Maintaining My Lake Ice Rink

[@fingerlakeshiker]

nice,we had a neighborhood stream we as kids would shovel and water and play hockey. My dad would get mad, i would be down at Pauls creek with our shovel and the driveway had not been done yet.

[@shugemery]

Fun trumps chores!!!

[@georgeclark7208]

Nice job! You proved the concept. Now finish the rest of the lake... :)

[@shugemery]

Truly. Everyone else on the lake has let their rinks go. The rink seems small this year but takes a long time to do. Whew....

[@nobison6185]

Wow, that's dedication. I would polk a snow blower down there. I grew up in the 70s and we skated ponds all the time. I'm in northern Ohio and we rarely see safe ice most winters these days. Thanks the video; it took me back

[@shugemery]

I tried my battery powered one. Less than good results. No easy way out!

[@yooperwsdm]

Lots of work but the reward is a smooooth ice.. I so want to see the hillbilly zamboni in action, I think even your Coyote was curious. Watch them Hockey stops, hopefully I can still get out there when I'm your age. Whoooo Buddy))))

[@shugemery]

Fun work but yes...work for fun.

[@alanosborne1947]

Ohhh the memories I have of skating on a frozen lake! I grew up in Illinois and spent many hours skating at the Peotone Sportsman Club lake. There were two lakes created from excavating clay used in manufacturing drainage tiles. The local farmers used the tiles to aid in draining water from their crop fields. The lakes were very deep and if we had a good freeze and no snow the ice would be a deep emerald green color. On school nights we would gather at the lakes after doing homework and eating dinner and skate until 9:00 p.m. and then on Saturday and Sunday we would skate all day. I have not skated in years but I bet it would come back to me as soon as I laced up my skates. Those shiny razor sharp blades creating that distinct sound as I glide across the cold,barren hard ice!! MY GOSH I MISS IT!! Have fun Shug, be careful and think of me as you glide across that beautiful frozen lake the wind in your face spinning, turning and just feeling FREE!

[@shugemery]

Righto! I’ll do a few laps for you.

[@kevshelley]

Truly impressive, I had no idea that much work went into maintaining a rink! I does pay off though, very cool. Great to see Bean patrolling Sector Seven again! All the best ✌🏼❄️

[@shugemery]

Every time it snows…..more shoveling. We had some freezing rain that reeks havoc on the good ice. Fun chore though and good exercise.

[@maryrobinson728]

My friend and I are heading out this weekend and we feel more confident after watch - no - studying your videos. Thanks for being so cool, Shug!

[@shugemery]

Have a right goodie of a trip and live it up out there.

[@trenttucker7784]

Great work Shug! I think it's great for anyone to get out when it's winter. Everyone seems to just hole up. We always do sledding, snow ball fights , working or whatever winter hardly stops us and the kids. Thanks again Shug!

[@shugemery]

Winter gets long...must embrace. Though I do enjoy a hole-up day after several days out.

[@ČØŴv2.0]

Thanks Shug, you helped put a smile on my face today. Mrs in hospital, wooooobuddy that’s a tough one. She’s sick enough to be in there, well enough to complain about it 🙂. Keep that rink safe for Meg, gotta look after the better half.

[@shugemery]

Dang. I am sending good vibes. We need ‘em!

[@ČØŴv2.0]

@@shugemery, don’t we just. Thanks for good wishes, it means a lot.

[@brucehodson2763]

Absolutely bringing backs memories of 1970s ODR usage at a local “pay fishing” lake where I grew up in SWPA. We lost a lot of pucks in that place…

[@shugemery]

I miss the 1970s!!!! Wanna go back!

[@whatsananna]

Ha! I thought we might see an EVENT there at the end. So fun!!!

[@shugemery]

Nearly!!!

[@dabul808]

Shug, you made My day! Commander Bean was a bit shy today but made his appearance in his sweater that Mama made for him. 🤙🏽❤️🐕 ☠️

[@shugemery]

He is camera shy. Like a few of my friends.

[@damama4209]

Always fun on the ice. Good stuff. Keep enjoying

[@shugemery]

Yes’m. Will do.

[@amrose250]

You never cease to amaze me! Who else can make pumping water onto a frozen lake entertaining? Only you Shug. Have fun and enjoy your cold weather.

[@shugemery]

My next video is on glue drying. We have had so good cold cold. Sub 0º is kinda magical.

