The cottage season always ended in late October or early November. It required turning off the cottage water system before it froze up along with removing the pier from the lake.
The inclination was always to wait until the last possible moment to close things up. We intended to enjoy the fall colors and we could run the boat well into October.
I had lots of volunteers to help me take out the pier. My inclination was always to take it out just after Labor Day when kids went back to school and activity on the lake really slowed down. I remember Chris pleading to leave the pier in well into October and he offered to help me remove it. I think Paul volunteered also.
Guess what? It came the end of October and there was no Chris. There was no Paul. And the G-- D--- pier was still in the water. Did you know lake water gets very, very cold in late October.
The first few years I tried to endure the cold water with a swim suit and work fast to remove sections of the modular pier. I know I am a little bit of a whimp, but I think the blood stopped flowing in my legs a few times. I remember thinking, where are those damn kids?
Then I decided to buy some hip boots to wade out into the water. This is a little known fact, but when cold water spills over the top of hips boots it is just as cold as having no boots at all. The numbing pain doesn't end until you get the boots off. Again I remember thinking, where are those damn kids?
The process of removing the sectional pier evolved into a "rope system" where I could take out the pier without ever having to go into the water. I still had the privledge of complaining about lack of help but the truth was that I had eliminated the numbing cold. I still thought, where are those damn kids?
Finally, my common sense took over. The use of the boat and pier after Labor Day was quite neglible. So over the Labor Day weekend when lots of family was visiting, I solicited help to take the pier out. That ended the problem of having to deal with cold water.
The truth about September and October is that a cottage seems romantic. You know: the fall colors, tranquil waters and fresh air. The reality is that once kids were back in school, they ended up with weekend commitments. Factor in season tickets to UW-Badger football games and the cottage hardly ever got used.
But I have to admit, every now and then in the fall, the family would end up at the cottage among the collage of colors and enjoy the day. Those few moments almost (and I stress the word "almost") made postponing removal of the pier worth while.
Love,
Dad
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