Dick's Hideaway

Dick MacKenzie - www.dickshideaway.com

A little Shackelton warm-up

My friend Kirk Drew blessed me with a special bottle of Shackleton scotch, distilled from the reconstructed special blend of the 1907 British Antarctic Expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton. 
After a cold boat ride in sub freezing temperature we had to park the boat on the shore rocks because the dock ramp, steep from our low water and slippery from overnight’s six inches of snow, was too treacherous to walk on.
After unloading the boat and wrestling tubs and boxes of supplies across the rocks we finally had the trailer loaded to tow up to the cabin.
After five frustrating minutes trying to start my ATV I finally realized it was out of gas, so trudged through the snow up the hill for a can of fresh gas.
Once running, I headed up to the cabin. Unfortunately half way there the snow covered mud bogged me down.
At that time I unloaded the trailer and hand carried everything the rest of the way.
Inside the temperature was 4 degrees (about 38 F). I built a fire in the stove and put out some feed for the birds, then remembered the Shackleton.
What a great way to warm up, I thought.
So, here I am, perched in my birdwatching chair (Kirk calls it the captain’s chair) watching the whiskeyjacks and bluejays on the deck stuffing themselves with today’s treats. Chickadees will check in soon.
Temperature at the captain’s chair has zoomed all the way up to 8 degrees. The first layer of coats will be coming off soon. The glass of Shackleton’s will be crying out for a refill before long, and I’ll shovel a path to the Palace to light the bbq to bake a batch of warm brownies.
The day is off to a great start. Winter is off to a fabulous beginning.