Summer is gone. As of September 22, fall arrived. Orange you glad?
The sumac turns red first, then the tree leaves turn. The leaves are such a pretty yellow and orange.
They are so enjoyable until they decide to rest on the ground (hand-held rakes are then the tool of attack weaponry).
In looking back at our lake calendar, this enjoyable (and then unenjoyable) time of the year is about October 2 through 16 (later if you’re a slow raker).
Please don’t rake or blow your leaves into Beaver Lake. Be nice to the lake; it is nice to you.
September is the month when many of the docks are taken in. October is the month when most of the rest of the docks are taken in. November is the month when the last few “narrative” docks are taken in.
For the first time in 37 summers, we were the first to have our dock out of the lake (probably because we never put the dock in, due to the lake being low).
Beaver Lake water level is about three feet below normal spring water level. All docks are on dry land for the first one fourth to one half of their length. On a more positive note, you’re getting more beach for your money when you pay your real estate taxes.
The low lake level is both good and bad for the fishermen. Good because there is less water in which the fish can hide; bad because all of the boat ramp is on dry land, thus making it harder to get your boat in and out of the water.
Wanted: A person with a small game hunting license. Stop by cabin 67 on Beaver Lake. You furnish the license; I’ll furnish the gun, ammo and gray squirrels. You may keep the limit of seven.
On four consecutive mornings, we saw about 4,000 pelicans, 1,000 geese, and 500 ducks fly over our cabin headed for Lonergan Lake (just west of Beaver Lake). We think they came from Lake Geneva.
Duck hunting season began on Saturday, Sept. 2, which was also the first day of fall. If you found water, you found ducks.
The flight of pelicans, geese, and ducks over our cabin ended with the opening of duck hunting season. Where did they go?
By the way, pelicans are protected. (Did you know they taste a lot like bald eagles?)
If you like to walk, follow the trail at the end of Beaver Lake Park. This is the time of the year when it is most beautiful, with no bugs. Your chance of seeing deer or turkeys is very good. Contrary to popular rumor, there are no bears! (Pheasant sighting is a rarity.)
Are you an ex-Twins fan who is now a Detroit Tigers fan? I am. Maybe I should just say “Anybody but the Yankees.”
Are the Vikings for real or just a flash in the pan?
Genie and I are now Forty-Niners! To celebrate, we went to the Old Mill in Austin for lunch. Food was good; service from Ellie was excellent. While in Austin, going to the Spam Museum gift shop for Christmas presents was a must!
In honor of now being a Forty-Niner, Mark Sorenson gave me a ride in his ultra-light. We flew over Beaver Lake (it was most enjoyable). Genie’s turn was next, as there is only room for one passenger at a time.
Genie and I became Forty-Niners on September 28, 2012. When you have been married 49 years, you are a Forty-Niner for one year.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of Wisdom: There is always room for God.