Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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

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 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: Tory and I were gone for a few days on a spring water fall adventure. April is always one of the best times to see water falls. this is 8 foot falls in Marinette County by Crivitz We came home to see how much had melted... This strip down the middle of the lake is a left over snowmobile... Read more

Excerpt: 2 days of 60 degree temps did a lot of melting. Cliff still has a long way to go, but atleast the ice is changing colors Between snowbanks we have started raking. There is still snow on the ground but time to get to cleaning up Piles appearing along the hillside Maple trees are still running but have slowed... Read more

Excerpt: Norway is getting some outside TLC. The guys are replacing the upper boards and working on painting the cabin First step was bleach washing the logs to get them ready for paint. They cleaned up nicely Stay tuned to see what color gets picked Here is the latest off the sock maker. I have been making a lot of... Read more

Excerpt: We received about 15 inches of HEAVY wet snow. School called off for the 5th day of the winter. Kids will be going to school until the 4th of July at this rate. Now the question is who got stuck today? First off all the truck got stuck. Someone.... put the plow all the way down in 15 inches... Read more

Excerpt: What should be happening at the resort right now.. Getting ready for summer. Boat painting... raking.. working outside. This pic is from the 50's showing my grandfather Maynard and Uncle Dave painting boats. I am not sure who the 2 people are on the left side of the pic. Uncle Dave is there so it is probably a girl... Read more

Excerpt: Temps soaring to almost 60 have got Cliff taking a big tilt in his chair. The lake shore is finally showing signs of water. We still though still have plenty of snow around the resort, and someone I know likes to play king of the mountain Mack makes sitting on a snow bank so regal Road to Eagles Nest... Read more

Excerpt: Big congrats to Emilie and Phillip who got engaged this weekend on their first trip to the resort staying in Birchwood. Congrats to you both and for many more memorable trips to the resort through your life together Just before they arrived Bill and Anne Scully were up enjoying their 30th wedding anniversary in Birchwood where they spent their... Read more

Excerpt: Spring is springing. The raft is slowly emerging from hibernation, Cliff got a rope tied to him for when he plunges, maple trees are dripping and ground is being spotted The lake has a long way to go but it is showing signs of melting Not rolling the boats in anytime soon but at least they are not covered... Read more

Excerpt: The winter has been hard on the deer. This one seemed tired and in no hurry to move out of the way of my car. I had to honk to get it to move. They are looking a little rough and ready for fresh greens this spring Grant snapped these pics out our car window this morning. Deer find... Read more

Excerpt: This is the picture of the morning. After a harrowing trip to town, on terrible roads, in the F 250 to get Ben and Grant to school this was the best pic of the morning. We have already had 5 snow days and come hell or Winter Storm warnings they were having school today. No snow days left. I... Read more

Excerpt: This is how we go biking in Minocqua right now. Winter is slowly loosening its grip but for Katie's husband Bryon it is not fast enough and he is making his own snow biking trails. Hats off to Bryon for enjoying this spring even if it is slow in coming... Read more