Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Today reminds me of the time many years ago that Lloyd and Jory drove to Plymouth Pond to check the ice at about this time of year. They’d been watching the weather and had a hunch. What they found was two inches of black ice, very sailable. All they had with them was an ax. No boats, no skates.

Today on Farm Pond, near Howland, we found this lovely little launch leading out to two inches of almost black ice, thanks to Bob Lombardo. Almost black because the plate has been rained on, snowed on rained again and then froze. It’s been through the mill, but the surface was excellent. There was one spot that returned consistent zippers, but at the same thickness as the rest of the plate. Interesting.

The wind came in lightly from the south, perfect for the first day with skate sails. We established top and bottom marks and duked it out until the arms and legs were shot.

Bottom line is that your iceboat and all the gear should be ready to deploy if you get a call at eight PM for a dawn departure to new ice.

Bill and Guy. Couple of wingnuts. youtube.com

Here’s a link to a video shot by Bob.

Forecast looks grim, but don’t give up the search!

Out beyond Millinocket on the the Golden Road is a small lake, name undisclosed. Two wing sailors and a couple of skaters found their way there and had a wonderful day after the snow turned to rain and the skies cleared.

That’s Mt. Kahtadin in the background. We will investigate further to see if there is a name for this lovely place.

Jack Wright swung by Plymouth this morning and found the entire pond locked in with what appears to be about an 1 1/4”.

Rain and warmth forecast for coming days might do it in, but it’ll be back! CIBC tradition has the first weekend in December as opening day on Plymouth.
Thanks Jack!

CIBC member Paul Chamberland hit the ice on Owlseye Lake, a tad east NE from Edmonton, Alberta. Last season he was first on the ice at Lac Aurelie in Quebec, often our first plate. He had traveled from Albany. Isn’t it so that the furthest away often is the first to arrive?

The lesson, as always, is that if you really want to sail you need to make the drive. Come spring, when the ice at Moosehead is two feet thick and the sun is high, remember this.
Congratulations Paul!

Listen carefully to this beautiful song and it’s easy to imagine that that those last precious days of fall are spent getting the iceboat ready for winter.

Willie Nelson – September Song youtube.com

Whatever else you might need to get set for the season, including inspiration, can be had at the NEIYA Meeting and Swap meet next Sunday at Thompson Motor Speedway, CT.