Spring update

Got the call Laurenson Lake will be ice free by this afternoon, Yesterday I made it as far as Railroad Island. Pushing a lot of  black 10” thick candled ice but at Railroad it’s  White and solid, Ron said they boated from Town to Scotties Beach yesterday so I’m guessing we should make Town by Monday May 04. Loons and Cormorants arrived yesterday.

Spring melt

Today I could canoe from our point to East Allie Island. In past years when this opens up we have been able to boat to Barepoint anywhere from 9 to 19 days. That would mean Marina by April 30 th. But this year we still have -9 in forecast till 15 th.  Should be boating before May 05 th
To venture onto ice around our island you have to choose your footing holes everywhere.
Next post will be when I can lower boat to see how far I can travel around April 21 or so ?

Rat Portage Closures

I did take my truck off the ice as planned, parked her in her spot at Barepoint Marina. Over the week end signs went up advising the road at boat ramp will be closing Saturday March 28 @ 12 noon, no public access. Then yesterday the band  dropped a tree across the road leading out to Jones Rd as a barricade. And they have set up a barricade in there village restrictions on traffic. According to OPP they have the right to do this. Devils Gap Marina is the same Band so can only imagine it is shut down as well.
Every other spring after I take the vehicles off the ice I snowmobile to Barepoint get in my truck and shop for fresh produce, veggies. This season looks like we will be going without! Debbie says we have enough frozen food to make boating season, worst case is we can drive up to Safeway dock.
That Partridge I see walking around pecking the ground may be looking pretty tasty in the coming weeks. Snowmobile and Quad travel is still good down this way but no where to go. They are still driving vehicles on the main ice roads with landings getting soft and water getting deeper on the road.
On a happier note the  flock CDN Geese at narrows is growing larger everyday, saw 3 snow geese fly over, crows, seagulls are back As well as black flys and moths. Lots Eagles soaring on air currents. working on dock off ice the past 2 days in a T Shirt sunny, calm and 11 c. The skirting damaged on one of our docks, still too much ice /snow on the others to tell yet ? I will try to attach a picture of our dock, shows how high the lake froze and how much is has gone down as of last week. With the 12 plus inches of ice hanging up. If the picture does not attach text me at 807-466-1891 and I can forward to you.

Ice road update

I will be taking our truck off the ice either today or tomorrow as we have one bad spot just South West of our place.. Our road came in from 12 mile this year. The road from Queer dead ended on our side of the French Narrows Portage due to only 6” ice on this side. Got a call from our neighbor who docks at Northern Harbour advising customers they have been Mandated by Government to shut down deemed non essential.
I’m sure this is the first of many closures that will effect lake travel in these uncertain times.
We have our supplies in should be good till 2 Nd week May when lake opens.

Ministry Landing

I must apologize for the last posting. I did not have all the facts, we do not use Facebook and that is where the information was relayed to me about the Coney Island ice road closing.
Turns out it’s only the Coney Island ice road closing and not the ice road to Treaty.
Very sorry if I caused any concerns, this is how rumours get started !
I will be more diligent in future

Ministry Landing

We have heard a rumour-it’s on Facebook that Coney Island residents have been advised to remove there vehicles from ice roads by March 09. Apparently there are a couple posts in place and they plan to string a chain across blocking ice road access. I cannot confirm this as we have not travelled that route,  but have sent out feelers, will post anything I hear.

Frozen Dock

Here’s a picture of our dock all frozen in.

The ice has dropped but still all frozen under the dock.