Down to 18 overnight.  Sunny today with a high around 32.  That’s the weather we need during maple syrup season.

Our plan was to start tapping around 8:00 AM.  Nope.  Tractor trouble.  It would not start again.  Called the mechanic.  He was busy in the morning.  Got here around 12:30.  Of course he got the tractor started without any problem.  We felt a bit embarrassed.   He held the choke out until the tractor fired.  We were releasing the choke much sooner and hence starving it for fuel.  Our choke method had worked for years.  So something changed in the engine.   But the tractor has a lot of years on it.  The expertise of a mechanic who can hear and feel these changes can resolve these type of problems easily. 

While waiting for the mechanic we loaded the pickup truck with buckets and covers and headed out to tap.  This was about 11:15 AM.  We did not want to waste the whole day.  Sap is moving in the trees.   We stayed close to the building where we could carry buckets and covers.   We got 80 taps out.  Went for lunch.  After lunch we did 105 taps then loaded up again and tapped another 65.   We should have 300 taps now.   Tomorrow we push for another 100 – 200 taps.