Fall & Spring .... where Are All Your Friends?

Spending time living beside a lake brings us much closer to all aspects of the changing New England seasons. Typically the summer finds us all hosting numerous friends and family. Cookouts, campfires on the beach, swimming and sailing are all natural attractions.  But isn't it amazing that when it comes time to haul the boats and dock out in the fall and launch it all back into the still-cold spring waters,

those very same friends and family seem magically, to be less inclined to come up for a visit! 

As I approached retirement and dreams of being able to sail longer and earlier with my new found leisure time, I began to research ways to both extend my time on the water, and, in deference to my advancing years, simplify the always challenging process of preparing for a beautiful, yet solidly frozen lake. Thus, this year's experiment with the "Ice Eater"; a submersible gadget that periodically draws warmer water from below the ice up to the surface creating a liquid oasis around our dock and boats to protect them from the ravages of winter time ice. So far, the experiment seems to be working, with a less than expected effect on our winter-time electric bill. Look for me with sails up and hands in mittens on that first day that the year-rounders on Monomanac declare "Ice Out"!