Where are all the people?

Kona Family · 07-18-2007, 12:38 PM

Could be the weather for July has been the worst we've seen in years. Not much motivation for people to head north.

fatlazyless · 07-18-2007, 04:12 PM

Some businesses benefit from rainy, dreary weather. Spinelli's movie theatre in Meredith had that parkng lot loaded with parked cars, and no way they were all there for the only other business, Brooks.

Last year's summer of 2006 still seems like it had more rainy days what with its' three months of rain from May 15-Aug 15. So far....?

Hey, Bob's Shurfine in Ashland has terrific fresh corn at 3 ears/99 cents. Like, why go all the way to Wal-Mart to avoid Heath's and Jackson Star what with Bob's Shurfine in downtown Ashland. Also, Ashland is the home of an excellent hardware and paint store, the Ash Hardware, It carries all sorts of Amsoil oil products for the two-stroke and four-stroke sled-jetski-boat enthusiast at Ashland prices.

Irish mist · 07-18-2007, 06:48 PM

The Lakes Region is in transition to a more year round economy and retirement area. It will alway have summer tourists.......but if you check the U.S. census data you will see that the population of Belknap county has skyrocketed it the last six or seven years.

This is no longer your father's Lakes Region......with the baby-boomers retiring over the next 15 to 20 years expect the area to be flooded by retired folks. Which BTW I think is a good thing for the region.
________
Mitsubishi starion

Captain Zipper · 07-18-2007, 10:07 PM

I've had some store help tell me that the week following the 4th is usually always slow but from what I've been reading you've had a slow summer.

Captain Zipper · 07-20-2007, 10:56 PM

Well my week is winding down and soon it will be time to travel back to Ct.

At least with the minimal crowds we were able to walk right into any restaurant, park in any town slip, pick any seat in the movie theater, no waiting anywhere.

And the day I needed fuel in my boat the price dropped about 25 cents per gallon at Silver Sands. Before I bought it no less, what a stroke of luck!

Had fun all, thanks for the tips and making my stay enjoyable.

We just boated back from the fireworks at Weirs a short time ago. Of course you can't go to the fireworks until after you get ice cream (by boat) at "Lick-My-Hiney" (Likualanni - or whatever it's called).

My best,

Captain Zipper

mets3007 · 07-21-2007, 08:46 AM

Captain Zipper you just named the best ice cream place in the Weirs, thats where I always go and I thought I was the only one who liked it there lol. Im glad someone gave that place some respect that it deserves and maybe more forum memembers will go there because it is worth the treat and the trip.

Captain Zipper · 07-21-2007, 09:14 PM

Thanks mets.

I love Liliuokalani's! They have great ice cream

and it's fun to eat it from the deck and watch the boats go by.

It's not as much fun watching my own boat crashing against the dock.

Their dock is not in the "no wake" zone.

pmj · 07-22-2007, 07:11 AM

Quote:

. . . the Board of Selectment in Alton are once again considering the need for a new public beach - this time at Echo Point. What this would do to the homes and families that live there, well, it boggles the mind that they would even consider it, not to mention the fact that they will have to fill in marshland and pave it over just for the parking plus take away one if not two homes to widen the road.

I would like to hear more about this..I am not familiar with this area and although this location may not be good for some residents, I do feel that Alton needs a town beach that will be in safer place that the current spot.

Alton Bay · 07-22-2007, 08:11 AM

I find it hard to believe that anyone would consider the Echo Point location a good one for a town beach. The road is narrow and difficult for two cars to pass going in opposite directions. There is no parking space. No space period. In the winter, it is often difficult to navigate as the ice fisherman and snowmobilers park their trucks on the side of the road. If fire/emergency vehicles ever had to get through, they'd have a major problem.
This is a poorly thought out idea.

Captain Zipper · 07-22-2007, 10:31 AM

Maybe the Echo Point beach topic should get a thread of its own so that everyone browsing realizes it came up.

I think it may be a "hot" topic.

CZ

gwood · 07-23-2007, 12:12 PM

Can someone give me more details on where the ice cream shop is? Sounds like it has its own docks?

Thanks.

mets3007 · 07-23-2007, 01:03 PM

Its right past Naswa on Paugus Bay and it has it owns docks but its in a no wake zone though. I recommend it to anyone as its very good.

jrc · 07-23-2007, 01:10 PM

I think all the people were on RT93 South on Sunday. Bumper to bumper from Concord to the toll booth.

Speaking of toll booths, how hard is it to understand, Middle Lanes E-ZPass only, No Cash.

Trying to navigate the approach to the toll booth is as bad as trying to navigate Weirs Bay.

Dave R · 07-23-2007, 02:05 PM

Boat traffic was back to normal Summer weekend levels on Sunday, from my POV anyway. What a wonderful day to be out on the lake. Water temp was finally up to "stay in all day" temps and we had a fantastic time swimming and touring.

