Tackling the Fall boredom...

[anmut]

Here in WI the leaves are already turning and the seasonal depression is starting to sit in. We took our last boat ride last weekend, boat will go into storage soon. The farmers almanac predicts good snow this winter for snowmobiling season, but I have to make it until that proves true...

I've changed oil on nearly everything I own already (generator, snowblower, lawnmower, kids go-kart), so now I'm just BLAH until the white stuff falls. Looking at possibly buying an older four wheeler or some dirt bikes. UTVs are out of the question due to nowhere to store one (plus they're still insanely expensive). No more motorcycles for me either.

I'm pretty much in a constant state of trying to survive day-to-day unless I have a motor to work on or ride. I've never gotten into hunting (birds or deer) - need to do something this Fall or I might flip out on the next person that mentions how much they like "cool fall days."

Any suggestions on motorsport hobbies or older model wheelers to look for? Anyone else HATE fall and HATE all the people that "love fall so much?"

</rant>

 

[CanTex]

My wife & I, along with other neighborhood couples use the fall season for pickleball.

We don't take it too seriously, we bring coolers of beer and blue tooth speakers to our community court - it's our Wednesday evening activity.

 

[anmut]

My wife & I, along with other neighborhood couples use the fall season for pickleball.

We don't take it too seriously, we bring coolers of beer and blue tooth speakers to our community court - it's our Wednesday evening activity.

Everyone I know is obsessed with that game. I can’t find a way to introduce a motor into it…

 

[WiskyDan]

We plan on getting the boat out this Saturday and the following Saturday looks even better. Why do you need to put the boat away if the weather is still decent?

I don't mind fall all that much, it gives me a little time to breathe after the boating season concludes and before I get my snowboard ready for winter.

 

[anmut]

We plan on getting the boat out this Saturday and the following Saturday looks even better. Why do you need to put the boat away if the weather is still decent?

Water's too cold for sandbar and watersports at this point - wife and child do not enjoy it.

 

[kgower]

My wife & I, along with other neighborhood couples use the fall season for pickleball.

We don't take it too seriously, we bring coolers of beer and blue tooth speakers to our community court - it's our Wednesday evening activity.

What's beer and music got to do with not taking it seriously? Those just make it better.

 

[I_squared_r]

Fall is cool. Usually I go hiking and start hanging out in NYC more. But this year I'm going to Colombia earlier and I'll probably be back for the holidays. My suggestion is that you try some new things. Fall is the 2nd best season behind Summer.

 

[YoDaddy292]

Dirt bikes DO rule in the fall. No dust, no mud, and no excessive sweating. We started fishing from our AR210 and it has been a great way to play from the swim step. My 20 y/o daughter and I have totally bonded over this and we spent the last few years bickering mostly. I get it though, we used to be winter people when the brat was ski racing but since we got the boat the rest of the year is filler.

 

[anmut]

Dirt bikes DO rule in the fall. No dust, no mud, and no excessive sweating. We started fishing from our AR210 and it has been a great way to play from the swim step. My 20 y/o daughter and I have totally bonded over this and we spent the last few years bickering mostly. I get it though, we used to be winter people when the brat was ski racing but since we got the boat the rest of the year is filler.

What kind of bikes do you ride? I've thought about it - although we have large portion of the states now open to ATV's and UTVs, dirt bikes have been excluded for some reason...

Fishing has been another thought. Finding a 16" aluminum would give me more reasons to go boating...

 

[YoDaddy292]

What kind of bikes do you ride? I've thought about it - although we have large portion of the states now open to ATV's and UTVs, dirt bikes have been excluded for some reason...

Fishing has been another thought. Finding a 16" aluminum would give me more reasons to go boating...

I ride 2011 YZ250 (2 smoke). Use it for everything from trails to moto.

Yeah, boating in a hoodie and socks is a new thing to get used to for sure. Our days have been 50's in the am and low 80's in the afternoon. We ain't got much longer here either as I am not into boating in the inclement weather at all but our falls are still pretty dry until mid October.

 

[zipper]

Some of the best fishing conditions are now upon us. But now that you mention it...the leaves up here are also turning some early Fall colors and the wood pile is not bucking up or splitting itself.

 

[Babin Farms]

I’m not missing boating/getting in the water season wrapping up this time of year. This will be the first fall/winter down here and I have no idea when or if I’m going to be done boating and I need less than 1/20th of the firewood that I used to need if I need any at all. My recommendation to @anmut is to move south for a longer boating season

 

[Cleveland Steamer]

I know what you mean anmut, we’re warm weather people ourselves. We enjoy go out during the warm sunny days. We don’t go for evening cruises or anything. I started to get the ‘freak out’ need to put the boat away feeling but past experience has taught me that September in WI can still deliver warm sunny boat days.

 

[Judge]

I grew up in western PA and now spend 9 months a year now in Forida because of the weather.

I loved to boat in the summer and snowmobile in the winter. But I grew tired of weather that was typically lousy starting mid-October and lasting into mid-May.

I did buy a Can-Am Spyder because it is a little like snowmobiling when there's no snow and riding in the spring and fall can be pretty nice.

Winters are all but dead in western PA. I would come back home for Xmas to see family and hang around in January & February to snowmobile. But I think I'm finally giving up on the sleds. I used to find rideable snow 1 1/2 - 2 hours away..... then it became 5 - 6.... the past few years it has been 10 hours to trailer to the UP of Michigan to ride. That is getting old.... and expensive.

The Admiral and I decided we aren't hanging around PA this January - February to see if it finally snows enough. We're heading back to Florida 3 days after Xmas.... maybe we will come back north in February if there is snow to be had less than 5 hours away... but I'm not that hopeful.