[@michellerose7560]

@@shugemery Glue drying! 🍿🍿 I’m ready! 😁

[@shugemery]

@@michellerose7560 Good ol mucilage glue!

[@michellerose7560]

@@shugemery my favorite of the glues! 😜

[@cailou32]

Try getting a bucket with some cool water, add fresh snow and make a slush. Use a drywall putty knife to fill cracks. Makes a great patch, fast.

[@shugemery]

Great tip! Thanks. I did not maintain a rink this year. Not much snow so the whole lake was huge rink. Lake thawed a few days ago. Until next year.....

[@theOakMonster]

You're a national treasure, Shug.

[@shugemery]

Naw....I'm pocket change. Thankee.

[@bobmillerick300]

Good show sir. Have a blast.

[@shugemery]

Thankee.......groovin'

[@MrF4tty]

We plow off one of the ponds in the back yard and flood it but we have never done anything extra. Learned a little like flooding the edges first makes sense but I have never done it. We have multiple nice rinks within 10 minutes but skating at night with just a few luci Solar lights and not a single house around. Makes for a fun evening.

[@shugemery]

Magical at night. I bring down my Coleman gas lantern!

[@lembriggs1075]

Yep! Nope! Yep! You’re just too cool! Love your spirit! Love your videos! Very uplifting and encouraging!

[@shugemery]

Whoooooo Buddy)))))

[@Farang_Lifestyles]

Shug, you are awesome !

[@shugemery]

Just trying for big fun here and there. Thankee.

[@jessecole7996]

Wow! That is a science! Very cool!

[@shugemery]

There is a science to everything if you care enough~~!

[@jessecole7996]

@@shugemery This is very very true!

[@stevencunningham4680]

Absolutely awesome Shug ! You never cease to amaze me and your talents are unlimited. A lot of work goes into maintaining your own personal ice rink. Fun City for sure.

[@shugemery]

More grunt work than talent but just fun to be down on the lake goofing about.

[@toddb1765]

This reminds me of when I used to make rinks on the lake that I grew up on. All the neighborhood kids would meet and play some ice hockey. We never watered it though. We just used a shovel and skated on bumpy ice. Still had a blast though!

[@shugemery]

Yeah....my wife requires smoooooth~~~~

[@TheNfields260]

I remember taking the scouts to Northern Tier and the ice booming while we were heading to Canada! I love the booms!

[@shugemery]

It is a deep sound that goes to the core.

[@Liquidforce4441]

Watching from Florida, looks like fun.

[@shugemery]

Our version of sea shell hunting....I reckon!

[@sloveniaisgoodcountry6511]

I didn’t know Shug had a lake ice rink until today, but I can’t say I’m surprised

[@shugemery]

Indeed I do.

[@kmonnier]

Your shoveling method ties my brain in knots. I have to try it some time

[@shugemery]

It kinda works. I have a snowblower but just like to use a shovel on rink. Like being down there. Takes a while though however.

[@techguy9023]

When I was a kid the city would send out some guy to dig down to a valve next to the fire hydrant and turn on the fire hose connector at the baseball field across the street to flood the field for ice skating. There were plenty of frozen lakes but this field was at an elementary school so it made it convenient

[@shugemery]

Cheers for “Some Guy!!”

[@jimharrow8104]

Far out & nice ice...

[@shugemery]

Not to far out....pretty close to shore...haaaa

[@Callahangonefishin]

Awesome Shug! My wife wants a lake rink, looks like you were having a blast. Cheers

[@shugemery]

Got a lake???

[@Callahangonefishin]

@@shugemery Hey good buddy! Well, the lake's not mine, but we got a lil' patch of dirt next to one. Even got a few hammock trees on there, Lol, Cheers

[@Callahangonefishin]

Been catchin' the perch and pickerel!

[@markgang1861]

Thanks for your tutorial.

[@shugemery]

Y'elcome~

[@mat-ventures]

AHahahaha loved that failed breaking at 10:07, made my day! Whoooo buddy, have a nice day Shug!

[@shugemery]

Haaaaa..... too true!

[@notquiteultralight1701]

Great watch Shug!!! Sooo glad to see ya wearing the helmet!! That was nerve racking watching you slide around the ice in your boots!!😬 take good care sir!!

[@shugemery]

Oh yes. We had a friend who fell backwards and smacked her head really hard on the ice. No helmet. A week in the hospital. She still is not 100% right.

[@notquiteultralight1701]

@@shugemery yikes!!!