Paugus Bay Resident · 07-23-2007, 03:29 PM

I'd have to agree about this weekend. When we passed by the sandbar at Margate, I looked like boats were 3 to 4 deep.

idigtractors · 07-23-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jersey Girl

. . . the Board of Selectmen in Alton are once again considering the need for a new public beach - this time at Echo Point. What this would do to the homes and families that live there, well, it boggles the mind that they would even consider it, not to mention the fact that they will have to fill in marshland and pave it over just for the parking plus take away one if not two homes to widen the road.
Shameful. So, if there is no one at the lake, where's the need?
Jersey Girl

Is the above quote a fact?? If I were one of the people living beside or near this location, I believe I would also be upset, however if I did not do my leg work before purchasing and finding out that it was town owned property or it was open space for sale I think I'd be at fault that I was beside a possible beach area or even a cell tower location. By what I see in Alton and going by a beach that is in a heavily traveled boat channel they need a new beach away from such busy activity. After reading about other times this beach area thing came up at town meetings and it being turned down and the old beach being done pretty much on donations and a small amount of tax money. I don't believe we will see another beach in the very near future, but I do believe there will be one in the distant future.
Just my feelings.

nj2nh · 07-23-2007, 06:52 PM

The idea of a town beach on Echo Point is on the agenda for the next meeting. The town apparently owns the boat launch at the end of the public portion of the road. I have no idea where the beach would go, frankly.

The idea that people should have thought about this before they purchased property doesn't hold water, so to speak. Almost all the owners on the public stretch of road have owned their properties for over 50 years, some more than 80.

Yes, Alton needs another town beach, but not on Echo Point. It just doesn't make any sense to put it there.

codeman671 · 07-24-2007, 09:06 PM

I am hearing from some business owners that the crowds at the beaches in the seacoast area are way down. Beach traffic, nightclubs and charter boats are all unusually slow. Definitely not a lakes region only problem.

ApS · 07-23-2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kona Family

Could be the weather for July has been the worst we've seen in years. Not much motivation for people to head north.

You're onto something—and it can't be the price of gas.

Viewed from my dock, the boating crowd certainly made up for the rest of July with yesterday's super weather. Silver Duck's chair got a good soaking!

camp guy · 07-23-2007, 05:24 PM

I think the weather has been the big factor, and this has directly affected the boating activity, and boating is the most visible activity in the region. We have had some spectacular days, but, by and large, these have been accidents, in that the weather forecasters have generally included some form of rain in the forecasts all summer. If you are watching the weather and you see "rain" (in some form) extending to the weekend, you may seriously reconsider coming to the Lake. If you do come, and you subsequently stay indoors, then you are not visible, and the whole area looks under-visited. Of course, when we have a spectacular day, and the Lake is active, and the local docks are active, then it looks like it used to. Somehow, we need to convince the weathermen to include "sunny and light breeze" in their forecasts on Thursdays, then people will come.

idigtractors · 07-23-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camp guy

Somehow, we need to convince the weathermen to include "sunny and light breeze" in their forecasts on Thursdays, then people will come.

Just a question. Are they to say this if it is true or untrue or both????LOL
The weather forecast I heard this evening said that we received less rain this July than we did last July. I hope that doesn't carry through for us that also enjoy the winter months here and get less snow as we didn't get that much last year even though the Weirs forecast cam said we got more (Inches). Guess it was at the wrong times.

07-18-2007, 06:48 PM	#3
Irish mist Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 683 Thanks: 127 Thanked 85 Times in 49 Posts	The Lakes Region is in transition to a more year round economy and retirement area. It will alway have summer tourists.......but if you check the U.S. census data you will see that the population of Belknap county has skyrocketed it the last six or seven years. This is no longer your father's Lakes Region......with the baby-boomers retiring over the next 15 to 20 years expect the area to be flooded by retired folks. Which BTW I think is a good thing for the region. ________ Mitsubishi starion Last edited by Irish mist; 02-27-2011 at 09:54 PM.

07-21-2007, 08:46 AM	#6
mets3007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 170 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Yup Captain Zipper you just named the best ice cream place in the Weirs, thats where I always go and I thought I was the only one who liked it there lol. Im glad someone gave that place some respect that it deserves and maybe more forum memembers will go there because it is worth the treat and the trip.

07-22-2007, 08:11 AM	#9
Alton Bay Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 188 Thanks: 73 Thanked 24 Times in 21 Posts	Town Beach I find it hard to believe that anyone would consider the Echo Point location a good one for a town beach. The road is narrow and difficult for two cars to pass going in opposite directions. There is no parking space. No space period. In the winter, it is often difficult to navigate as the ice fisherman and snowmobilers park their trucks on the side of the road. If fire/emergency vehicles ever had to get through, they'd have a major problem. This is a poorly thought out idea.

07-23-2007, 12:12 PM	#11
gwood Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ice cream Can someone give me more details on where the ice cream shop is? Sounds like it has its own docks? Thanks.

