Living on an island is always a little different and when power goes out, it may take awhile to get it fixed. Triggs Island got some of its power back on after the rest of the mainland did but some of those who enjoy Thanksgiving on the island do have their power. And, around the lake, the change from the warm October to the much colder November is very evident.
Kathy Eaton provided a picture of an electric crew headed out to Triggs Island for power line repair. Obviously, there are different problems restoring the power because the electric crew can’t use their normal equipment but these guys seem to be enjoying their boat ride back from the island. An issue developed with the need to put in a new power pole which met with ledge. Things are never easy when you deal with island life.
The lake is now looking like the middle of November. There aren’t many leaves on any trees and only the oak and beech are holding a few of them. Some days have been calm and allowed travel on the lake in small boats but others have been very windy. Below is a picture of Cate Island in the foreground and Bass Island in the background. Bare trees predominate.
A few loons are still around but they are all in their winter plumage. As you pass them, you wonder how a loon chick figures out that it is time to take to the air and head somewhere. They must not have a “vision” of where that is but this first migration to the ocean must be in their DNA because loons have been doing this as long as loons have been visiting lakes to breed. The adults generally leave before the chicks so there is no one to show the chick the way to go.
Mergansers are still around and they are much less shy than the Common Goldeneyes seen in the picture at the beginning of this piece. The telephoto lens shows them “flying over” Mt. Chocorua. I always like these ducks because the wings of the males whistle when they fly. You, therefore, can identify them by the sound that they make with their wings.
There have also been a few days with very strong winds. Standing on the downwind shores, you wondered if trees would fall over on you. Previous strong winds would most likely have caused them to fall over and no new trees seem to have fallen. In a recent wind storm, the waves were almost like the “rollers” on the ocean. The second picture shows lots and lots of whitecaps looking toward the west end of the lake past Bass and Stamp Act Islands. Obviously, this is not a day for a pleasant canoe ride……
