Old Ironmaker

Can't wait to getto Nip for our 35 year reunion. I don't know if everyone is going on the ice though. I'm sitting here watching Erie freeze. So far the Farmers Almanac is wrong. We have had a total of 2" of snow here, maybe. Cold a few days, mostly freezing rain up till this week. New Years Eve in Hamilton you didn't need a coat.

I have been going to Bear Creek on and off for well over 30 years summer and winter. Of the dozen or so places we've stayed on Nip it is my favorite.

Generally No Pets because of what Lew said, plus, not everyone is a dog person. Others in the community don't want to hear barking at anytime when on vacation, not everyone is a dog person. I know folks that have inherited their kids and kids, kids dogs and can't wait to go on vacation to get away from them. Plus insurance for "pet" damages cost money. It is my experience that many rentals are not pet friendly. Unless you are looking at Million $ condos south most condo corps now are "no pets allowed" even for owners, both mine were no pets unless grand fathered in.

It's tough to get any rentals that will take pets. Make sure you tell them you have a dog you want to bring. When I rented my places down south "No Pets", ever.

I like the last few you guys posted. I want to fire up my 83' white 560SEC Benz with ground effects and roll Uptown looking into the storefront windows and watch the bling on the 20' ers shine. Just got jacked up by five O cuz the glass is too dark. You guys hadn't graced the Earth yet I bet or maybe just. Get that skateboard away from my car kid.

Hey Brian, Happy New year bud. I have done much damage in 5 miles driving. I totalled a car 4 doors from where I lived once.

I hate writing "nice fish" over and over so I am going to say Fantasmic. Is it legal to use the "ice fishing" grip on the rod even if there isn't any ice? Do you have snow tires on the trailer? I towed the boat in the snow once and will never do that again, ever. A nightmare when a storm hit on the 400.

Nice job Dave. I like my stuff a bit less flashy. I even might beat up my stuff so no one would ever think about putting the gleep on it. The big dent on my tailgate I did when I Christened the new Silverado at 2500 KMS is still there 5 years latter. They steal them out here in Haldimand for the tailgates amongst other parts, not mine, or my beat up looking rods.

Oh John, I m so sorry to hear of your loss. Maybe this isn't the time to make a big decision. You probably won't be towing it until spring anyway. Take a time out. Check with your loan provider, you may have life insurance on that loan, check. A pals son saved his entire life to buy a new CJ Jeep when he turned 16, every penny ever given to him as gifts for 16 years. The Jeep was going for 24K and the annual insurance for him as principle driver was over $10,000.00 a year, that was years ago insurance rates hasn't gone down. Call your broker for a quote for your 17 year old. Get the right tow vehicle for the boat. This isn't Australia. edit: I just had a thought, scary. What if you only insure the Rav during the winter months and the Jimmy during those months when you will need it to tow. Then you only have 1 available vehicle for 2 drivers. You won't get hammered on the loan for the Rav, the Lads insurance rates are extremely less and the wear on the older Jimmy is far less too.

Sorry I missed it. Chose Florida instead. Just got back today. No ice fishing, just fishing for ice for the Crown.

^ exactly. You get what you pay for Huzz. Good luck.

Yes it was a 2.7. I never had any engine issues, that's a plus I guess. Just regular maintenance. Computer issues at over $1000.00 a pop. The car ran and looked nice and shiny when I drove it into the wreckers stuck in limp mode. Not a speck of rust. I could go for an entire day before it went into limp mode then I might not get 100 meters and she was stuck in 2nd, shut it off and start over again, go another block and go through it again. 3 tranny communication computers in 2 1/2 years. AC never worked right as well as the blower fan. Problems with CV joints. Struts, wheel bearings. Always was dealing with wearing pads early. I don't drive hard. Door panel tabs broke, rear power windows worked when they wanted, windshield leaked water, rear defroster went, water in the trunk. The battery was buried behind a cross member and behind another thing I don't remember. I'm having a flashback, I need to stop thinking about that POS. I leased from new and serviced it as required. I bought the lease out and everything went to Hell. Huzz you couldn't give me a Chrysler.

