Cloudy all day.  It was down to maybe 30 overnight.  Not very cold.  Up to about 38.  Into the woods about 11:00 AM.  Checked buckets..  Definitely need to collect.  Buckets ranged from a one quart to 12 quarts of sap depending on the tree.   We planned to start collecting by 1:30 PM.

First we cleaned the evaporator syrup pan.  There was no heat under that pan now so its a good time to clean it.   If we don’t clean it after each boiling the nitre build up causes odd heat dispersal that makes the syrup pan boil over.   Cleaning it after each boil just makes life easier.

At 1:30 PM headed out collecting.  Solo.  It takes five to six hours to collect the woods solo.  Pacing is important so you don’t get tired out before finishing.  And you will finish in the dark. 

On the R/O.  The manufacturer called.   It did ship from the factory in Canada to the US.  The manufacturer’s US rep said he saw it.   Shipping is the next delay.    The earliest it would arrive is March 14 or 15.    This is exactly what we did not want: trying to setup new equipment in the middle, or even the end of the season.   This manufacturer really let us down.   Now we have to decide if we even attempt to set it up this season. 

Tomorrow and Saturday we will cook.  At some point during the next days we are forecast for 2”-3” of snow.