[@DanOpdal]

Thank you for sharing your video!

[@shugemery]

I share videos gladly. I sorta hate sharing my candy......

[@scyz2807]

Good job! Not this year, but in the past I have hand shoveled the snow off a local pond. But instead of making a rectangular rink I used the shovel, while skating, to make a LONG circular path. I repeated that a few times until I had a roughly 6 foot wide skating path. I also shoveled out a 100 foot circle in the middle. Sadly, I think I was the only one to skate there. Since then I have thought about getting the local fire department to use their equipment to do what you did with the small hose. This pond is man made (fed by a spring) and there is actually a hydrant on one side of this pond in case one of the 3 nearby houses needs water to fight a fire. I have thought that if I could get the fire department to do the flooding thing (required after a wet snow fall) then perhaps I could get a story in my local small town paper and a few people would show up to enjoy the skating! I think last year was too warm to have good/thick ice. But you just reminded me of my old idea! : - ) The ice may be good this year - under 8 inches of partially melted snow.

[@shugemery]

Some folks across the lake do a random path like you speak of. Pretty cool. They have let it go though. We have had a lot of real cold days.

[@CanoehoundAdventures]

Gold medal skating skills... "10"

[@shugemery]

Makes me appreciate really good skaters!

[@stephen.mcguire]

Great stuff, love the rink! I can't skate to save my life, you're doing great. Thanks for sharing.

[@shugemery]

Thankee. Good fun.

[@AVAJourneys]

Looks like fun! Miss having a place to skate behind the house! Nice work on the rink!

[@shugemery]

Whoooooo Buddy))))

[@ES-fu4qq]

Good job

[@shugemery]

Thankee.

[@OldPackMule]

Yea, I remember the local field as a kid that had a low spot that flooded every winter. We'd play 1 on one or two on two hockey over the sticks and leaves frozen in the ice. Skate near the edge and the blade was through in the dirt. Kinda like skate-o-cross. 😂

[@shugemery]

I can visualize that for sure~

[@collegedad8656]

👍 What could be better than being outdoors

[@anthonyromano8565]

Since my embarrassing display at age 8 with no athletic abilities whats so ever, totally limp ankles, I have not returned to the ice.

[@shugemery]

Being in my hammock😆

[@shugemery]

Maybe a Luge in your future then.

[@janmariolle]

Labor of love.❤️

[@shugemery]

Truly. Everyone else on the lake has let their rinks go. Dedication to FUN.

[@mbarr1029]

Nice rink. Sundays temps will smooth it out some with the 1 day melt we are getting. Looking forward to seeing my driveway again.

[@shugemery]

It’ll smooth me out too.

[@mbarr1029]

@@shugemery 👍

[@Bradyvilleboy]

Nice work. I've never ice skated, but it sure looks fun.

[@shugemery]

Makes a feller appreciate the difficulty of it~!

[@edsherrod5216]

Keep at it Shug - you'll be Scott Hamil before you know it :D Great video - never knew it took that much to keep up an outdoor skating rink.

[@shugemery]

Rink is now done for the winter. Always fun and fun work.

[@ruanecrummett9261]

Good job looks like fun your very dedicated

[@shugemery]

Everyone else on the lake has let their rinks go. Mine is still in action. So Yes...Dedication! To Fun!

[@cgriggsiv]

Awesome job Love the fact that you showed Meg in her ice rink gear I think all the gear you have looks somewhat like what I would have have if I was out there with a frozen lake ice skating and maintaining it as well Again awesome job love the video

[@shugemery]

I've only fallen a couple times this year. Ice is hard~~~ Meg is protecting her kneecap that she broke this past Summer.

[@cgriggsiv]

@@shugemery and you have been doing a fantastic job as a lifemate to her

[@shugemery]

And she for me.

[@anthonyricardo]

Thanks for the video, I am taking away a few ideas

[@shugemery]

May not maintain a rink this year. Lake froze late. Just skied around the lake on my new HOK skis. It is going too be more of that this winter....We await more snow. Barely an inch on the lake.

[@indycharlie]

Damn ! Looks like a lot of work . I'll bet it is worth all the work . I have never ice skated :D Hope you guys had fun ... Be safe out there folks ... Gubs

[@shugemery]

Fun and exercise.

[@Myles_C_1261]

07:55. “Here’s my big crack right here” don’t know why but that made me laugh way too much!

[@shugemery]

Cracked you up!

