The sunset over Northstar Lake last night put the Covid-19 pandemic in perspective. Nature is endless and beautiful. When the loons started their eerie call while Molly and I huddled next to the fireplace, I looked outside and saw the beautiful glow of the sky post sundown. I walked down to the dock and recorded this peaceful scene. (video link for email subscribers)

We had driven over to Northstar Lake to set our cabin’s water system and put the boat in the water. Ice out was only two weeks ago. My job of getting running water meant repeated trips into the frigid waters. The lake temperature is in the high 30’s and we pump water out of the lake. Thus, I spent some refreshing time in Northstar’s clear, clean water. This same water will eventually make its way to Hudson Bay. Our small creek at the north end of the lake is the first lake in the Hudson Bay watershed. Our small Northwoods cabin only source of heat is the fireplace and wood stove.

The water system was ornery and some minor parts broke forcing me to make repairs. However, given the pandemic it was nice to work on something as basic as a water system. The problems took enough time that I was forced me to give up for the night and head inside. Oh well, a fire I had made was roaring in the fireplace. Molly had been keeping it well fed with logs. The morning found me making my final repairs and voila … water. The next chore was to make kindling. I walked over to the chopping block, grabbed logs, and split the wood down into kindling. Given the cold temperatures, we have need a constant fire and running out of kindling would not be a good.

The final chore of the morning was to put our boat in the water. When I first arrived at the boat launch I quickly noticed a flock of nine migrating pelicans. After finishing boat details, I grabbed my camera. Even though the weather had deteriorated to a cold wet, slushy day (40F) with a very stiff wind, I took the boat in search of the pelicans. I saw the birds in a narrows, but one more problem arose on my birding expedition. To enter “The Narrows” and boat down to the southern part of Northstar Lake, there was one problem. While entering “The Narrows” there is only a ten yard gap of deep water between supports of an old logging railroad bridge trestle. Normally that presents no problem as there are markers present to let boaters know where the underwater hazards are located, but winter’s ice had sheared off the markers that located the two wooden bridge supports. However, I was confident I could navigate this hazard … albeit very slowly. I inched my way into “The Narrows” and thankfully I avoided running my boat up onto the trestle. Given there was not another boat on the lake (not many neighbors), it would have been a cold wait for help if I had failed in my navigation.

With my successful trip through “The Narrows” completed, I slowly positioned my boat upwind from the flock of pelicans. The rain, sleet and wind pelted against me as the boat floated towards the birds. I knew large birds like pelicans, similar to airplanes, had to take off into the wind. These images resulted. Moral of the story … not all birding trips are in perfect weather, but all birding trips are perfect! (there is a Common Loon in the background of the first photograph!)

I am back inside warming up. The fire needs more wood … thus it’s time to head back out to the wood pile. Owl pictures from sunrise yesterday morning are coming soon, but my data connection via my cell phone here at Northstar Lake is slow. Actually its only within the past year I even have had a cell connection from the cabin. In the past I had to boat out into the middle of the lake in the hopes of getting a poor cell connection. Stay warm, safe, sane and healthy during this Pandemic! Life here on Northstar Lake is good.