The temperature hit 61f about the time I stepped into the frozen water.  My little lake was showing some ripples ’round the edges, but mostly it was still ice.  A south wind funneled across the frozen surface creating a brisk chill across my face as I traced along the lakes northern edge.  Here and there I would face sheets that would slide apart, then together offering an opportunity to go a bit further IF I wanted to risk it.  Of course I did!  I found myself about half way through at one point as the sheets closed lifting my boat out of the water.  In a moment they separated again, lowering me back into the water and allowed me to pass.  The ice now is only a couple inches thick and would at times break under the weight of the boat.  At other times it still posed an insurmountable barrier.  In the end I managed to pass from east to west and back again.  Even such a short paddle was still a joy.  Now, if I could only get the feeling back in my toes. . .

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