Who else is ready?
 

I made a short video of clips from last summer to get myself ready for 2018! Who else is ready?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DdF8Cfw1TW4" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdF8Cfw1TW4

- @ddipirro.photogarphy

This may be OK to post in mid-June. Right now, my heart starts pounding and I get all excited for summer. Don't know that I can hold out that long.

My heart is pounding too...from loading the boat with all the needed supplies, unloading the boat at the island, lugging all the deck furniture out of the house, lugging all the outside furniture out from under the house, lugging all the planters off the deck, etc. The good news is no damage or signs of critters in the house. Now I'm ready!

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With kids all over the country we started using a cleaning service to wash windows, scrub carpets, etc. for opening. They also move the furniture back outdoors. The kids share the cost with us, so we all get to do what we really want to do in the spring instead of chores.
Yes, always nice to arrive and not have to fix anything major.

While being yelled at the whole time I am sure! :D

Our boat is going in the water on Wednesday and the dock has already been dropped. Now I just need a house.....

got it down to a science, one weekend in April clean inside, another clean/set up the outside (which is first depends on mother nature)
come May we are off and doing our thing. with limited weekends and time this year have to maximize it all


video is awesome by the way!!!

One oil cooler away from launching the tub...

I'm off Wednesday and will be up at some point...let me know if you need anything...tent stakes, spare dog, cats...

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Opened up!!
 

Opened up the camp last Friday night at 5 and had our first Cosmo poured by 6pm. Great to be back. Did chores as expected all day Saturday.

This weekend will find me replacing all the 1/2" copper under the camp with PEX then the water goes on.

Even the worst chores are fun on the island.

We’ve just settled in on Whortleberry Island in our full time summer home. No ice damage or leaking pipes! Woohoo!


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It's funny how that works. I hate doing chores around my house at home in Mass but I look forward to projects at the lake house. Just being there, as opposed to home, makes everything better. I want to make it my retirement home but I worry that I won't feel the same way if I'm there every day. :confused: I'm not on an Island so I get to go up year round.

Just because you're on an island doesn't mean can't be there year round.

I got a good two solid months of use out of my place this winter. Best time of the year to get inside projects done.... hauled out my new kitchen over the ice.

What about bathroom facilities? I can make do but my wife would never go without a toilet and shower. :eek:

Ya the wife doesn't come out in the winter time.

I do a lot of work on my place in the winter also so she's my helper. I did my kitchen this winter and, at 64, I just can't do it all by myself anymore. She's not afraid of getting dirty but she needs a toilet and a shower after. :D

We have been ready ever since we left the week prior to Thanksgiving 2017.
Going in soon.
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I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic.

Happy New Season 🎉
 

Last Saturday, we opened our cottage on East Bear Island to begin our fifty-first season at this very special location. Each season, we share our home-away-from-home with family and friends.

This year, there are loads of pine cones, acorns, and fallen branches - the most that we have seen in many years. The strong windstorm that hit in late October last year blew down several very large trees on our side of Bear Island. Many other lake locations were probably affected as well. To protect our cottage from potential future damage, we had several very tall pine trees (well away from our shore) cut down. Overhanging branches were also removed. 🐻

Biggd - as someone who moved from Waltham 4 years ago, I can tell you... it only gets better! The only thing I miss is Wilson Farm!

How long did you live in Waltham? I'm a life long resident, graduated from Waltham High in 1972. As much as I want to leave I can't seem to get out. :laugh: Send me a PM, maybe we know each other.

Awesome first day
 

Finally got out on the water Sunday afternoon for a few hours. First smallmouth of the year did the round trip over the gunwale 10 minutes after first cast. Looked up after release to see an Eagle perched about 60ft up in a tree 50 yards away and it was cocking his head around trying to understand how I came up with a fish and where it went. He or she must've thought I was nuts to let "dinner" go back into the lake. 5 minutes later the eagle got mobbed by 2 crows & after a good fight of over 5 minutes the eagle flew off. Found fish in new water with a new to me technique learned on Champlain last spring. After docking, a pair of loons right in the middle of the marina slips, just 100 ft away, went off with the loudest & proudest loon calls I have ever heard. Thats mighty impressive to a guy who has spent 7 summers in Minnesota/Ontario canoe country. Awesome start to the year.