Lots of pictures

I have many more pictures of the cardboard canoe race and the regatta, so I've posted them all to a separate site for those who care to look at them. The cardboard canoe race can be found here and the regatta pictures can be found here.

Regatta 2009

This may be my biggest blog posting ever, but it was a fun filled weekend with lots of "photo ops" for the blog. Our Annual General Meeting was the kickoff event and for the first time ever it started under the protective shade of a big white tent. The tent itself was a huge success and will stay on site for Float Night and trophies next week. This year's AGM was well attended and started off a weekend filled with friendly competitions and social time for leaseholders.

Burger Fest

In addition to the tent, we also threw a burger barbecue for anyone who wanted to stay after the meeting. It turned out to be a big hit, with over 100 burgers flipped and consumed.

For Sale

Leaseholders line up to buy Cache Lake Hats and Cache Lake Maps prior to the meeting. Both can still be obtained by contacting Barb or Rick Rigby.

Cardboard Canoe Race

A weekend of community competitions began with the cardboard canoe race. Contestants are provided with cardboard and tape and given 30 minutes to design and build their watercraft. They are then judged on presentation, design and of course the results of the race itself.

They're off

There was lots of enthusiasm from all five crews and the newly launched vessels began to race.

Best floater

This boat proved to be the most seaworthy of all, but it's captain had a little navigation trouble along the way.

Roundng the Buoy

Despite what appears to be a close race while these boats round the buoy, neither of these boats floated long enough to cross the finish line - in fact only two of the five stayed above the water line!

Fair Winds

Last but not least of Saturday's activities is the sailing race - and what a race it was. Winds were high and several boats dumped more than once. Here the boats jockey for position before the final flag.

Staying afloat

Cousin Rick and friend Dick entered this year's regatta. Despite high winds and some serious heeling they managed to stay high and keep dry throughout the race.

Rick and Dick go sailing!

Looking pretty happy with their sail, Rick and Dick cross the finish line second overall and first in their class!

Ready, set, GO!

Sunday morning's events began with swimming and short course canoe races. This year's regatta was well attended with lots of competition in all age groups. This group of girls was quick off the mark!

Don't forget to breathe!

Small but determined

Some of the younger contestants in an early swimming race.

It's gonna be a close one!

You can do it!

Life Jacket contestants get a little encouragement as they near the finish.

Crab Race

The crab race is one of the "short course" events - no paddles allowed, these canoes are paddled by hands only.

Blind steering

The person is the stern still has more leverage but steering is a problem when you're facing the wrong way!

Bobbing

The gunwhale bobbing race requires superior balance and a willingness to get wet.

more bobbing

This sport clearly requires focus in addition to balance.

And more bobbing

Finishing the Guides

The final push at the end of a long and arduous race that takes participants across the lake to the old trestle where they leap out and run with their canoes along the old railroad bed before tossing their canoes back in the water for a final sprint across the finish line.

Afternoon Races

Spectators spectate, paddlers paddle and judges judge while others get ready for the next race

Ladies War Canoe

Ladies War Canoe

Men's War Canoe

Adults Mixed War Canoe

Across the finish line

A final push and they cross the line.

Architectural achievement

This is the best woodpile ever - constructed over the last week courtesy of our friend Andrew with hauling help from his family and supervision from various children!

Feeding Time

Snapped this little hummingbird about 2 minutes after filling the feeder. I guess it was past his lunchtime

Life is Good

What could be better than being pushed around the lake in a comfy blow up rowboat on a sunny afternoon?

New Leaseholder Map

Finally - it took a while to get it organized, but here it is - the new Cache Lake Leaseholders Map. There are plain paper versions for those who just want a map and laminated versions for those who like them as placemats. Interested in acquiring??? Contact myself or Richard Rigby!

Cache Lake Map Maestro

This is Jean Ledoux, a talented and generous Montreal graphic designer who graciously donated his time and expertise to create our new lake map. Here he is proudly wearing the Cache Lake hat that was part of a small but heartfelt thank you!

