Ice is Out!

Strong south winds in the night blew away all the ice on April 3rd. What's left is piled high on shore here and there.

 

 

Kayak tracks

The candle ice started out at 1 inch thick at the edge of the ice flow.  As I paddled deeper into it, the shards got to about 4 inches.  Still very easy to paddle through.

 

By noon, the ice pack began to move.  I could see it piling up on the far shore.  Wondering if there will be anything left Sunday morning?

Candle Ice

From the surface, the candle ice doesn't look a lot different from Tuesday, when I was able to walk on it.  Yet, this ice was only an inch thick.   Lots of fun to paddle through.

Saturday Morning

I had to paddle to the end of the bay to get a good look at the lake.  I made it just out of our bay before I was stopped by the ice close to shore again.  So I climbed the hill, climbed my favourite white pine, and had a good look at the ice.  Most of the lake was still covered, but most of the bays, like ours, were nearly free of ice.

Sunset season begins

You can just barely see the ice, about halfway out the bay.  I suspect tomorrow's heat and wind could take it all away.

Ice Breaker

Kate had a great time Thursday afternoon paddling in the thin ice. The cat started out in the kayak with her, but decided to walk home.

Breaking Trail

Breaking trail takes on a whole new meaning....

Since I  can't walk on the ice anymore, the desire to paddle increases!  A narrow band of water creeps along the shoreline, but not all the way.  I got through by powering up onto the ice, wriggling to break it, then backing up to take another run.  Still, I only got a half kilometre today. 

Tomorrow???

Waiting for Water

Pictured from the shoreline now, here's what's left of the pressure crack that formed by the island several days ago. (link to 1st photo).  By this afternoon, enough ice will be gone for us to get out in the canoe!

Home again

Last Sunday afternoon we crossed the lake on the ice to stay a few days at Mary's camp. The shoreline here at the lodge had solid ice, but at Mary's it was getting a little thin.(see March 28 posting). I took over a hundred photos while walking on the ice Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but by Tuesday afternoon, the ice was too soft to step off the rock anymore (as pictured here).

Wednesday afternoon we hiked 2 hours on the ski trail to get back home. After being away for 3 days, I thought the ice here would be soft too...but it is not. We still have 6 inches of solid ice right up to the beach at the sauna. However, with today's temperature predicted to be +20...it won't last long.