Mine was a 03 too Rick. Mine was useless in the un plowed snow. If we had 8" I would get stuck in the laneway. On a clear road OK otherwise useless. I took off the front spoiler because of it plowing snow and it would build up in the front until I got stuck. Worse car I ever owned mostly for computer problems. That car had as many K's towing it as driving, it sure felt like it. It is rare to see an Intrepid or any of those cab forward Chryslers on the road today, and early model 300's, still plenty of Fords and Chevys from that era still running.

How did we ever get around in those 1960's and 70's big V8 real wheel drive land yachts? Sometimes we didn't unless you had a good shovel actually, the winters of 77,78,79 were brutal. I lost a few sets of car mats jammed under the rear tires. I hope that Chrysler has more road clearance than my piece of poop Intrepid did. Any more than 6"s of white stuff and the thing would lift off the road and you were sitting still spinning your wheels. Just like VW Beetles front end with hardly any weight would lift off the road, out came the shovel. Need tires to touch a bit of the road no mater how many wheels are turning.

All weather tires solve the dilemma of driving to Florida in winter. You need winter tires until you get to Tennessee at least but can't drive with them in Florida because you will wear them out in no time in that heat. All weather tires are the answer. The best snow tires I ever had were Blizzaks on a rear wheel drive BMW. No longer in the budget, nor are BMW's.

Buonna Festa tutti qaundi. Not necessarily spelt in the manner of which you have read.

Maybe a bit too old for the average OFC member to recall. A long career but never was a household name in the last 30 years.

Exactly Dave. The only way some can save money is overpaying on their income tax. A very smart and rich man once told me a very successful person owes millions when he dies. Legacy is over rated. Always better in my pocket than theirs. I don't want to go into a long accounting equation over 60 bucks but if I invest that and get my average ROI my last years license is less than 20 bucks paying 1 year at a time.

I too am going to stop paying for a fishing license. 2019 is the last time I buy one, unless they change the law and they will. I never pay the Gov. more than I need to, vehicle tag, fishing license, no way, never. Even if I pay 2 bucks more every year I am still ahead buying it 1 year at a time.

I tested the Hankooks last night when I came around the corner too fast on 6" of packed ice, not a scheduled test. I would have been in the farmers field with a lesser tire. Get this they are cleaning parking spots in the curb lane with a front end loader and a dump truck in Fisherville last night while Lakeshore Rd has 6 inches of pure ice on it mixed with clean sections and there are 3 foot drifts on Fisherville Rd 5 k's from the village. Idiots.

Them there are some nice pics Nick. You have gotten an early start on most of you ice guys. Bigugly Bruce. Open water Perch? In this weather? You are either a tough dude or are crazy, maybe a little of both. The way the temps have been and the wind blowing here we should have ice on Long Point Bay this winter. Keep all the ice fishing reports coming, I am really looking forward to our 30 year Nipissing reunion this winter. 9 in so far. 1 coming from Atlanta Ga. I couldn't believe how many places were still available to rent. 25 years ago there were waiting lists at Nip. If we didn't give a deposit for next year before we left no guarantee we would get a rental cottage. And the prices are nearly the same as 20 years ago.

Hope you are feeling better Rick. I'll call you this week. Out all day tomorrow to Hamilton shopping and taking Mom and Dad out for an early Christmas dinner.

That's too bad you will miss it Tom. We could have car pooled. I don't live far from Cayuga. We are down at the lake at the end and west of Fisherville road.

Good health and happiness to all my loved ones and even those not so loved. I want for nothing. I am truly blessed. A single morning when I wake and don't feel like I have been run over by a Mac truck would be nice though.

Take a ride Rick. You have plenty of time to get here. Maybe Brian will swing by and pick you up. He knows the way. Wouldn't that be a GTG to remember.