Cache Lake Shines

Park Superintendant John Winters updates leaseholders on various Park issues. Here Cache Lake gets kudos for their stellar waste management percentages. With 65 percent of all waste going to recycling or organics, we are ahead of all other areas of the Park and the Park target of 60%. Cache Lake leaseholders - take a collective bow.

2009 APRA Meeting

This year the meeting took place at the Two Rivers East Beach Pavilion. For those who attended there was encouraging news. For those who didn't - contact your lake association!

Barbie Fishing Rods

Our friends the Kemps joined us for a long weekend and Amelia and Isabelle were kind enough to let me fish with their Barbie fishing rods. I think this may be my new facebook picture.

Off on an adventure

On Sunday afternoon, the girls set off with Carolyn and I for a little walk and paddle around Beaver Pond. Here they are, ready with their paddles to cross the trail.

Paddling the pond

Once we got to the other end we hopped in the canoe and went for an exploratory paddle around Beaver pond. We actually found a little creek to one side and followed it to it's end, picking a few lilies along the way.

It takes two to portage

On the way back, Amy helps to portage the canoe between Beaver Pond and Tanamakoon Lake. A couple more years and she'll be ready to carry by herself!

Mother and child

On a boat ride up the Madawaska we found this little loon hitching a ride on Mom's back.

Heron in the river

And this heron let us get unusually close. I thought for sure it would fly, but it stood very still, trying its very best to look like a stick while I circled close and got a series of close-ups.

New addition

And here is the latest addition to the island - two sunshine yellow "sit on top" kayaks, just waiting for a couple of kids to take them for a spin.

Spring Cleaning

On the first weekend that it was really warm enough to work outside, Carolyn got to work sweeping away the spiderwebs.

Summertime, summertime

Finally warm enough for a beer on the dock!

Mama on the Nest

When we arrived on Friday night we found Mama Duck sitting on her nest and she wasn't moving for anything. We walked right by her and she didn't budge. I was pretty sure that meant she was sitting on some little duckies, and sure enough we got to see them on Saturday.

Not Rubber Duckies

These little ducklings were all that were born of the 12 eggs that we found earlier in the spring. There are three heads but if you look carefully there are four beaks. Mom got off her nest for a very short time and I took the opportunity to get a shot of our little babies. We were lucky to see them at all because by Sunday they had all left the nest and gone to the lake. We will keep an eye out for them this summer.

Deer in the Forest

Saturday was a rainy day so we hopped in the car and did a little exploring. It's amazing the places that are right at our back door and somehow we've never come across them before. This weekend we discovered a wonderful little road near Dwight that runs along the lake, past a church built in 1837 and winds in and out amongst many beautiful old cottages. This deer came out along that road and while she kept a wary eye on me, she allowed me to come quite close.

Raindrops on Iris

This was our first wild Iris to bloom on the island, but there are lots of flowers out on the island and along the highway. This weekend we saw lots of Ladyslippers, Devil's Paintbrush, and Daisies.

An even dozen

On Saturday morning as I walked up the hill to the outhouse there was a great beating of wings as a very large bird shot up from the underbrush and flew off into the sky. When i went to investigate I found a dozen duck eggs in this beautifully feather-lined hole in the ground. Mom was soon back on her nest and we spent the rest of the weekend making sure to give the her and her eggs a wide berth. I briefly considered pinching just one to see what scrambled duck eggs might taste like but Carolyn succeeded in changing my mind!

Many meese

The blackflies were absolutely wicked this weekend, and so the moose were literally hanging out on the road. Caitlin Glynn-Morris had emailed me last weekend with pictures she shot of a moose right outside our parking lot. On our way out, I shot this picture of Dad next to the Cache lake sign and his calf trailing along behind. We then spotted this cow a little further down the road closer to Mew Lake.