I'm M..E..L..L..L..T-ing

We live one block from the shore on Lake Winnebago. It is the largest lake located entirely within the US borders. (Locally known tidbit). It is awesome. I brushed up on my facts on the State DNR (Departement of Natural Resources) site and the lake is huge. Approximately 30 miles by 10 miles, at it's widest. 88 miles of shoreline. With a precious few feet of public land one block from the house.

The winter cycle from a 30 mile lake freezing into solid ice to spring thaw is hard to imagine. First, it is cold enough, long enough to create anywhere from 12 to 18 inches of ice. Solid enough to drive on. Which we do. Well, not me. Nope. That in itself is mind blowing.

Then, we have the tradition of building roads and bridges to navigate the ice, delivering ice shanties and various other patchwork structures for fishing (beer drinking) expeditions. Looks like a city out there in the middle of the lake. Again, mind blowing.

Anyway, when the weather warms the cycle starts to reverse. But it is a long thaw. Starts with slushy during the day and re-freezing at night. Weakening the ice. Fisherman begin to take more precautions and shanties disappear. Foot traffic is still safe.

When temperatures become steadily warmer the shorelines thaw. And cracks begin. And the water fowl love it. This was last weekend.

Notice the dark water in the background. I will refer back to this in a second.

Next, it becomes what is called black ice. See above. The ice is soft and porous and absorbs the water. Turning it black. The ice cracks as it breaks. We can hear it here a block away. Tends to echo. A bit eerie. Definitely not safe for even foot traffic now.

But is doesn't all happen at once. Way too much ice. It doesn't all evaporate or melt into the water. The spring winds stir and push the ice breaking it into huge blocks floating and jostling for position, shoving. Moving every which way. Which ever way the wind blows. Thus, ice shoves. They are spectacular. Damaging at times though!.

This is the same tiny bit of shoreline. It does not look like spring today. Even though it is headed to 60 degrees.

The contrast between 60 degrees and huge chunks of ice lining the lakeshore....mind blowing.

Then we had these little diamonds who spilled over simply to sparkle and dazzle.

I still wonder at the natural course of the season. It is a process, a nature show, beauty and somewhat formidable. To be appreciated.