Someday there will be a report here on a long shot that didn’t hit. Today isn’t that day. The reported shell had healed nicely, but the view from Goulds Landing out over the lake showed many layers of open water. Indeed, it appeared that we might be trapped in the little bay and forced to sail short track all day. The wind was piping up way over the forecast and this, combined with the water and hard ice was not encouraging.
But there was one way out, as Dwayne Allman said, so we marked it with pine boughs and emerged onto an endless plate of smooth grey ice, four inches thick. Still, everywhere in the distance was more water.
We rounded up our little fleet of four and headed for the northern horizon. Water, water everywhere and hopefully not a drop to drink. The size and dark color of the big holes were easy to see if you paid attention.
For the first time this season we made it to our lake-top retreat:
And then that glorious downwind run that Pushaw is famous for. But in this case we were traveling different lines and found yet more big holes we hadn’t seen on the way up. Exhilarating!
Between all that water, of course, was nothing but grade ten ice. Really unique for this time of year, but since when have we had a normal year?
Below is an image of what happened to the ice during the last storm. It appears that the plate was broken up and then cast to the wind to land in pieces on this debris field.
Tomorrow’s gale will probably inflict yet more damage. But Pushaw has been coming back again and again all winter so don’t count it out yet. And there might be other lakes, but show me one as wonderful to sail with such staying power and we’ll be on it.
Greenland, perhaps?
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club 