ot
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: monroe (sw) wi
Posts: 1,344
Bikes: cannondale 400st, dean el diente, specialized hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
5 Posts
ot
This time of the year this is one of the things I do to compensate for the lack of biking. Its the sugar shack of a friend of mine. Its amazing how relaxing it is to sit with a couple of friends and watching sap boil. Of course, there is the occasional foray into the woods to collect sap as well as the sitting and watching part. Usually we have about 100 trees tapped but tempered it a bit this year and only have about 80. All ready have collected about 250 gallons of sap and lets face it, real maple syrup is nothing short of wonderful. Anyone who doesn't agree is just sick!
About 2 hours after I took this picture it started snowing and we ended up with about 8 inches with more on the way next week.
Last edited by rck; 02-24-12 at 01:56 PM.
#2
Life is good
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Posts: 18,209
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 522 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
Sounds like fun.
If you're sending out samples, send me a PM and I'll give you my mailing address.
If you're sending out samples, send me a PM and I'll give you my mailing address.
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#4
Senior Member
All you need is a frozen-over lake so you can do some ice-fishing.
__________________
Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
#5
Dharma Dog
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 2,073
Bikes: Rodriguez Shiftless street fixie with S&S couplers, Kuwahara tandem, Trek carbon, Dolan track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Living in California in my youth, I never got to taste real maple syrup until I moved to Canada. There, the grade A stuff is pretty common. In California, you mostly get "Vermont Maid," and there's a tendency to think that good maple syrup is really thick, because of all the cheap corn syrup they put in as filler. It isn't. I found out that the best maple syrup is very runny, almost like water. On my travels out of Canada, I like to buy the metal tins of real Canadian maple syrup to give as gifts. It really is remarkable stuff!
Luis
Luis
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
During most of my teen years my father would take my brothers and me with him to get firewood. We'd clear downed trees from land after owners gave us permission. At day's end we sit in front of the wood burning stove with a tea kettle on top and tell jokes. I always thought he did it to save on heating bills. It wasn't until recently that I discovered he did it to stay in shape during the winter months.
__________________
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
#8
Century bound
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Mesa Arizona
Posts: 2,262
Bikes: Felt AR4 and Cannondale hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
I am sure glad people want to live where you are and do the sap collecting thing cause It wouldn't be me. Ain't it great we don't all like the same things.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Newport News, VA USA
Posts: 3,325
Bikes: Diamondback Edgewood LX; Giant Defy 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
D****! YOU!!!
I can't have real Maple Syrup. I'm diabetic! I really miss using the real stuff.
I can't have real Maple Syrup. I'm diabetic! I really miss using the real stuff.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,868
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
4 Posts
Nice sugar house.
During my post retirement "career" as a Historic Interpreter I had the pleasure of "making syrup" for four seasons. We used a wood fired evaporator and collecting sap was done by tractor; occasionally oxen were used to give the visitors their money's worth. Naturally we used the old type spiles and tin buckets etc. (no plastic hose).
Very hard work but quite rewarding.
During my post retirement "career" as a Historic Interpreter I had the pleasure of "making syrup" for four seasons. We used a wood fired evaporator and collecting sap was done by tractor; occasionally oxen were used to give the visitors their money's worth. Naturally we used the old type spiles and tin buckets etc. (no plastic hose).
Very hard work but quite rewarding.
Last edited by Louis; 02-25-12 at 11:18 AM. Reason: do'h
#12
Senior member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Oakville Ontario
Posts: 8,108
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 937 Post(s)
Liked 652 Times
in
367 Posts
In the rural area of Ontario where I grew up, sugar shacks were everywhere. Years ago, they used to burn tires under the evaporators, so the smell I associate with sugar shacks is not as pleasant as you might expect.
In more recent times, tire burning was outlawed and the aroma became much more enjoyable.
Still get a gallon straight from the farm every year. Should be getting a fresh batch very shortly.
In more recent times, tire burning was outlawed and the aroma became much more enjoyable.
Still get a gallon straight from the farm every year. Should be getting a fresh batch very shortly.
#13
Creamy pack filling
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Nine Mile Falls, WA
Posts: 710
Bikes: Trek 8000, Co-Motion tandem, Co-motion Espresso, Yeti Cross, 9Zero7 Fat Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Brings back some memories and I had maple syrup on my pancakes this morning. Lived in northern Ohio in the 70's and there was maple shacks throughout the woods that we use to explore. We even had the Chardon Maple Festival. Great time to be a kid.
#14
Old Fogy
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Murray, Utah
Posts: 1,225
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I love the real syrup, and I'd love to be there while it was being collected and boiled. I wonder if the wife would miss me if I slipped out for a couple of weeks? Never mind, the dogs wouldn't let me go.
#15
Senior Member
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Newport News, VA USA
Posts: 3,325
Bikes: Diamondback Edgewood LX; Giant Defy 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I rarely eat waffles or pancakes...eat them maybe once or twice a year. But, I really do miss putting REAL syrup, I mean REAL maple syrup, on them when I do. Told the wife about this post and her mouth watered. She can have the real stuff and as a kid she remembers visiting a farm and having some that was freshly made.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: monroe (sw) wi
Posts: 1,344
Bikes: cannondale 400st, dean el diente, specialized hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
5 Posts
Hey Bikey, in your honor I went out this am and had some french toast under my maple syrup!
#18
Senior Member
I agree when you do things best not done they must be done properly so the enjoyment is worth the transgression.