Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

Excerpt: If I had more time to spend taking pics I would have calm lake and people fishing pics, Lillies of the Valley in bloom, new born fawn on the road with its mom. Instead we are working hard still and getting the resort ready and we all feel a bit like Craig above who has been working on Norway's... Read more

Excerpt: We had a busy Memorial Day weekend welcoming guests and continuing to get the resort ready for summer. With the late spring our painting and planting flowers is behind but we are slowly catching up. First of all, the fun new stuff. We purchased 2 lake paddle boards which will be for rent this summer. Grant and Ben had... Read more

Excerpt: Jeff Nimmo shared some fishing pics from last week when fishing was just starting to pick up. This Walleye was 22 inches Jeff's favorite fish of the week this nice fat Northern. I can not remember how big he said it was Small mouth coming in at 19 inches. All caught and released back into the lake. Nice fishing... Read more

Excerpt: It is beach chair painting time. These chairs all have a history and a story to tell. They are a variety of sizes and shapes. Some bounce, some don't. They have been collected and painted each year. I have spent the last 3 days working on them and you can't help think about their history as you put yet... Read more

Excerpt: Spring is popping out everywhere. Our blog went down yesterday and I lost about 6 blog entries. I do not have time or pictures to add back in so you will just have to wait til tomorrow. It is going to be a beautiful week and weekend. We are allowing nightly rentals up to June 14th. If you need... Read more

Excerpt: Oars pulled out of the shed for painting. We are slowly getting the resort open and ready for summer but the weather is not cooperating. It is hard to paint oars in 50 degrees and rain. Hopefully we get a break soon The big pontoon got a fresh coat of paint between the rain drops the last few days... Read more

Excerpt: The winners of Ice Out 2014 are Al and Roberta Cikowski. They are the only ones to pick Tuesday May 6th as the day Cliff would take the plunge in Lower Kaubashine. They continue the proud tradition of the Cikowski clan picking being the big winners. I believe Fritz has won twice and Kip won last year Fritz still... Read more

Excerpt: The lake is getting closer and closer to going out. The bay by the road is completely out Ice burgs floating around We could put in some docks today if we wanted. Troy was looking at the ski dock where the canoe sits. We leave that dock in year round and the ice has pulled up the front of... Read more

Excerpt: This is a sight we have never seen before in Ice Out histroy. We looked over the hill at noon and Cliff had disappeared. We came down to the beach to pull him out of the water and low and behold he was still up. The ice had shifted in to the shoreline. For now we have to rule... Read more

Excerpt: I arrived back home on Sunday to find the lake had changed in 24 hours Ice retreating from the shoreline. Cliff still holding on, kicking back in the sun. It will not be long now. Who will be the big winner that chooses the correct day he sinks into Lower Kaubashine? The canoe will not be on dry dock... Read more

Excerpt: The lake is getting blacker and blacker. Picture taken 3:50pm Friday afternoon Definitely melting since my last set of pictures. It will not be long now Raft is now free floating Cliff has taken another shift to the back. It will not be long now. Here is the list of contenders still in the running for Ice Out 2014... Read more

Excerpt: I have been getting questions about Cliff and how much melting we have had. Here is the panoramic of our side of the lake. The ducks yesterday were taken where the road meets the water. 4 days of cold rain have actually melted a bit of ice, turning the lake blacker and blacker Shoreline showing signs of melting Hopefully... Read more