LOST AND FOUND: 1 O'Brien Waterski

This ski was found by one of Manchaug Pond's facebook friends on Saturday in the rocks on the north side of the lake.  Anyone missing a ski or know who it belongs to?  Shoot us an email!

Fish skeleton washed up

Sacred Sunday: One of Last Week's Sunsets!

Looking for a New Toy? How about a High Visibility Watercraft

 I had to share this one with all of you: a transparent canoe/kayak!

Here's the review from Gear Patrol:

"Constructed of transparent Lexan the Transparent Canoe/Kayak ($1,475) measures just over 11′ in length and is designed for comfort with a wide water displacement with lower deck seating (adjustable). Carrying two people (up to 425 lbs) in high visibility comfort, the see-through skiff won’t satisfy our hard-core enthusiasts, but the Transparent Canoe isn’t just novelty – the clear polycarbonate material is the same used in jet-fighter cockpit canopies and fastened to a lightweight anodized aluminum frame that keeps weight down to just 40 lbs, not included photo model. That makes this canoe lighter than many aluminum or wood canoes of similar size.
Includes two double-headed paddles, water bailer, and two polyurethane flotation bags. If you live near Denver, CO you can save yourself the $125 delivery fee by picking it up yourself."

 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2010/06/11/transparent-canoe/

(Please note photo provided by Gear Patrol - and NOT taken here on Manchaug Pond.)

What Would You Like to See as the Next FUNdrai$ing Event?

The MPA Fundraising Committee is meeting next week. So we are asking you what event you would like to see next!

 The Annual Spring Social was a hit!

The barbecue chicken dinner received rave reviews! People enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones.

and the reverse raffle drawing for the Boat Raffle/$8,000 Giveaway was extremely exciting.

People are still calling to buy a ticket!


and the Boat Decorating Contest was a traffic stopper!




Great fun for both participants

and spectators!











So what would you like for the next fundraising event? Post a comment here today with your ideas and preferences! What do you think? a golf tournament? a dinner dance? a road race? walkathon or cycling race? a silent auction?  .... tell us your ideas!

Part 2 of the Sea Plane/Boat Plane

Thanks again to Laura and Rose for getting these wonderful photos!

Great Egret Visits Manchaug Pond!

If you're a twitter follower, you knew 9 hours ago that a Great Egret, Casmerodius albus (note the beautiful white feathers, yellow bill and black legs) was visiting Manchaug Pond today!






The large lanky bird was very tolerate of passing boaters and us tourist-types with cameras taking numerous photos.  It stayed  a long time  enjoying the breeze.


Our Audubon field guide tells us that the Great Egret, like the Great Blue Heron, is a solitary bird feeding on "fish, frogs, snakes and crayfish in shallow water."  Further, "each year individual birds wander far to the north of the breeding grounds."   Yes, Massachusetts is as far north as its found with its range which extending as far south as southern South America.

Sacred Sunday: One of Manchaug Pond's Resident Pileated Woodpeckers

Thanks to the MPA member who sent in today's photo! Photo contest material don't you think! 

 

As I tried to upload a photo for today's post, I received this message from Blogger ...

We're sorry, but you have exceeded your photo upload quota. For more information, check out this Blogger help page.

 My response:

UGH!  We only have 1400 photos on the Manchaug Pond Blog!  Just one more? PLEASE!

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We are experiencing technical difficulties...

please stand by.

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Making New Friends on Manchaug Pond ...

While the MPA Board of Directors (of which 3 are the main photographers for this blog!) was deep into their July meeting reporting on last month successes and planning future ones, new friends were being made on Manchaug Pond.

A longtime favorite visitor to Manchaug is this 1976 boat plane. Landing on Blueberry Island gave an opportunity for boaters and the pilot to chat.



A very special thanks to Laura from the Old Holbrook's Place campground for bringing her camera to capture the seaplane up close!

While the MPA Board of Directors is meeting....

a longtime favorite visitor to Manchaug Pond delights new lake friends.












More photos and details to come.....

Tonight's Sunset

Manchaug Pond: A shallow pond with a mean depth of 13 ft ...

Navigating Manchaug Pond is a challenge for today's motor boaters!  Boats are bigger than they used to be.  This vessel was seen on the lake Monday, its size dwarfing the pontoon boat to the left.

Witnesses report that when it left the lake through the channel, it hit the end of the wall/rock/bottom sending the vessel and occupants rocking!

Mass Dept of Fish and Game/MassWildlife's bathymetry map of Manchaug Pond shows its shallow depth - 6 to 8 ft around much of the shoreline.  Not show on the map in these areas are the large boulders just under the surface, the Blueberry Island sandbar, and other potential hazards to unknowing boaters.

Thanks to the 3 gentlemen who put in the green and red channel markers this afternoon to help boaters get through the causeway. The new buoys mark the end of the wall with their colors indicating the way to the ramp or the lake: "red, right, return" is the rule of thumb out on the ocean when navigating your way home from the open sea.

Check out this link for the Mass Boaters Handbook, the online boat safety course, and for more information on navigational buoys:
http://www.boat-ed.com/ma/course/p3-7_navaidsbuoys.htm

Sacred Sunday: A Sunset Show Watched by Many!

July 4th ~ God Bless America!

A Weekend of Winners: 1st Annual Boat Decorating Contest - 7 winners!