[@EatCarbs]

Wow.. I had no idea an ice rink required so much work. I thought all you had to go was clear the snow off. Thanks for the video

[@shugemery]

That is what I thought......but found out differently!

[@paulblichmann2791]

I wanted to let it slide but every time he says "My Hose" 😆 I was gonna let it go but "Drag my hose out..." killed me.

[@shugemery]

Hose...I'd be exaggerating!!

[@CampfireTalk]

It’s Shug’s world, everyone else is just paying rent!

[@shugemery]

I run a low-rent back-wood hood for good. Share the World~~

[@erikgiggey4783]

i havent skated in 25+ years many days as a kid shoveling off the pond with friends and playing hockey till the PD ran us off, then we would go back once they left ahhaha. good stuff shug

[@shugemery]

There is a freedom to gliding....

[@tree_riot]

You just never EVER know what you are going to learn. Isn't that what makes life beautiful?!?!?!?

[@shugemery]

So true. I took playing the mandolin at age 36. Had never played a string instrument. It is part of my life now. And skating!

[@tree_riot]

@@shugemery Love the mandolin! When I hit 60, I’m going to try a fiddle.

[@shugemery]

How old are you now?

[@tree_riot]

@@shugemery 50. I’ve gotten a good kick on guitar, piano, bass and I can fake my way around a banjo.

[@tree_riot]

and if you’re ever bored, I do all my own music for my camping videos too. Always hustling as an artist to feed the soul and pay the mortgage …I write/do videos and communications for a day job.

[@ola_bandola]

Best lesson I’ve learned when it comes to hobbies: you don’t have to be good at them to enjoy them

[@shugemery]

Very true words of wisdom. The quest to improve keeps one coming back and back again.

[@JoeOutdoors]

You remembered your pants and stayed upright, WOOO Budddyyyy! You and I seem to have the same idea, keep moving to make it harder for old age to catch us. Speaking of, isn't there a birthday coming up?

[@shugemery]

I'll go whilst I still can. I am a May birthday boy.

[@DansEarway]

Soupah! I love living by the lake. The way life should be. Next video.. curling with Shug?

[@shugemery]

I only curl barbells!

[@douglasdoucette7352]

Nice! I've played a lot of outdoor hockey living in Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario & New Brunswick. Smart to wear helmet for protection - even the best skater can take a hard fall in those cracks & crevices. Enjoy the great wintery outdoors.

[@shugemery]

Getting in my 60s has me more cautious. Had a friend crack head on ice last year. Still not right!

[@amorphousblob6105]

Shug! You need to get one of those snow shovels with the curved handle.....it will save your back.

[@shugemery]

But I ain't got one!!

[@EugeneJrFolse]

We don't have many ice rinks around here in New Orleans. Thanks Shug. I was wondering how hard it is.

[@shugemery]

Quite a job. I sure have had some good times in Nola!

[@wadepatton2433]

Would like to try but not much ice without big risks this far South. Thanks for the show Shug. I'll watch the wet-rag-boni flick too if you make it. 😆

[@shugemery]

Ice is almost 2 feet thick down on our lake. Used to be an ice farm in the days of yore.

[@leftycut1]

@@shugemery They still harvest ice the old fashioned way in Big Squam Lake near me. They store it saw dust. stays frozen all year long. Amazing to see !!

[@wadepatton2433]

@@shugemery I remember playing on a pond in the 80's here in TN when we'd had a long freeze. It was over a foot thick and CLEAR, we could see a snapping turtle down in the mud--even watched long enough to see it move once. Cheers!

[@stever417]

This was amazing, how do you make this actually so interesting? Thanks

[@shugemery]

Not many know the process. Anything can be interesting I suppose. Thankee.

[@mat-ventures]

(sorry I'm late viewing this video, Shug) love the coyote at 1:25. I'm wondering if the Whooo buddy brought him to you

[@jdsmith8135]

Looks like a lot of work but the end result is worth it. Need me one of those Maple King stickers. Are they for sale? Didn’t see them on the site.

[@shugemery]

Truth. I have some but don't sell them. I often put them in with the art prints I sell.

[@vintagerc9173]

All Clear In Section 7 Yea Buddy!

[@shugemery]

Still need to clear the whole lake!!!! In sector seven.

