After 20 hours of standing with a garden hose in my hand this week at odd hours of the day and night, finally got the ice rink going. I am sure the mailman thought it was a pretty easy job standing there like a no brainer there as he drove by each day but it is not. I still haven't figured out a good system. I like to think I am getting better at it but not so sure. I have looked at a bunch of websites to get ideas. There are so many factors and I like the challenge. The hydrant we normally use that has a 2" water line, froze up (ask Jonell about that) so I have to connect four hoses and I lose pressure from the hydrant that has a 1 1/2" line. Each year has been different. One year I had it flooded then it unexpectedly snowed big time that night, snow compressed the ice, water came up and then it never froze as the snow insulated the water. So I had to take the bobcat, compress the slush, smooth it out, let it freeze than flood it again. Anyways, it is a bit bumpy and rough in spots but will flood a few more times and should be good to go for the winter. After school today, Jens and Jon and I got out for a skate as the moon was coming up. Awesome. My feelings on skating on rough ice are the same as skiing on poor snow conditions. Makes you better. Should be noted Jens was up at 5:45am this morning skating on half the rink. Tomorrow morning we are going to hit it again before school.
I got the old barrel stove cranked up to keep the warming house super toasty so my hoses stay soft. Maple smoke lingers in the air, single digit temps, sound of sticks slapping the ice and pucks hitting the pipes, doesn't get any better.
After homework, busy work etc., kids in bed, Jonell and I went out for a moonlight skate near midnight. -10 but no wind and beautiful moonlight. I have been real pleased with my current camera except I haven't been able to get moonlight shots like I want. Moon was straight above us so hard to capture the moon.
Jonell's parents came over this evening and good to see Jonell's Dad out and about and up to his old self after all that time in the hospital. I was telling him about grooming on the lake this year and he said "yeah, its always a bit nerve racking being the first one on the ice with motorized equipment" "Used to have a Falcon. I would come off the access 50 mph thinking I was good to go since I was going fast and there wasn't much pound per square inch since I was going so fast but then realized I had to stop at one point" "never went through" "Can't count how many times I was the first one on the ice with a truck". He told Jake he bought a toboggan at a auction and Jake should wax it up and bring it over to Shingobee. Jonell's mom said "yeah, if he wants to go to the hospital." Yep, Shingobee has to be the king of sleeding hills in the state of MN.
Jake built a wall mount in shop class for his bike and put it to use. Jake got facebook going for me. Basically I did it so I could check out Jake's page and possibly get in touch with some of the kids I went to school with in Norway. I made some good friends over there and haven't heard from them in 20 years, I think it has been. If I am not active on there or don't do something facebooky, don't take it personal. Not a good time of year to get going on something like that. Looks like Jake will be going to MT Itasca on Saturday for the first ski meet. Killer hills. Should be a good training race and ski against some Duluth and eastern MN kids. I wonder if they will let him wave the flag.
I got the old barrel stove cranked up to keep the warming house super toasty so my hoses stay soft. Maple smoke lingers in the air, single digit temps, sound of sticks slapping the ice and pucks hitting the pipes, doesn't get any better.
After homework, busy work etc., kids in bed, Jonell and I went out for a moonlight skate near midnight. -10 but no wind and beautiful moonlight. I have been real pleased with my current camera except I haven't been able to get moonlight shots like I want. Moon was straight above us so hard to capture the moon.
Jonell's parents came over this evening and good to see Jonell's Dad out and about and up to his old self after all that time in the hospital. I was telling him about grooming on the lake this year and he said "yeah, its always a bit nerve racking being the first one on the ice with motorized equipment" "Used to have a Falcon. I would come off the access 50 mph thinking I was good to go since I was going fast and there wasn't much pound per square inch since I was going so fast but then realized I had to stop at one point" "never went through" "Can't count how many times I was the first one on the ice with a truck". He told Jake he bought a toboggan at a auction and Jake should wax it up and bring it over to Shingobee. Jonell's mom said "yeah, if he wants to go to the hospital." Yep, Shingobee has to be the king of sleeding hills in the state of MN.
Jake built a wall mount in shop class for his bike and put it to use. Jake got facebook going for me. Basically I did it so I could check out Jake's page and possibly get in touch with some of the kids I went to school with in Norway. I made some good friends over there and haven't heard from them in 20 years, I think it has been. If I am not active on there or don't do something facebooky, don't take it personal. Not a good time of year to get going on something like that. Looks like Jake will be going to MT Itasca on Saturday for the first ski meet. Killer hills. Should be a good training race and ski against some Duluth and eastern MN kids. I wonder if they will let him wave the flag.
1 comment:
I think you would enjoy Home Ice by Jack Falla. Good read on home ice rinks.
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