Maple Madness -- Day Two

On Sunday, March 17th, Sal and I drove to the Rocky River Reservation and took a tour of the sugarbush conducted by a very knowledgeable park staffer.  She explained the whole process of syrup-making -- from tree to finished product -- to a group consisting of mostly families with young children.  I probably looked like quite an oddball as I trailed behind the group taking ukulele pictures.  The tour ended at the evaporator, which in this case is fueled with wood.  The gentleman who was making the syrup explained to me how wood becomes spalted -- very interesting (and icky to think that the markings in the wood are made by fungi).

It was easier to balance the uke without the icy snow on top of the bucket!