Aug 20 - the circular blow

We had a mini tornado. That's the only possible explanation for the tree damage during a storm yesterday that occurred just across the lake from us. Hundreds of big trees were either uprooted or snapped off half-way up -- and I mean big pine trees. It didn't hit our side of the lake, nor did it hit further up or down the lake, as far as we can tell.

The Scotts, across from us, have a lot of damage but thankfully nothing hit their cottage. The point, across from us, is a vision of snapped trees. The bay is full of large tree branches, not really navigable last night. We went over to the Scotts to see if they needed any help, and shortly after Jim Matthews and Art Ysseldyk arrived. The windstorm did bring down a couple of trees on this side - one in Robinson's driveway and one in Worosz's (sp?) but those were isolated and not unusual. Nothing came down on Osprey Road. Jim and I are going to go over this morning and take care of the tree for Deloris.

We were very lucky. All we got was a huge downpour. Dennis says that he saw the water recede to the bottom of the bay and then come back like a tidal wave -- we saw none of that, it was so black out. In fact, after the storm moved through we had dinner and then I was reading and Sandy called to me -- come see this -- what ? (thinking that it was a bird or something that would be gone by the time that I'd get there) -- she had seen the trees at the point. Holy Sh*t. Then I went out on the deck and saw the area straight across from us, with all the snapped matchstick trees ... Holy Sh*t. Now I understand why I was hearing a chainsaw operating across the lake. Dennis was clearing a path around his place.

So ... we don't have to go to Florida for hurricanes or tornadoes. Dennis has months of work cleaning his place up. There are trees uprooted and leaning that have yet to fall -- next minor wind will bring them down. One is leaning towards his cottage, but it's small. I don't remember when we bought this land -- more than 40 years ago but less than 50 -- I've never seen anything like this up north. It looks like the damage, only a smaller swath, that I've seen in Florida from a tornado. I hope that it's another 50 years before something comes this close again.

I'll go out later and take pictures. The damage is not going away soon.

What else from yesterday ? Well, I started rebuilding my little woodbox right behind the house. I need it bigger and with siding on it to match the house. I have plenty of siding, leftover from the build. I'll likely finish that today, but might not get the siding on it just yet. We also re-arranged some furniture. Sandy has been pressing for a king sized bed. She claims that me moving keeps her awake. I don't know ... I know lots of times when I'm shifting around hearing her snoring softly and it doesn't stop. However, we did the move. The bedroom at the back, where Jeffrey and Sara were, now has a queen-sized bed and the king -- a pair of twins -- is in our room. Neither of us sleeps as soundly as we used to ... unless, of course, I'm on day 3 of a 1200 km ride ...

I'll go biking tomorrow.

That's it. That's enough.