The Real Ice Out........

[Frank Walsh]

To wet your whistle.....

[dpear]

I'm surprised,not a single boat.Pressure is gonna be off this year.Recession I guess.

[Frank Walsh]

View from Minnesota Point (mainland) toward Flag Island this morning. Sometimes referred to as "The Portage", or the "Flats".

[Gissert]

I dont see the snowbear bouy...

[Frank Walsh]

Was pulled out a few days ago.

[Frank Walsh]

From this view, not seeing much open today. Finally got the Baystore Blimp going today.

[bozo]

Hey! Hey! So maybe i've added a few pounds over this extended winter, but there is no reason to start calling names!

[Frank Walsh]

I thought that was you on NutriSystems?

That must have been some other Bozo...............

[Frank Walsh]

What a difference a few days makes..................

[DSmith]

It looks like Scarlet is looking for Pelicans to chase away. Great pictures with the sunny blue sky background. They have me thinking about getting my boat out of storage today as the temperatures seem to be finally stable. How about posting a picture of the deck progress?

[Frank Walsh]

Deck progress is pretty well stopped. The gravel we spread a month ago is frozen at the building line, and I can't dig down to the concrete yet. Sun just can't hit the spot long enough to thaw out. We have not had a night above freezing since you guys left. Any progress made by late afternoon, is lost with the 20 degree nights.

Hopefully in a few days, with the warmer forecast.

[DSmith]

Thanks for the pictures and it looks great! I think that you have made progress and it will be ready by May.

[Frank Walsh]

Warming up today big time. Almost above freezing before 10:00 am., and it was 18 when I woke up. Hopefully hit the 40s for a change. No pelicans yet. The seagulls (sky rats, or sky carp, to most of you) have finally arrived in numbers yesterday. I would think the pelicans by next week. We have to get the snow off the ice before things happen. Only degrading ice is in the current areas. The snow is protecting the ice. Especially in the shallow muddy areas, that should be melting by now.

[Frank Walsh]

Looking at the satellite today, you can see open water in Four Mile Bay, The Portage (Between Flag & Minnesota Point), between Oak & Flag, and along the west side of Cyclone & Falcon. Never noticed that before.

[Frank Walsh]

And Big Narrows, and Tranquil Channel, And Johnston Passage. And.....

[Frank Walsh]

Some guys have been asking for the site with the daily satellite image again:

http://ge.ssec.wisc.edu/modis-today/

[Frank Walsh]

Can't believe how much ice we lost today. The ice road broke through today, and if I had the gumption, I could boat up north, beyond the houseboat. I'll bet tomorrow will be something. Walked around the docks today, and sunk down 10-12 inches in the slush. And all kinds of open holes around the shore.

The creek is roaring, and I'll bet the whaleboat will be floating in a few days.
Virtually all the birds are back already. Seagulls, loons, ducks, and pelicans.
Pretty soon..........robins????

[dpear]

May 1st looking good!:)

[Gissert]

Do you have any creek photos? That would be neat to see.

[Frank Walsh]

I just took one this morning. Pretty tame with the cooler temperatures last night. Even though it was in the mid-30s. Stiffened up the snow, and even skimmed a few puddles. The creek was at least 12-18 inches higher yesterday afternoon. I try to catch it this afternoon when things get flowing again.

[Frank Walsh]

Oops. Wonder where this one went???

[Frank Walsh]

The creek as requested.

[Frank Walsh]

If you look at the whaleboat, what you cannot see is the water bubbling around it. The water is running out of the creek underwater, and surfacing all around the boat.

[dpear]

Thats one good lookin boat!
And on plane at rest.Sweet.

[Gissert]

Thanks for the creek photos. That's quite the little ravine thats been carved out over the years.

Any pike in there?

We have a temp 4 inch PVC pipe draining a slough across a road due to a plugged culvert. On Tuesday, there were some smallish pike on the upstream side of the pipe. They had to muscle their way up 4-5 feet of gravel runoff about an inch deep to hit the pipe. Amazing. There were another dozen lined up and taking shots to do the same.

If they are still there Friday, I will try and get some video.

[dpear]

I really wonder if the whale boat pic hasn't been photoshopped.Honestly,I doubt its really there.Was just watching the news and I swear I saw it roaring by a US navy ship near the Somalian coast.
Sure it had a 50 cal mounted on an old MinnKota bracket on the bow but it was the same boat.
And,Frankly(pun intended)I'd really like to know if Frank is on the island.Anyone really seen him in person?I ask cause I'm near positive he was driving the boat!
Sure he had a Johnny Depp Pirate hat on and sure he wore an eye patch,but by golly the other eye had that sinister smurky type glare that only Frankie has when attacking a good spot-or apparently other ships.:confused:

[Pikebob]

I think he looked a bit on the tan side from all the sun, and a tad bit thinner! Laura must not have gone with him, no home cooked meals over there!!

[Frank Walsh]

Here's the finished version. Notice any mud? Next step is a few hours with a power washer. The boys with the excavators will be here as soon as the ice goes to put the mound system in, so no use worrying about the mud until they're done.

Bring your dancing shoes!

[DSmith]

Very nice job. I won't have to bring my hammer in May after all. Only a ball bat to get that Pike that got Mike last year.

[Frank Walsh]

Ummmm....ummmmm. Deep fried slimer.

[Pikebob]

So where is that sitting on the Walsh Estate? Can't pinpoint it on the satellite. Looks very nice though! Your handywork?

[Frank Walsh]

Between the little cabin, and the Guide cabin. Closer to the guide cabin.

Scarlett helped.

[jimmyb]

Did the whale boat break through yet?

[Frank Walsh]

Not quite. There is about a foot of water, with enough ice under it to hold up the boat. The last two mornings have been 28-29 degrees, so not much happening the last two days. The one picture shows a big iceberg that blew over from Flag Island yesterday.

[Frank Walsh]

She's floating today. Although not going anywhere for at least a few days.

[Frank Walsh]

Finally got a clear shot today, but a little cloud cover. You can sure see a lot more open water, although our area is not well defined.

[jimmyb]

So when's the first trip (by boat) to the angle?????

[Frank Walsh]

I would think no less than a week, more like a week and a half. All up to the weather, which is not cooperating. Had 1/2" of skim ice around the docks this morning.

[Frank Walsh]

Pictures from Dave Stone taken from Moose Bay.

[Frank Walsh]

More pictures from Dave Stone taken from Moose Bay.

[BWold]

Don't look like Dpear is going to make that May 1st cup of coffee unless he boat a Ranger hovercraft!!!!

[dpear]

Yeh,may have to use that icebreaker of yours.

[Frank Walsh]

Don't cry just yet. We just lost most of the ice in the bay today.

[jimmyb]

Wild how it can change in a heartbeat.

[Frank Walsh]

Going once....Going twice.....

[Frank Walsh]

Going twice and a half..................