vacation re - direct

[Warm_in_NH]

So, the original plan was visit mum in FL, an assessment of what she has to move north in August (yeah, thanks for the August move date mom, won't be warm then I'm sure) then a flight home with a quick turn around and a 12 hour drive to spend 3 days in Prince Edward Island at a friends house.
Friend canceled due to no water so we had 4 days at home we weren't planning on. Due to a dam storm, both fishing charters we scheduled to go out on as a last minute fix canceled. Back up plan was a buddy with a boat and lobster traps, T storms and rough seas caused yet another cancelation.
Ultimately, we're lucky to live in vacation land and ended up doing a nice hike out of the back yard (5 mile round trip), a day on New Found lake (10 minutes from home) and a day on the river (also 10 min from home).
So, similar to our canceled flight to Vegas a couple years ago, if you've got the mindset, you can make it all work out, no worries.

 

[begreen]

Looks like you scored very nicely close to home and saved a lot too.

 

[Bobbin]

Remember when the Maine license plate was the one that used to read: Vacationland ?

Summer in New England is tantamount to paradise.

 

[firefighterjake]

Remember when the Maine license plate was the one that used to read: Vacationland ?

Summer in New England is tantamount to paradise.

Pretty sure the Maine plate ... at least the most common one ... still has the Vacationland slogan.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

Sometimes we tend to overlook what is in our own backyards. I moved to NH for what is in my backyard, and now, 15 years later, I find myself forgetting it's there every so often. It's also pretty hard to take a vacation while at home, especially when you own your own business, luckily most people thought I was in PEI and completely out of reach for the week, and the lil woman made damn sure I didn't sneak off and start sending emails or listening to voice mails.
Still have a few hundred bucks in funny looking Canadian money that didn't get spent! Debating keeping it as a super secret stash incase I ever need to flee the country in a hurry. One never knows.

 

[begreen]

Remember when the Maine license plate was the one that used to read: Vacationland ?

Summer in New England is tantamount to paradise.

If the bugs aren't buzzin'.

 

[begreen]

We're doing a lot of local camping lately. The PacNW has a tremendous variety of terrain, water and mountain.

 

[Lake Girl]

I live north of the state with 10,000 lakes - paradise!

 

[begreen]

Not to mention 1 billion mosquitoes.

 

[Lake Girl]

Usually not a problem at our house - high enough above the lake that the front deck area is bug free especially if there is any kind of breeze. With all the extra rainfall this year though, an hour before sunset is a feeding frenzy. Would love to see more dragon flies and bats on the prowl...

 

[Warm_in_NH]

This is the worst year since I've owned my house (2009) for skeeters. Like lake Girl said, last hour of daylight is insanè, just chased me and the dog in.
So think I can't keep em out of the house so at about 3 am you wake up to one buzzing in your ear. Really? Just bite me and get it over with, but no, they insist on going for the ear.

 

[CaptSpiff]

With all the extra rainfall this year though, an hour before sunset is a feeding frenzy. Would love to see more dragon flies and bats on the prowl...

Where have the Bats gone? Seems like I see less and less each year. This is the second summer my neighbors two bat houses have been empty.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

(broken link removed)

This accounts for some of the diminished numbers.

 

[CaptSpiff]

(broken link removed)
This accounts for some of the diminished numbers.

WOW, I consider myself well informed, but this one slipped under my radar!

Looking at that included map shows a classic "pathogen spread" pattern.
And the quote: "Current estimates of bat population declines in the northeastern US since the emergence of WNS are approximately 80%" is sobering.

Are they saying there are only 20% of the Bats vs 8 years ago in the NorthEast?

 

[Warm_in_NH]

WOW, I consider myself well informed, but this one slipped under my radar!

Looking at that included map shows a classic "pathogen spread" pattern.
And the quote: "Current estimates of bat population declines in the northeastern US since the emergence of WNS are approximately 80%" is sobering.

Are they saying there are only 20% of the Bats vs 8 years ago in the NorthEast?

It does read that way, seems like a huge decline. I've known about it for a while and have seen infected bats flying around during the day while there's still snow on the ground, really makes for a strange site.

I wouldn't doubt the 80%, I seldom see bats in my yard anymore and 5 years ago there would always be a half a dozen. Same at my SO's house in CT, went from having about a dozen every night to just one or two.

 

[Bobbin]

Huge, huge issue if you're at all tuned in to native wildlife (and not interested in eradicating it). Salamanders are another species that I see in fewer numbers than I used to. It makes me sad to see them flattened on the pavement,,,

 

[Swedishchef]

Too bad you didn't make it to PEI. I was there for a week. It has been GREAT weather for the past month!

As for the bats, some scientists believe this may be the end of them. IE Extinction. A cave in PEI that normally has 7000 is down to 21. Considering some bats eat 600 mosquitos an hour, that would be a lot less bug bites for me.

Andrew

 

[begreen]

Yikes. That sounds like a batastrophe!