Boating season in PA was typically late May to early September and weather still impacted boating. Now in Florida my boating season is October - May..... before it gets too hot. From November - April you don't have to worry about weather.

 

[drewkaree]

They make aerators and dethatchers, for wheeled things, and this is the perfect time in WI to bust those out!

If you want to make the trek, I'm still looking to drop in the water as much as possible, and hoping the temps don't fall off a cliff like last year, to enable at least one color ride.

If you have some sort of performance ride, taking a run through the Menominee Rez can kill a weekend, or maybe go hit up some breweries/distilleries. J Henry, Driftless Glenn, any number of breweries...

 

[kgower]

I’m not missing boating/getting in the water season wrapping up this time of year. This will be the first fall/winter down here and I have no idea when or if I’m going to be done boating and I need less than 1/20th of the firewood that I used to need if I need any at all. My recommendation to @anmut is to move south for a longer boating season

We didn't winterize. Boat is in a storage unit not heated, We managed to go out once every month except for January. That said we had an exceptionally cold week around Christmas (22) which gave me some concern. I would guess you won't need to winterize.

 

[BigN8]

Here in WI the leaves are already turning and the seasonal depression is starting to sit in. We took our last boat ride last weekend, boat will go into storage soon. The farmers almanac predicts good snow this winter for snowmobiling season, but I have to make it until that proves true...

I've changed oil on nearly everything I own already (generator, snowblower, lawnmower, kids go-kart), so now I'm just BLAH until the white stuff falls. Looking at possibly buying an older four wheeler or some dirt bikes. UTVs are out of the question due to nowhere to store one (plus they're still insanely expensive). No more motorcycles for me either.

I'm pretty much in a constant state of trying to survive day-to-day unless I have a motor to work on or ride. I've never gotten into hunting (birds or deer) - need to do something this Fall or I might flip out on the next person that mentions how much they like "cool fall days."

Any suggestions on motorsport hobbies or older model wheelers to look for? Anyone else HATE fall and HATE all the people that "love fall so much?"

</rant>

This is funny to me, because we are in the EXACT opposite mindset. The temps are finally not 107F every freakin day and I'm like a kid in a candy store on what should I do next now that I can actually go outside without death from dehydration looming over me. I told my wife several times I was bouncing thru several states of depression during August and September because it was so freakin hot. So I'm not sure really what to tell you. I can say this, better to be cold and wrap up in some clothes and go out and do something. When the heat index is 112F there is nothing you can do to become comfortable. So I'd say get some clothes you like to make yourself comfy and figure that shit out! Get on cycle trader and find a vintage fixer upper and make it yours!

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

My suggestion would be to get some fishing tackle and good rain gear (good comfortable rain gear is expensive but well worth it) and extend your boating season into the shoulder seasons. You live in a prime fishing area, and hooking a 30” ++ northern pike or Muskie will get your attention very quickly! Just be sure you get a good lipper to handle them at the boat. And there is walleye and crappie to catch that make for great dinners!

I start boating shortly after ice out and stop when the water freezes. Sure I like the warm / hot weather and warm water temperatures to swim in but I mainly fish and warm water means lots of bait fish and that means more fishing and less catching because the fish all have plenty to eat and are less inclined to buy what I’m selling. I recently learned that water temps below 65° is / are optimum for fishing, yes fish are still catchable when it’s hot but a lot more fishing is required.

I came from a place that had about 4 months of good weather and 8 months of hot weather, now I live in a place with 8 months of good weather, and 4 months of cold weather, and I’ll gladly take that, in fact I love it, those 4 months are used to prep for the 8 months of activity.

Over this next off season I’m hoping I can get my hard top mounted and the canvas done up to give some more shelter for the shoulder seasons and make fishing / boating more comfortable.

 

[anmut]

This is funny to me, because we are in the EXACT opposite mindset. The temps are finally not 107F every freakin day and I'm like a kid in a candy store on what should I do next now that I can actually go outside without death from dehydration looming over me. I told my wife several times I was bouncing thru several states of depression during August and September because it was so freakin hot. So I'm not sure really what to tell you. I can say this, better to be cold and wrap up in some clothes and go out and do something. When the heat index is 112F there is nothing you can do to become comfortable. So I'd say get some clothes you like to make yourself comfy and figure that shit out! Get on cycle trader and find a vintage fixer upper and make it yours!

Trade lives? I'm only happy if the it's 80f+. The days when we nearly broke 100f in WI this year, everyone was miserable and complaining - I couldn't wait to get on the water.

 

[anmut]

My suggestion would be to get some fishing tackle and good rain gear (good comfortable rain gear is expensive but well worth it) and extend your boating season into the shoulder seasons. You live in a prime fishing area, and hooking a 30” ++ northern pike or Muskie will get your attention very quickly! Just be sure you get a good lipper to handle them at the boat. And there is walleye and crappie to catch that make for great dinners!

I start boating shortly after ice out and stop when the water freezes. Sure I like the warm / hot weather and warm water temperatures to swim in but I mainly fish and warm water means lots of bait fish and that means more fishing and less catching because the fish all have plenty to eat and are less inclined to buy what I’m selling. I recently learned that water temps below 65° is / are optimum for fishing, yes fish are still catchable when it’s hot but a lot more fishing is required.

I came from a place that had about 4 months of good weather and 8 months of hot weather, now I live in a place with 8 months of good weather, and 4 months of cold weather, and I’ll gladly take that, in fact I love it, those 4 months are used to prep for the 8 months of activity.

Over this next off season I’m hoping I can get my hard top mounted and the canvas done up to give some more shelter for the shoulder seasons and make fishing / boating more comfortable.

I used to be a nut for musky fishing. Fell out of it because nobody wanted to go fishing in the miserable weather. Like duck hunting - good luck finding all the necessary pieces to make that happen.