Racing Results, Wildlife Report, and Smokey Joe's Pond

Here is a report from Susan Bouchard with the results of this year's first of the season Sunfish Race: 

There was concern the weather might not cooperate for our first 2023 Sunfish Sailboat race.  There was no rain but the sky was hazy and there was a smoky smell due to the fires from our neighbors in the north. The winds would come and go making it difficult for the sailors but they had a good time!  Jamie Stewart was our Commodore for the race today.

The results of the race for the Single Division was:
        1) Jack LaGue

        2) Jules Chatot
        3) Jay Chatot
        4) Rob Stewart

And for the Double Division:
        1) Lee Erdmann with granddaughter, Lila
        2) Joe Cassani with nephew, Grayson

Photos, left to right, clockwise, Commodore Jamie Stewart; Robbie Stewart; Jay Chatot; Joe Cassani and Grayson; Lee Erdman with Lila (white sail) and Jules Chatot (black); Robbie Stewart and Jay Chatot at the finish line.

 Pictured below, totay's
fleet of sailors; Jules Chatot, 2nd place and Jack LaGue, 1st. place in singles.

 Next race is scheduled on Sunday, July 23 at 1pm sharp

 

 

This is a link to the latest Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes newsletter, in case anyone would like to attend or listen in to these discussions.

This note came from Darlene Chatot Fafard: 

Hello Jane,
 I spent the past week at my sister Susan Bouchard’s place. 
This picture was taken by me when biking with my husband Larry Fafard on Weds 21st. We biked from camp on dirt road past your house onto U. Harrington Rd.  to W. Danville.  On the return ride after going over the trestle but before Brady Trail, one moose stepped up over the bank onto the trail, stopped and stared at us and then another stepped up…..Thankfully Larry noticed the first and we stopped a good distance from them. We watched each other for a long while it seemed, patiently [waiting] until they crossed. They were curious and big and beautiful!  Don’t we just love Joes Pond!?

Later Darlene added a footnote to the story. She said that the very first moose either she or her husband, Larry had ever seen on their way to Joe's Pond about in 1991 or 92 as they were driving along Route 2 where the rail trail crosses by what is now Larrabee's Hardware Supply. The moose was in an open field on the right and she said they stopped to watch it in awe. Darlene wrote that they've seen moose many times since in Vermont, but seeing one on the trail this past week brought back nice memories.

It seems we have an abundance of wildlife around the pond this year - perhaps more than other years. I haven't had this many reports of sightings of bears and now a moose, for some time. 

This morning Susan Bouchard wrote: 

Yesterday I was walking on West Shore Road around noon with my cousin. We were in front of your family's camp and a bear came out between your camp and Ward's place [Barre Ave.]. the bear walked towards Barre Avenue. We stopped at Rubalcaba's place [Barre Ave.] but they didn't see the bear! There is definitely a bear around!!! I wish I was quicker and had gotten a photo!

 Although bears will normally avoid humans whenever they can, the are wild animals and can be unpredictable, especially if they have cubs or even if they are hungry and you come between them and the food they are after. Black bears are not aggressive like other species, but they are powerful beasts, not to be challenged. If you are in an area where there may be bears, which is about anywhere here in the Northeast Kingdom this year, apparently, make some noise as you are walking or biking. Talk, sing, wear a bell that will chime as you walk, or call out, "Hey, bear," intermittently as you proceed on the trail, road, or in the woods. According to wildlife experts, bears will retreat to the cover of woods if they hear you. Here is a very informative article put out by National Wildlife Association that gives tips and warnings about staying safe when there are black bears around. 

One thing we shouldn't do is become "naturalized" to having bears around. While it is becoming more common to see them, we must all remember that they are wild animals, and even though the cubs are cute, roly-poly and fuzzy like teddy bears and we enjoy watching them, any bear, no matter how small or friendly looking, can be dangerous if we get too close or if they are suddenly surprised by our presence. Don't take chances, and stay alert. 

That goes for encounters with moose, as well. They normally don't attack, but they are generally not afraid of humans -- after all, they are massive animals; but they, too are wild and have their limits. Here are some tips about staying safe around them: Moose Safety.

Susan mentioned the haze and smell on the pond today from those out-of-control wildfires in Canada. Montreal has the worst air quality of any city in the whole world today. Here is a map published by the New York Times that shows you why we are smelling that pungent, acrid odor. We've been pretty lucky until now, with winds that were not coming directly out of Canada, but today there has been a pretty steady breeze from the north, and it is bringing that smoke right down over us. Hopefully, the rain in the next few days will help with controlling the fires and also it may clean the air of at least some of those fine particles that cause the haze and odor.

That's it for today! Thanks for sticking with me, if you've read this far!