May 2007
May 28, 2007
Today is Memorial Day 2007. (Observed) Memorial Day was first called Decoration day. It all started even before the end of the Civil War. It was officially proclaimed on May 5th, 1868 to recognize those who died in the Civil War, and was observed on May 30th. The South refused to observe this date and honored their dead on a separate day until after WWII. In 1971 a bill was passed to create a 3 day weekend for federal employees. There is currently a movement to bring the observed day back to May 30th.
In 2000 a "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed that asks at 3pm, local time "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps." More information on Memorial Day can be found at the website, http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html.
I will be thinking of all of the people whom have given more than any of us, to this great country. Many have given their lives, and many others have given a part of their lives, time away from their families and friends. Take the time to think about them, and to thank those who are still serving us in our military. God Bless.
The "Official" summer season has began. Memorial weekend kicks off the beginning of the summer season up here in the north woods. It typically brings on the folks who are starting their vacations for the year.
We had beautiful weather over the weekend, with just a little rain on Sunday afternoon and evening. I have seen Memorial weekends in the past that were so cold and rainy that one wanted to wear a snowmobile suit to stay warm.
There have been very few mosquitoes and blackflies this season! (At least so far) We truly do not have the problem here at camp that many areas have. I believe that this is due to the large amount of predators that we have that feast on the little winged varmints! We still have a large population of Dragoon Flies, and they are just great for keeping these things in control. We have a good population of Swallows and even some bats living in the bat houses we put up.
Our guests have had some nice luck catching fish out of the pond thus far this year. I have seen some very pretty trout taken this spring. I have not had folks fishing the West Branch of the Penobscot very much, so I do not have a report on the fishing there. The gates have been open on Rip Dam, (At least a crest gate for the most part, although there were deep gates open part of the time as well) so that may be why there is not as much fishing going on there, at least by our guests.
The leaves are coming along very well and the lawn is looking like it would like an appointment with the lawn mower. The dandelions have not gone to seed yet, so I will wait a bit longer. I find that I cannot keep ahead of the darn things if I keep mowing when they are in bloom. If I wait until they go to seed, then I can stay ahead of them. With limited topsoil we let just about anything that is green grow and do not try to cultivate high quality grass for the lawn.
I went out late last night and did see one moose and one deer, a varying hare and a fox. Not to bad as I just went out to make a quick phone call.
We now have a number of Humming birds at the feeders. They are happy to have the feeders full. The other day a couple of them got to fighting, and one got caught in the feeder. I had to help him get his head out from behind the bar that they perch on while eating. He was not impressed with the other Humming bird, or me for that matter. He flew up on a limb and gave us "what for".
Here is the last of the snow that I saw around camp, just to prove that it is in fact gone! (Well, almost) Katahdin still has snow, but that is not at all unusual for this time of year. (It is more strange to not have any on Katahdin this time of year) GT
May 17, 2007
Well the ice has gone out of the pond. It was pretty much on schedule this year, according to the long term average. We have had some very warm days and we have had some days that could have used a bit of warming up!
Today for instance was a mite cool. In fact when I got out of bed there was snow on the ground and falling from the sky. Now I have to tell you that I was not at all impressed with that development!
I was standing in front of the sink, looking out the window and debating if I should go back to bed for a month or so and I saw something that made me decide that it was ok to continue my day as planned. There at the feeder was a humming bird. He would come over to the feeder and take a quick drink and head back to the tree to sit. I figure that he was just trying to get enough sugar in his system to get the "body heat" up a bit before starting his day.
The first time he showed up he had on his little fur coat to help keep him warm. (It must be quite a job to get one made that is that small. They must have real tiny sewing machines to sew them up with!)
This fish have been biting out on the pond, even if it has been cool. I had some of our guests do real well this week.
I had a some visitors stop in, back awhile ago. My Aunt, Uncle and cousin were down visiting from Alaska. I had not seen them for some time and my Father called and wanted to know when I was going to be around so they could all make a trip up to visit. I told him I would be around the next day and that I would make a trip down to the West Branch to try to get them some smelts.
