"Chico" Carcoba, the wizard who logs in all the information from the Ice-Out tickets, will be sending us regular reports as we close in on the winner. I will also try to send photos as the conditions change at the flag site. We took pictures today at about 4 p.m. The weather has been in the 50's with a nice breeze, so we know there is melting going on, but so far the pond hasn's shown it. We were interested in what Chico says about the ice going out:

ICE IS DARK ON WOODBURY AND MAY GO OUT 4/25-4/26. IF THAT HAPPENS,ICE ON JOE'S GOES OUT IN RANGE OF (1WK TO 2 WKS-LATER). LIKE CLOCKWORK EVERY YEAR. MOTHER NATURE HAS LAST WORD ON THESE MATTERS. WINTER IS STILL AROUND MY COTTAGE.THIS NICE SUNSHINE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF WHAT LITTLE SNOW IS LEFT BEHIND.

AS OF 4:00 PM TODAY 4/20/07---/6007 HAVE BEEN ELIMATED FROM THE CONTEST.THE CLOCK CLICKS ON. 9112 WILL BE ELIMINATED ON MAY 1, 4:00 PM.

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The ice in our little neighboring pond, Molly's Pond, (see lower photo) goes out just about one week before Joe's does. Fred and I went there today and took pictures - it looks a bit further along than Joe's, but still has a way to go. Molly's could be clear in about a week, about the same as Woodbury Pond; here at Joe's Pond, I think it's safe to say the ice won't be gone before May 1, but I would guess we'll have a winner around May 4th, if this warm weather keeps up.