July 2013

Saturday July-tober 27th, 2013

I was wrong about the forecast.

I didn’t think that a Saturday in late July could feature a high temp of 63 as forecast. Our normal high is 79, and even on cool days the sun is hot. A high of 63 seemed unlikely.

I am not finding much redemption in the fact that their forecast was wrong too. The TV2-2 weather channel from Green Bay is reporting 52 in Bowler & Wabeno, and 59 in Crivitz as of 2pm.

I guess if there is a good side to it, the paper wasps out in the work shed will be lethargic and easy to kill after a cold night.

Thursday July 25th, 2013

Greetings and welcome!

It has been a much nicer week this week. Instead of upper 80s and 90s and humid, our temps have mostly been in the 70s and low 80s with reasonable humidity. Monday was the hottest when it was in the mid-80s and a little humid.

Usually when you change from hot and humid to mild and dry that will be some active weather. There was, but not around here. One night (Monday?) we had a little bit of a sky show with the lightning, but the rain came only enough to pound on the roof for about 30 seconds and be gone. The USGS gauge by Kosir’s shows 0.05″ of rain from Monday.

Other areas south and west had more rain and dramatic weather. I saw a report of hail bigger than a golf ball and one tornado, and some pretty good storms. All of that missed my neighborhood.

Yesterday I was driving into Crivitz on W and saw some big dark clouds and could see a little rain coming out of one of them. That too was pretty isolated. I never had a drop hit the car.

Back on July 7th the USGS gauge recorded close to an inch of rain. Including that, the 21 day total is about 1.18″. In other words, we have had less than 1/4″ of rain in the last couple of weeks. With the spotty nature of the rain, nearby areas have seen a lot more when the small thunderstorm cells hit that specific area. It just hasn’t hit here.

With the minimal rainfall you will want to be aware of fire danger and keep an eye on campfires and burning.

This weekend will also find the Peshtigo River on the low side for whitewater rafting. Usually I like it above 300 for the fun zone, above 200 for runnable but a workout, and today it is at 180 cfs. That doesn’t eliminate rafting, just head for the Menominee River up near Iron Mountain where the dam controlled flows are higher. We were up there last weekend with Kosir’s and people were having a blast.

We have some events coming up this weekend.

In Lakewood the Wabeno American Legion Post 44 is having their 3rd annual Weinerfest North Saturday 11-7 at the pavillion. There will be military equipment and representatives, and a presentation of colors at noon. After that there will be Meatski’s wieners, a meat raffle, bounce houses, a clown, the Miller Crew, and the Happy Schnapps Combo will play from 4-7. Proceeds go to veterans and military personnel serving in the Middle East. The HSC band is an awfully good time, that should be a smash hit. I will be there if my world allows it ( and Chris will drive me home..).

At the same time the Schoolhouse Bar in Mountain is having Motongator Joe playing Saturday from 4-8. That is a big band around these parts too.

Also this Saturday the Wagner VFD picnic is from 11-8 at Menominee River Park at Hwy X & 180. Look for horseshoes, kids games and bouncy house, live music and refreshments, and a lot of stuff to raffle off.  Fire department picnics are always a good time for a good cause.

There is also a Menominee River float trip with the folks from the Bear Point Yacht Club Saturday. They float from Wausaukee down to Bear point on anything from pontoon boats to inner tubes, followed by fun and friends back at the bar. There is another one coming up next weekend (Aug 3rd).

In Crivitz on Saturday there is the 4th Annual Ride for Rescue Fundraiser for the Crivitz Rescue Squad. Click here for details & registration form

There are a lot of events coming up next weekend too, including the Townsend Flowage Corn Roast and the Laona Soup. Two weekends from now is the Silver Cliff picnic and parade on Aug 10th.

Today, tonight, and Friday we have a shot at some rain and thunderstorms as another cold front comes our way. After that I am having a little trouble buying the weekend forecast.

The forecast has us for a cloudy day with a high of 63 Saturday with some wind. (Our normal high is 81) Saturday night brings a minor chance of a shower and a low of 48, followed by a partly sunny and 67 degree day Sunday.

Like I said, I am having a little trouble buying the forecast. A high of 63 and a low of 48 on the 4th weekend in July? I don’t think so Tim. Wisconsin weather can be a fickle beast, so it is possible. I’ll be prepared for it, but I won’t believe it until I see it.

That is the update for today. Have a good weekend and thank you for visiting!

RJB

Friday July 19th, 2013

Greetings and welcome!

It is Hog Wrestling weekend at Caldron Falls Bar.  Hog wrestling is a huge event for the whole area, bringing in thousands of people. It is man against beast in the beast’s setting, and the beast often gets the best of the teams.

In short a team of 4 people go into a mud & water filled arena, try to catch a pig and lift it onto a barrel. It is some seriously messy fun, and thousands come to watch. There is also food and drink, live music, vendors, and some extreme people watching. The fun starts Saturday late morning. The hog wrestling is usually over by about 5, but there is typically live music and festivities on into the night.

As always, I will warn you of a significant law enforcement presence in the whole area this weekend. In addition to the usual expanded coverage to keep the order, the OWI Task Force will be out and about in the area too. Play it smart and use designated drivers, shuttle buses, a taxi, or other safe rides if you plan on drinking. Make sure that your car is in good order, and if you have the sudden urge to punch out your best friend, you might want to save it for back at the cabin. It is a great time and a lot of fun, but it is a terrible place/weekend to be getting out of line.

The other event that I have on the list is is the Doty Fire Assn Picnic. That is Saturday from 11-11, held just north of Hwy 64 and just west of 32. Take Hwy T from 64 to Star Lake Rd and you are there. They will have raffles, meat raffles, games for the kids and the standard fare for a VFD picnic.

Next weekend’s events include a float trip on the Menominee River with the Bear Point Yacht Club, and 4th Annual Ride for Rescue Fundraiser for the Crivitz Rescue Squad. Click here for details & registration form.

It has been a hot week. Most days peaked out in the mid-90s, and last night it was still close to 80 well into the night. It wasn’t supposed to last all week, but promises, promises.. Supposedly the cold front was going to come through last night with dramatic storms, but those turned into a couple of 30 second cloudbursts, and it is still pushing 90 as of 11am Friday.

In theory the cold front will eventually win, this time the guess is that it will make its way through early evening. That will be welcome when it does come.

IF it all comes true, we are in for a very pleasant weekend for late July. The forecast for Saturday is for 75 and sunny, and Sunday looks like 71 and sunny. Those cold fronts can make for some chilly nights though. Friday night’s forecast low is about 60, but Saturday night could go into the upper 40s.

Personally I will welcome the cooler weather. I can’t imagine how many gallons that I have sweated out this week or what my electric bill will look like after a week with the AC on. It IS mid-July, so stuff like that is kind of expected, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

That is pretty much it for me today. Have a great weekend and thank you for visiting!

RJB

Friday July 12th, 2013

The Curve Inn is the place to be tomorrow night. They have a really good band playing, the No Schtick Band. They are very talented and they play music that makes people have fun and dance. Dance dance dance..