First Trip of the Season to Stave Island

 

First trip of the season to Stave

3 MIN READ426 WORDS
IMG_1073.jpeg

Spring time is here in Vermont, and to be honest it feels almost like summer. Temps are rising to the 80's, the sun is out, and it is that exciting time of year when we take our first trip out to Stave Island to start opening things up. It is still mid May, so we didn't even think to bring bathing suits, but we should have! The kids spent so much time down at the beach, learning that they could paddle board on the knee board, and playing on the floats. The water was pretty cold, but not enough to keep us out!

Stave looks good after sitting idle for the winter. The beach is full of driftwood, but that just give me more logs to line the trails with. Susie, Donnie, and I got the water flowing into both houses. And we got most of the heavy shutters off the main house. After Heidi and Donnie did some mowing the place really looks good. Other than the docks not being in and the fridge not hooked up, it feels like mid season out here already.

Fisher found the first snake of the season under a rock down by the farm house shore. It was a baby garter snake, and none too pleased to be uncovered. It was full of bluff and bluster. Then Heidi found a big milk snake and I helped the kids catch a huge garter snake. It is the one Catalina is holding in the photo below. We also saw about 5 deer up on the hill on our way to the farmhouse for breakfast in the morning. Looks like survived the winter and the hunters. There is at least 1 loud turkey on the island as well.

The other big project this weekend was getting the kids cottage all set up for Dela to sleep in. This means that Catalina, Fisher, and Dela are all going to be in the same room. Night one was a bit hectic, but it'll get easier. I know we are all looking forward to heading back as soon as we can!

IMG_1078.jpeg
Little ferocious garter snake, uncovered by Fisher.

IMG_1076.jpeg
So fun seeing all three kids playing in the water in mid May.

IMG_1088.jpeg
My little naturalist.

IMG_1077.jpeg
Some solid paddleboarding from Catalina and Fisher

IMG_1086.jpeg
Dela got attached to this owl. Hanging on the monkey playground.

IMG_1071.jpeg
They can all ride on the back now without us holding them.

IMG_1082.jpeg
Heidi found this nest, and a different sandpiper nest in the tall grass. Better not mow here.

IMG_1085.jpeg
Panorama of the bay.

Comments

Post a Comment

Leaving a comment is a great way to provide feedback, ask further questions, and inspire more answers...so go for it.

Popular posts from this blog

Secret Maui Waterfall

Image
  No matter how quick a trip to Maui might be there will be hidden gems found and great times had. After a little snafu with my flight I made it standby to Maui, picked up my rental car, and rushed off to meet my friends on the road to Hana. We met at Frog Pond, one of our favorite swimming holes near the beginning of the road to Hana. After some rock hopping and cliff jumping here we decided to check out the hidden waterfalls at mile 11. I'm not sure what the name of these falls are but there are two of them, each with their own swimming holes. It is just off the highway but separated by lush jungle. A rope swing beckons the adventurous and rocks warmed by the sun give you more than enough reason to while away the afternoon.
Read more

Hidden Ulupalakua Lava Tube, Maui

Image
  High above the crowded beaches of South Maui lies a hidden secret adventure that only those in the know will ever experience. Hidden only a thousand yards or so off a well traveled road around 4,000ft in elevation sits a massive cave which angles slowly down the side of Haleakala volcano. The amazing formations inside and the cave itself were formed by lava, creating an underground tube to transport the lava farther down the slope of the volcano. The same thing can be seen actively happening on the Big Island currently. Luckily this lava tube is all dried up making it much safer to explore. However the loose rocks and obvious cave ins leave some cause for concern.   Part of this adventure is just finding the entrance. This included a dirt road, a jeep trail, jumping an old stone wall, then bushwhacking through dense brush for about tweny-five minutes before finding the lava tube entrance. It was surrounded by ferns, just like the famous Thurston Lava Tube in Volcanoes National
Read more

Search for Chameleons, Maui

Image
  You never know what might be hiding in your backyard. Here on Maui there have always been tales of people finding Jackson's chameleons in their bushes. The trick is to travel a few thousand feet up Haleakala volcano to Makawao, Pukalani and Kula towns where the temperature is a little cooler and it is a bit wetter, perfect conditions for chameleons.   There are no native reptiles on Hawaii. These beautiful chameleons were released or escaped from the pet trade. Luckily they have not become invasive like many other introduced species, however they have increased in population and seem to be doing quite well in the higher elevation areas. Heidi and I went on a search the other day at our friend's house in Kula and were shocked to find a dozen different chameleons in her side yard hedge. They were mostly at eye level, and were curled up asleep for the night. We found them easily enough with flashlights since they seem to sleep near the outer edge of the hedge at night.   W
Read more