LOWER BAY FROZEN; GEESE GONE

LOWER CHEQUAMEGON BAY, FROZEN AND SNOW COVERED

Tuesday, 8:00 AM.  -2 degrees F at the ferry dock, -4 on the back porch, and -7 at neighbors up the street one block.  Buddy, the short-haired dog, shivers and says Brrr. Time to find his jacket.  Wind WSW, gusty at times. The sky is partly cloudy and overcast (it was clear at dawn) and it is snowing; fine, crystaline flakes, and dense fog covers the waters of the channel. The humidity is 82% and the barometer is falling, currently at 30.11" of mercury.  The week ahead is forecast to be very cold and overcast, with intermittent snow showers.

   The lower Chequameqon Bay, at Ashland, has suddenly frozen over and is snow covered (I wouldn't venture out on it, however).  The water is shallow a long way out there,  and must not have received the wind, waves and restless currents that have been prevalent further north.  New snow on thin ice will make for treacherous ice for a long while, I fear.

   The geese have left, perhaps gone south, or perhaps to the Saint Croix or Mississippi Rivers down around Minneapolis/St. Paul. I doubt they will return any time soon.