Mar 5

Saturday brought the biggest run of the season and a very long day! A small army showed up to collect at 1 pm (this "group texting" people thing is working out!-- until people wise up anyway!) Even with our massive crew, it still took over two hours to gather but we collected 832 gallons-with 12 gallons coming from the Sandhill Rd. forest-we expect them to have their evaporator purchased by next year.

We had a ton of fun, even as it rained the entire time and most buckets were pretty full which made for an Olympic training as we walked through mud. (We will be curious to see who responds to the next text for help!) The gathering tank was nearly full on each path. Chuck got a fire going after the first dump to help shorten the day. This used up the entire wood supply in the camp which meant we needed to go for replacement wood.

As the season has moved along the syrup lightened up, and we keep one sample bottle per 5-gallon bucket of syrup we seal.

Highlights include: Mark has not yet wised up & purchased REAL boots. Ang & Adam aren't smart enough to know most respectable college students don't spend spring break in wet Carhartts. Nickie showed up ill, what a trooper. Muff & Gerri have decided their arms aren't quite what they used to be (or the trailer has gotten taller!). Jenny did not fall in the mud today, much to Brad's dismay who is living for the next time this happens! Bob took his wet shirt off & hung it to dry near the evaporator. He left a zippered sweatshirt on beneath his Carhartt bibs and was amazed to find the metal on the zipper heats up considerably when you stand too close to the fire. Jenny & Gerri enjoyed the "fire dance" tremendously.

Big thank you to Mark, Susan, Jenny, Kevin, Nathan, Kaleb, Ted, Angela, Adam & Nickie from the natives who would have been hours longer doing this alone!Experimented with sausage & venison in the fire pit. Jack canned off a little syrup in the evening at the house. Chuck, Bob, Cody & Charlie finished boiling around midnight. It snowed a couple of inches since the sun went down. Thanks to Cathy for chili for supper.

Total sap: 2,656 gallons

Total Syrup: 53 gallons