Ice-Out Ticket Pickup

Yesterday morning (Saturday) I picked up a bundle of Ice-Out tickets at the Joe's Pond Association mailbox in West Danville, and then I went up Route 15 to Walden Country Store and Homemade Pizza where Tammy Hatch and the folks there had sold lots of tickets for us. I took pictures of some of the Joe's Pond roads our members will recognize - or maybe not, with all the snow - and from there I continued on Rt. 15 to Walden Station and Rt. 215 going into Cabot. The day was dazzlingly bright and the wind was whipping on the heights of Walden. I picked up lots more tickets at Harry's Hardware in Cabot. Julie and Walt Ackermann have done a super job for us, too. They get the tickets right out there for people to buy. On the way home I took a few more pictures, especially on the Plain where the road was windswept, the snowbanks way high, and the wind was howling, splattering snow on my windshield at one point before I turned the corner to head for lower ground. It was one of those exciting weather days, typical of March, but colder than we'd expect at the end of the month. I took pictures.A Trip Through the Countryside, March 29th

I spent the afternoon sorting Ice-Out tickets. I had about 500 to turn in to Diane Rossi. Diane picked up from her outlets, so is sorting tickets today. We'll have another huge day Monday, and the mail will continue to come in for a few more days after the contest ends on Tuesday.

Later on Saturday, Bill Dimick and his friend, Monica, stopped by after visiting Goodrich's Sugar House on Route 2. Vermont sugar makers had open house this weekend, so there were quite a few visiting the Goodriches. Glen and Ruth were happy to see Bill and Monica, especially since they'd never had a visitor from Namibia, Africa, before. Monica was excited to see the process of making maple syrup which is new to her, and she said she loves the taste. Monica isn't used to the snow, but she's a good sport and has entered a couple of guesses in the Ice-Out Contest. We think she'll be surprised at how nice the pond is - and how different from now - in the summer.
Bill said they walked from Alonso's camp across the ice to Sherwood's . The picture above is at our camp on W.Shore Rd. It'll be a while before there is much boating going on, for sure.

This morning I had this photo from Steve and Bev Allen in Ryegate, Vermont. I think this says it all. Drastic measures, but understandable as temperatures continue near zero at night and nearly every day brings more snow. The weather people are promising some relief by Tuesday. We'll see.