This came this morning from Manuel "Chico" Carcoba, who logged in our Ice-Out tickets for many years - He's such a tease - look at this picture he sent . . .

Hi Jane,

I expect from what I have heard from Vt. that spring cannot come early enough for you. We have had wonderful sunny weather most of the time here in Ft.Walton Bch,Fl. . . The ice must be well insulated with all that snow, or has most blown off.Ice out should be a thriller this year.

Take care, Chico

I answered Chico about the ice and some other questions he had. I also want to let you know we've had another ice measurement, this time from Bob Noyes who has been vacationing with family at their cottage on W. Shore Rd. Bob told Diane Rossi they were cross-country skiing on the pond and measured with a ski pole in an ice fishing hole and he believed it was about 3 ft. thick. I'm wondering if that was all solid ice or some of the snow and slush. Just when we thought we might have a line on that important factor, too. So now I'm going to have to say we're back to it being anyone's guess.

In a way, it's good news for Diane and me because it began to look like we could have a repeat of last year when it looked like the ice could go out before the contest closed on April 1st. It didn't - the clock actually stopped on April 5th, but we were really nervous, I can tell you. So this year we're more prepared, having had instructions from the JPA Board as to how we should handle that situation. So the contest is over on April 1st or when the clock stops - whichever comes first. So don't delay getting your tickets in, especially when it gets closer to the end of the contest and there's open water showing. That's a while away, but we'll keep you posted on conditions.

Spring seems to be here in lots of ways. Yesterday I went to see my friend who lives in the far southwestern corner of Cabot. As I climbed Ducharme Hill out of Lower Cabot, I was struck by how narrow and difficult that road is. The town has had a hard time getting the snow pushed back from some of the back roads, and apparently that is one of them. I wondered if my front-wheel drive Chevvie would make it, but I had no trouble - remembering to "get a run" on the steep hills and "ride the ridges" through the muddy spots. Fortunately I didn't meet anyone. I did come upon Caleb Pitkin's truck parked on the side of the road where he was tapping trees and hanging buckets. This picture is of some of his roadside taps.

That road is also the vicinity of where Anson Tebbetts lives. The location of the old Southwest Hill School is at the corner where Anson's road comes onto Ducharme. There's nothing there now to show where the school stood, but at one time there was a thriving community in that part of town.

When I came back through Cabot, I noticed the cattle at the Burtt farm. They are interesting to watch. They stay out all winter and have heavy coats. They bed down together in a tight circle, and manage the deep snow by following a leader along a single path from their water tub to where their feed is dropped for them. They are apparently a hardy breed.

Also at the Burtt farm, I noticed their small storage shed across the road from the house and barn caved in under the weight of the snow. I think they used it for apple storage in the fall, and perhaps to store equipment. (Picture on left, below.)










On the plain, I noticed that the roof of the shed attached to the old Maynard house is mostly collapsed, too. (Picture on right above.) A couple of weeks ago we took a picture of it sagging, but now it's caved in. Until this past storm, the old barn on that place looked pretty good, but as I looked back over my shoulder at it, the lean-to attached to the back of it is dangerously close to caving, too. It's sad to see the old place falling down, but it's probably way past saving now.

So far we've only had about an inch of new snow - fine, wet stuff. I'm seeing it's showing up on my window as water droplets, but still it's sifting off the roof as the wind gusts, so it hasn't turned to rain quite yet. The temperature is remaining at 31 degrees. It's going to mean very high water when this does turn to rain. The brooks and rivers are already high, and there's so much snow in the higher elevations, there will be torrents flowing into the valleys.

We'll be going to W. Danville tomorrow to check the dam. I'm sure the water level at Joe's Pond will go up, too, and there will be lots of water on top of the ice as well as under it. I wouldn't be surprised if the fishermen get their shanties off the ice early. We just hope everyone stays safe. Don't take any chances by going through water that may be deeper than you expect. Find another route. Stay home if you don't have to travel.

I've been in touch with the radio station in St. Johnsbury - they always like to have someone come for an interview at Ice-Out time. Don Mullallay is at Myrtle Beach right now - golfing, I expect - so we'll make firm arrangements after he gets back in about a week.