[@jimmyjamgto5448]

Annnnnnnd it’s not a bonified Shug video until something gets balanced on the chin!! This was really cool! I’ve always wondered how y’all do this, and now I know. This is something a NC boy will never have to do. Does Meg make / sell those dog sweaters? I’m interested! I’ve had my eye on one of her hats but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. : - )

[@shugemery]

I have never seen her selling those dog sweaters. Just making them for friends. She is performing on a cruise ship until end of May so her shop is on vacation at this time. Thankee.

[@DirtyMikeTM]

as an ice skater of 51 years, the main thing I must stress on skating is, work on your posture/stance while skating. Work on your balance, and when skating backwards make your half circle pushoffs a bit wider. Learn how to do crossovers going both ways while doing laps.

[@shugemery]

Working on it when I can. I do enjoy it.

[@Olympia_Outdoors]

Man, I think I would be afraid to walk out on a frozen lake. We get some ice here in Washington, but not enough for all that I have a healthy fear of it haha

[@shugemery]

When I first moved here I felt the same. Our ice is over 2 feet thick.

[@fliccolo]

So close to real backwards cross overs!

[@shugemery]

My legs are no so supple anymore. Thanks. Thrilled to be doing it.

[@fliccolo]

@@shugemery I believe in you! I learned in my 40s having never skated before so I know if I can, you totally can. Enjoy!

[@stevenoyes3988]

Nice. Now just add a net. We wanna see you get out there with a stick and a puck. Lol

[@shugemery]

I got a stick. I prefer a frozen cheese ball over a puck!

[@mat-ventures]

At 8:45, you're as good (or as bad) as me going backward. I started ice skating at 28 (I'm 44). I guess I'm a slowwwww learner for things like this

[@shugemery]

It is a slow learn. Should have played hockey.

[@JackMontana406]

BEAN!!!

[@shugemery]

I have Bean until end of May. Daughter performing on a cruise. My Grand Dog~~

[@cirkuscederstrom]

Wayne Gretzky approves

[@shugemery]

I got to spend time with Waynes father Walter on a gig once. That man is funny and has great stories~~~!!!!

[@cirkuscederstrom]

@@shugemery you legend

[@shugemery]

@@cirkuscederstrom He said Wayne would be out shooting pucks at 2am in the morning!

[@RatdogDRB]

LOL... I was already to start typing (if I saw you using City Water to flood the rink) and suggest auguring a hole and pumping lake water. Twisted minds think alike. If a feller had a walk-behind snow blower, he could have a bigger rink with a tad less back killing, and, have a path from the hacienda TO the rink. You need a full-time Bean.

[@shugemery]

Believe me I have had my snow blower down there many times with alot of our snow. Sometimes I just want to shovel and scrape. Feels pure. My rink was a lot bigger but slush too some of it a few weeks back.

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

“The hardest part of learning to skate is the ice.” Author unknown.

[@shugemery]

Truth~~~~😵‍💫

[@HectorPlasmic]

"A clown cannot resist" was enough for the thumbs-up. A friend of mine, decades ago, showed me a drawing he'd done -- a clown in some sort of cavern, holding a smoking automatic weapon, surrounded by bodies, with the caption "Never give a clown a gun." Just sayin.

[@shugemery]

We do not have the best impulse control.

[@RhodySeth]

All are welcome on Shug’s ice rink - children and coyotes alike!

[@shugemery]

well.....maybe not children. They never pitch in on the work and won't share their candy!!!

[@concretecowboy8174]

Zamboni

[@shugemery]

My favorite ride!

[@longwinters4304]

Don’t let him get Bean..

[@shugemery]

Bean never stays out long enough. Abhors the cold!

[@lithron]

Out watering the lake again, eh?

[@shugemery]

It waters me in the Summer. Quid pro quo.

[@jrreed6992]

Looks good. You want to be a better skater grab a stick and puck and skate circles forward and backwards

[@shugemery]

I may. I watch hockey players skate. So good.

[@jrreed6992]

@@shugemery I learned to play hockey when I turned 40 it's real easy to push it when you are all geared up. I wish I had a frozen lake to skate on too warm out here in Washington state

[@shugemery]

I just want to check somebody!!!!

[@abelincoln95]

Sector 7 ice rink, ALL SECURE!!!!

[@shugemery]

Slickey slidey slippery sector seven secure~

[@chrisfs150]

"Itsa very exact science an ice rink..." 20 seconds later our 'scientist' is dancing with a snow shovel balanced on his chin on ice.... Yeah sure... 'science'......... 😘

[@shugemery]

Yes. Testing the camber. And wind. All for science.