07-23-2007, 06:52 PM	#17
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 529 Thanks: 80 Thanked 47 Times in 27 Posts	It's a fact. The idea of a town beach on Echo Point is on the agenda for the next meeting. The town apparently owns the boat launch at the end of the public portion of the road. I have no idea where the beach would go, frankly. The idea that people should have thought about this before they purchased property doesn't hold water, so to speak. Almost all the owners on the public stretch of road have owned their properties for over 50 years, some more than 80. Yes, Alton needs another town beach, but not on Echo Point. It just doesn't make any sense to put it there. __________________

07-18-2007, 12:38 PM	#1
Kona Family Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Could be the weather for July has been the worst we've seen in years. Not much motivation for people to head north.

07-18-2007, 04:12 PM	#2
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,752 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,010 Times in 736 Posts	Some businesses benefit from rainy, dreary weather. Spinelli's movie theatre in Meredith had that parkng lot loaded with parked cars, and no way they were all there for the only other business, Brooks. Last year's summer of 2006 still seems like it had more rainy days what with its' three months of rain from May 15-Aug 15. So far....? Hey, Bob's Shurfine in Ashland has terrific fresh corn at 3 ears/99 cents. Like, why go all the way to Wal-Mart to avoid Heath's and Jackson Star what with Bob's Shurfine in downtown Ashland. Also, Ashland is the home of an excellent hardware and paint store, the Ash Hardware, It carries all sorts of Amsoil oil products for the two-stroke and four-stroke sled-jetski-boat enthusiast at Ashland prices.

07-18-2007, 10:07 PM	#4
Captain Zipper Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Granby, Ct. Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I've had some store help tell me that the week following the 4th is usually always slow but from what I've been reading you've had a slow summer.

07-20-2007, 10:56 PM	#5
Captain Zipper Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Granby, Ct. Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Well my week is winding down and soon it will be time to travel back to Ct. At least with the minimal crowds we were able to walk right into any restaurant, park in any town slip, pick any seat in the movie theater, no waiting anywhere. And the day I needed fuel in my boat the price dropped about 25 cents per gallon at Silver Sands. Before I bought it no less, what a stroke of luck! Had fun all, thanks for the tips and making my stay enjoyable. We just boated back from the fireworks at Weirs a short time ago. Of course you can't go to the fireworks until after you get ice cream (by boat) at "Lick-My-Hiney" (Likualanni - or whatever it's called). My best, Captain Zipper

07-21-2007, 09:14 PM	#7
Captain Zipper Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Granby, Ct. Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks mets. I love Liliuokalani's! They have great ice cream and it's fun to eat it from the deck and watch the boats go by. It's not as much fun watching my own boat crashing against the dock. Their dock is not in the "no wake" zone.

07-22-2007, 10:31 AM	#10
Captain Zipper Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Granby, Ct. Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Maybe the Echo Point beach topic should get a thread of its own so that everyone browsing realizes it came up. I think it may be a "hot" topic. CZ

07-23-2007, 01:03 PM	#12
mets3007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 170 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Its right past Naswa on Paugus Bay and it has it owns docks but its in a no wake zone though. I recommend it to anyone as its very good.

07-23-2007, 01:10 PM	#13
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I think all the people were on RT93 South on Sunday. Bumper to bumper from Concord to the toll booth. Speaking of toll booths, how hard is it to understand, Middle Lanes E-ZPass only, No Cash. Trying to navigate the approach to the toll booth is as bad as trying to navigate Weirs Bay.

07-23-2007, 02:05 PM	#14
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	Boat traffic was back to normal Summer weekend levels on Sunday, from my POV anyway. What a wonderful day to be out on the lake. Water temp was finally up to "stay in all day" temps and we had a fantastic time swimming and touring.

07-23-2007, 03:29 PM	#15
Paugus Bay Resident Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Gilmanton, NH Posts: 754 Thanks: 136 Thanked 93 Times in 51 Posts	I'd have to agree about this weekend. When we passed by the sandbar at Margate, I looked like boats were 3 to 4 deep.

07-24-2007, 09:06 PM	#18
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,495 Thanks: 221 Thanked 812 Times in 488 Posts	I am hearing from some business owners that the crowds at the beaches in the seacoast area are way down. Beach traffic, nightclubs and charter boats are all unusually slow. Definitely not a lakes region only problem.

07-23-2007, 05:24 PM	#20
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,183 Thanks: 301 Thanked 525 Times in 293 Posts	Where are all the people I think the weather has been the big factor, and this has directly affected the boating activity, and boating is the most visible activity in the region. We have had some spectacular days, but, by and large, these have been accidents, in that the weather forecasters have generally included some form of rain in the forecasts all summer. If you are watching the weather and you see "rain" (in some form) extending to the weekend, you may seriously reconsider coming to the Lake. If you do come, and you subsequently stay indoors, then you are not visible, and the whole area looks under-visited. Of course, when we have a spectacular day, and the Lake is active, and the local docks are active, then it looks like it used to. Somehow, we need to convince the weathermen to include "sunny and light breeze" in their forecasts on Thursdays, then people will come.