That time varies every year, but after Sept 15th you need to watch carefully that the nightly temperatures this far north don’t fall below freezing. So this weekend the water gets shutoff and we close everything up. We will be back one more time in October to move the coach to its winter storage facility, and maybe once or twice over the winter to check on everything, but for all practical purposes lake season in Minnesota is over for the year for us.
The weekend cooperated fantastically and the temperatures during the day were in the 70-80 degree range and the trees were starting to change color.
Saturday started out with a trip to Walker Marine Max to get oil, and an oil filter for the boat motor. It was time to change the oil in the boat's outboard motor and store it for the winter. We also stopped at the local coffee shop in Walker for a cup of coffee and a scone.
After the coffee we walked over to the new hotel “Chase on the Lake” and wandered around inside with our coffee making our own personal tour. Its a real nice place and would be worth staying in at some time. http://www.chaseonthelake.com
Back at the lake lot later in the morning I changed the oil in the boat motor and disconnected the battery finalizing the storage of the boat for the winter.
After lunch I pulled the Jeep up behind the coach and finished wiring the lights for towing the jeep.
The wiring for the lights went fast and the rest of the day was a lay about day and ended with a grilled salmon dinner and the final hot tub for the year.
Margaret was up early the next morning and managed to capture a beautiful image of the sunrise and the neighbor fishing in the early morning light.
Sunday was all about draining the water out of all the systems for the winter. Early that morning we started with the hot tub, connecting a hose and draining the water out into the hillside.
Once drained it all had to be scrubbed and every drop of water siphoned out of all the jets so it doesn't freeze and burst a pipe.
After that the water had to be drained from the coach plumbing, underground water pipes, and well housing and be replaced with antifreeze. It was closing in on 3:00PM when all the water was out of all the systems. With all the water systems shutdown, we moved the coach out on the drive way so it would be easy to drive it out in a couple of weeks on it final trip to the winter storage area in Little Falls.
With everything locked up, closed up, and winterized Margaret celebrated with a glass of wine on the lonely deck before we headed back to the city.
“One year closes out, but another waits in the wings for it’s chance to start”
1 comment:
Me sad also.
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