Into the woods by 6:30 AM to cook out the remaining sap in the tank. Finished by 12:30 PM. While cooking we prepared for bottling. We got a new stainless steel finishing pan off-season. It needed scrubbing before using. Also checked that burners on the propane stoves worked. By 10:30 AM we emptied a milk can into the finishing pan. It was ready by Noon. Checked the first bottle: cloudy. We didn’t use enough filter aid. This batch went back into the milk can to finish and filter again.

Over night the thermometer said 34, but the ground is cold and ice formed on the puddles. Today was sunny and temperature upper 40’s. The sap run started yesterday but must have ran overnight too. We picked up 650 gallons today. Fortunately the R/O pump is fixed. As long as we don’t have other R/O problems we should ready to use it tomorrow.

Spent some time troubleshooting a valve leak. The brass valve on the 225 gallon tank was leaking. We noticed a persistent stream the size of a pencil lead even when the valve was closed. We close this valve so all he pipes drain and don’t freeze. With empty tanks we weer able to take the value off and check it. The leak is fixed now.

Started collecting at 2:00 PM. Many full and overflowing buckets. We had a good crew and finished by 4:05 PM. Our transfer pump is finally working as we envisioned it should. The quick connects eliminated the leaks by the pump fittings and makes connecting the hoses fast. Emptied our tanks in about 10 minutes.

Rain is forecast for tomorrow. Followed by several days of non-freezing nights.

We are running out of milk cans for syrup. We have to bottle to free up milk cans. Also considering purchasing another milk can.

Busy day cooking tomorrow.