Birthday wishes from around the country.

Thank you to Kara and all the other family members and friends who made this a special birthday.

First bike ride of 2010.

A little tune up. Check the tire pressures. Add some "shopping baskets" to the the rack. Find the helmets and off we went for the first bike ride of 2010. The 5th street corridor is open and being used. Lots of people out walking and biking on March 17th 2010.

Unbelievable weather for March 15th.

National Weather source.

16:00 CST

Temperature on the shady north side of the house.

Temperature on the west side of the house.

No it's not New Hampshire and it's not Vermont. It's A Wisconsin Covered Bridge.

We found this covered bridge by accident.  So if you would like to see this bridge. Take Wisconsin Highway 70 between Fifield and Minocqua WI. Take Highway 70 east to Forest Road 148,. east of Fifield.

Interesting construction.

Smith Rapids Covered Bridge. For more details and directions visit this Price County WI. website.

I wonder was this stream has to offer for the fishermen in the family?

Feeding the birds.

Lakeside resident.

Sadly.... it appears the 2009-10 ice fishing season is over.

Oh what a difference a week of warm rainy weather can make.

Very few are venturing out. The ice is fine but the landings are rough.

Walking out is the best option.

I'm hoping we will get some cold weather so I can get one or two more trips out.

Little Bohemia. Johnny Depp as John Dillinger. Local history and lunch.

The Main Entrance on Highway 51 in Manitowish Waters WI.

My wife and I went to Little Bohemia for lunch and a little sightseeing. We spent a great afternoon wandering the building and grounds. We were lucky to have the place pretty much to ourselves. We would like to thank Pam for being our waitress, bartender, tour guide and general all around host. Hint: Off season seems to be a great time to visit. Call ahead for their summer and winter schedule.

Front Entrance.

Look for this view in the movie Public Enemies staring Johnny Depp.

And this view in the movie Public Enemies staring Johnny Depp.

These windows are filled with bullet holes from the shootout. See the pictures below for the view from inside.

And this view in the movie Public Enemy staring Johnny Depp.

It's one of these windows on the upper floor that John Dillinger escaped from.

 And this view in the movie Public Enemies staring Johnny Depp.

Aside from the fact that this is the bar that was in the movie this is a great bar and very typical of resorts built in this era (1929) in Northern Wisconsin.

And this similar view in the movie Public Enemy staring Johnny Depp.

This photo (view) is pretty close to the movie scene.
And no that is not Johnny and his girlfriend sitting at the bar.

And this view in the movie Public Enemies staring Johnny Depp.

These are preserved bullet holes from the actual shootout.

 This is a preserved bullet hole from the actual shootout.

 Eating lunch while reading a little local history. For additional history see here, here and here. And from travelwisconsin.com see here, here and here.

Thanks Pam for your great hospitality, lunch and hooch, booze ... cocktails.

Johnny Depp as John Dillinger in Public Enemies.

Size does matter. A least when it comes to fishing.

 

This Northern Pike was and inch short of being legal and was released.

This Perch "is the largest one" my fishing partner had caught in years.

Second Landing. Perch... but no Walleye. Unless you count Skip's

 It will make a meal.

Ice Fishing 101 (Continued)

There is always some new thing to try. Some work some...well looked like they would work.

 

Automatic jigging tip-up.

 

This device (when it works right) will automatically set the hook when a fish bites.

 

This is a Pop-up.  It works great in real cold blowing weather.

Oh by the way this is what we didn't catch today.  Skip caught these on Saturday.