And the Judges' decision is in!

The winners of the 1st Annual MPA Calling All Boats! Boat Decorating Contest are:







The Grand Winner is entry #4 Captain Karen Bronson and her Hawaiian pontoon boat. But it was not the grass and palm trees but her hula dancing husband Mike in the grass skirt and more who put their entry over the top with the judges! Congratulations!

Tied for Second Place:

#11 The SS M&M pontoon boat, captained by Kevin and Lesa Bickford. Judges found the theme different and creative and full of details! The entry also looked wonderful at night.

#10 Captain Andy (and Kim) Mosher brought us the very original Patriotic Red Sox pontoon boat equipped with bases, bats, flags and Big Papi himself!

#15 Captain Patti Eklund, with glass in hand, brought us to Margaritaville where the judges especially loved the parrot!

#1 and lead boat, The Support Our Troops Flag Ship, captained by David Charpentier was described as very patriotic and fantastic by the judges.

#8 Patriotic USS Independence, captained by Ted and Paula DeMeo was awesome and another patriotic winner!

And one of the smallest but not least was a favorite...

#3 Beaver Boys Beaver Dam paddle boat captained by Aimee and Myles Hibbard and sons was deemed very clever by the judges.

Honorable mentions go to:

#2 The Yellow Submarine kayak captained by Rose Charpentier. The judges loved the bubbles!

#5 Captain Donna Smith took us to It's Five O'clock Somewhere in her adorable 12' dingy!

#6 And who could not fall in love with the Chiquita Banana Boat captained by Diane Smith in the yellow Tahoo.

#7 Captain Keith Orphin, in his tri-hull pontoon boat took us on a patriotic cruise by night and played disco by day!

# 9 The USA Birthday Cake with 234 candles captained by Dave Schmidt was full of enthusiasm. Three cheers to the man holding the flag the entire distance around the lake!

#12 The Fire Boat pontoon was a hit with one of the judges at it squirted water with Captained Jim Oberg and crew in full gear!

#13 Captain "Gokey" (and Monica) Gauthier took us to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in his Party Barge!

#14 Patriotic Keywest Fishing Boat was a hit with Lee and Diane's Patriotic them!

and did you see  #16 Under the Sea, the bowrider captained by Jim and Caryn Gagner.

#17 Captain Linda Cadrin brought us her patriotic pontoon boat all decked out in red, white and blue!

#18 Standing tall, simple and true, Captain George Kuipers Flag Ship brought us the U.S. flag and the air raid siren all through the celebration!

A great time was had by all!  All traffic stopped as our boats passed by!

This week we'll also post photos of our fabulous, awestruck spectators!!  Special thanks to our judges!

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

A Weekend of Winners: Boat Raffle winner receives $8,000 cash prize!

The 2010 Boat Raffle/$8,000 Giveaway winner Mr. Don Klocek accepts a check for $8,000 from Fundraising Committee co-chairman George Cammuso on the shores of Manchaug Pond yesterday. Mr. Klocek has been enjoying Manchaug Pond for 60 years and praised the Manchaug Pond Association for its efforts to preserve the lake.

1st Annual Boat Decorating Contest a Blast!

18 vessels entered today's contest with many more watching and joining in!

Spectators on shore and in the water were amazed as the boats passed by with flamboyant decorations, music, props and more! Waves and cheers as the lake stood still to watch the boats go by!

And the judges, well they were overwhelmed by the creativity, patriotism, and cleverness and thoroughness of design by all the entries!

Throwing out the traditional 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, our MPA panel of judges decided to award 1 Grand Winner and 6 second place winners!!! Yes! 7 winners! With a sorry judge reporting others she loved and wished to win!



more details, and photos to come.... but after the lighting of the shoreline, campfires, lighted boats, etc..

Still time ....for Boat Decorating and Lighting the Shoreline!

Last night's patriotic sunset was a perfect entry into the Fourth of July weekend!

We have 16 vessels registered so far for the 2010 Boat Decorating Contest scheduled to meet at Blueberry Island today at 3 p.m.  Various themes from patriotic to those you would never have thought of!! and vessels from pontoons, to bowriders, to fishing boats, to paddle boats and kayaks have entered.  Should be great fun for both participants and spectators! 

If you haven't registered for the Boat Decorating Contest and would like your vessel judged, give Karen a call at 508-234-9239 or email her at manchaugpond.bronson@gmail.com. You should also click on the Calendar of Events tab above for details on where to meet, etc.  Be sure your assigned number is prominently displayed. The "Support Our Troops" Flag Ship, entry #1, has been asked to lead the boats past the judges station.


Special thanks to the Boat Decorating Contest Committee, Paula, Alice and Karen, for the idea, organizing and publicizing the event! Also to the MPA Board of Directors for appropriating $150. for prize money! And to our esteemed Judges who will take the time on this busy weekend to review each entry!  And to all participants  - we should have another contest for who spent the most on decorations! and to our Spectators who will cheer us on from the shore!

and

And don't forget to get your flares from your area rep. or from the local campground store to Light the Shoreline at 9 tonight!  This is a long held tradition here on Manchaug Pond!

Thanks to Heidi for sending in this photo on facebook from our 2009's celebration!


Have a fun and safe weekend as we celebrate the birth of our country,  the United States of America !