I managed to get them some smelts and when they arrived I was very pleased to present them with an ample supply. (Un-cleaned, as I recall that is the proper way to offer smelts)
My Uncle had taken me there a long time ago, and it was my first trip to the West Branch. We went by snowmobile across the ice to dip smelts way back then. (This was back in the early 70's)
Jed and Maureen was up over Mother's Day. I took Jed out fishing and he caught his "annual" Mother's Day fish for his Mom. He has been doing this for her since he was 6 years old, and the both of them think it is kind of special. (As the proud Dad, I think it is kind of special also)
Maureen had her Fiddle Heads and Trout for dinner and she now has to wait until next year for a repeat.
The frogs were croaking in the bog across the road the other night. They must be wondering what the heck is going on with the weather as well. First hot, then cold, back and forth and not settling down to a constant. This reminds me of what a "normal" spring used to be when I was a kid. Summer did not get here until June, we just got a few nice days in April and May to let us know what was coming our way for weather in a month or two.
We seem to have only one goose in the pond this year. That is a good thing, as it is real hard for one goose to raise a family. I am not sure that a whole flock of geese would be a pleasant thing to have living here. I do enjoy watching them, but I am not all that pleased about having them as close neighbors. We have our pair of loons back this year. I do enjoy listening to them at 10:00pm each evening. The are very regular in making their calls at about 10 each night.
If I am out with guests at night and I hear the loons I tell them that it must be 10:00pm. It is usually only a few minutes one side or the other of that time. (I figure that it is the lady loon telling the male to get back home and pay attention to the family life)
The ice is out of Chesuncook and most of the other lakes around. The last lake that I know of that had ice was Rainbow. That was a few days ago and the ice is probably out of there as well.
The leaves have started to grow on the trees and the lawn is starting to turn green. Next thing you know I will have to mow the darn thing.
GT
May 4, 2007
It has been much cooler than what my body feels is "normal" this spring. We had a few nice days and then it has been just plain cold! The melting slowed down and I still cannot drive into the campsites because of the snow in the road. The pond is still "hard" and it just plain refuses to warm up. Even the few sunny days that we have had are not that nice "bone warming" sun.
The questions are coming in as to when the ice will be out. I can pretty much guarantee that it will go out this year. After all, we are in the middle of "global warming". I checked the records and since 1936 the ice has gone out of the pond 15 times after the 10th of May. The latest date was the 17th of May in both 1943 and 1972. It has gone out 27 times in May, between the 1st and the 10th. All the rest of the times were in April! The earliest was April 14th in 1945. That said, I guess we are not in all that bad of shape, it just seems worse than normal. Our idea of normal and mother natures are quite different things.
After all, we have fish to catch, and are on a schedule. We have season dates to comply with and vacations that may have been scheduled. Mother nature is on her own clock and does not consult with all of us as to what is convenient for humans!
The weather report is looking a bit better for next week, temps even up in the 60's! Now that is something that I can look forward to.
The other night I went out the door and met a moose. Now being as I was headed out to go smelting on the river, I knew that the smelts would be running. (I know, they still do not have feet, but trust me, they do run) (Smelts, not moose, of course moose have feet, how else could they run our in front of our vehicles?) I am not sure who was more surprised, me or the moose! It is very quiet up here this time of year and the moose figures that they have the run of the place. (See, I told you moose had feet) I have seen tracks all over the place and I reckon if I was out sleeping under the stars (even though they might be a bit soggy) I would most likely get stepped on! (I am sure the doctors office would put that one in their record book)
The smelts have been running very good down on the West Branch. The yearly ritual of full grown men (and women, sometimes even kids) going out in the middle of the night to catch 2 quarts of these little fish continues. I am very pleased to announce that the West Branch has "calmed" down since past years. (This may have something to do with the fact that dipping must stop at midnight on the West Branch)
No frogs are to be heard up here at night, the ice and water is still too cold for the cold blooded creatures! I have seen some of the mosquitoes, complete with their little fur coats. The thing is that we will still be right on schedule by the first part of June. The leaves will still be out within a few days of normal. Mother nature knows what is going on and we are just along for the ride.
I did hear a loon calling last night while I was on the river. It was on the next lake up from where I was dipping and it sure sounded nice!
If you have every wanted to bicycle the "Golden Road" this is the year! Marcia McKeague, president of Katahdin Forest Management LLC has opened the road to bicycle traffic for a special tour! You can visit http://www.katahdintrailsalliance.com/ for more information on this wonderful opportunity. We are even offering a special discount to participants of the bike tour.
Take care until the next time! GT
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