some geese around the area, and some gulls were around. Quite a different scene from the bustling summer season.



Looking North along the shore, you can see the gap between the mainland and I think it's maybe Basswood Island to the right. Not many boats out there! One local reported seeing someone kayaking out there on Sunday, wanted to be able to say he kayaked on New Year's Eve.



Apparently they are still fishing. Seems like it would have to be a terribly cold job.



This is the view of the harbor area as we were leaving Le Chateau Boutin, the house we stayed in. It's part of the Ritenhouse holdings and is on the National Register of Historic places. A wonderful old house you can see here.



I'll give you some photos of the Chateau in the next installment. We had a great time. We visitied some shops (and bought only an umbrella). It rained hard all the way from home to Bayfield on Sunday. During the night it blew really hard and snowed, but there was only an inch or so on the ground in the morning. This is the midmorning view of the lake as you leave the Chateau. More later.....

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____________Hey!! Scramble those eggs, would ya???_____________