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"!

Decompressing from trip to Burning Man

September 6, 2013

Still decompressing from my trip to Burning Man. My 14 days in the Nevada desert with my son Christopher was a truly amazing experience! 

     

                     http://duncan.co/Burning-Man-2013/

Story of the Santa Maria

Sailor's Touch

August 16, 2013

"What is it about sailing that so completely captures our hearts, captivates our souls, and enchants us with its magic? I believe this enchantment grows from our sense of touch. When we sail we are constantly in motion. The movement is a form of touch so unique, so intense that we find ourselves  wanting more. We're never quite satisfied, never quite full. The constant rhythm of sailing makes us feel alive. For sailors, the memories are endless, the sensations, the touch, the feel unforgettable. And the urge to go again is uncontrollable. The feel of sailing is something once experienced, is always remembered.  Nothing else comes close, nothing else compares. That, indeed, is sailings lure, for the feel of sailing is not the feel of the everyday or the ordinary - it's the feel of life itself."

Quote from Chas. Scott, Good Old Boat, Nov/Dec2011

Glenwood in the Kitchen

August 14, 2013

Pictured above is our Glenwood kitchen stove. Glenwood has a history dating back to 1902 when the Old Weir Stove Company was set up at West Water Street on the banks of the Taunton River in Taunton, Massachusetts. The factory building eventually became the Glenwood Stove Company. As you might guess, our "culinary center" here at Camp is not exactly granite & stainless, nor would we want it to be, but on any given Sunday morning you will find our Glenwood faithfully serving up eggs and bacon to family and friends as it has for more than 100 years. 

Camp Starfish

August 10, 2013

Many of us have fond childhood  memories of Camp Monomonac. Today's successor camp is Camp Starfish. A seemingly odd name. A fresh-water lake, Monomonac has no starfish. This story explains the name and  exemplifies the camp's mission;
Camp Starfish fosters the success and growth of children with emotional, behavioral and learning problems by providing individualized attention as part of structured, nurturing and fun group programs.

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance, as he drew nearer he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water.
Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean.
As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water.
The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied,"I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. "But", said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference."
The boy looked down, frowning for a moment; then bent down to pick up another starfish, smiling as he threw it back into the sea. He replied, "I made a huge difference to that one!" 

We are honored to have them as our neighbor on the Lake. 

History of our Sailboat

August 8, 2013

1978 Tangerine 18

Initially, the Tangerine Sailboat Company manufactured the Tangerine 18′ pocket cruiser . In the early 80′s the Renken motorboat company bought the Tangerine company in an effort to try out the sailboat market.

Evidently, the company produced several hundred boats in the course of several years. The company then decided to move away from the sailboat market, and no longer manufactured the boat.

The boat is a Shoal keel pocket cruiser with marconi-type sails and rigging system. It is a fiberglass monohull sailboat with a fiberglass deck. Although small in length, it offers a surprising amount of cabin space for it’s size.

LOA: 17’6″

LWL: 15’3″

Draft: 24″

Beam: 6’4″

Keel: fixed shoal

Displacement: 1220 lbs

Ballast: 450 lbs

Sleeps: 4 adults

Sail area: main=91 sq. ft., jib=59 sq. ft. (total=150 sq. ft.)