Locomotion on Lake Manitou

 

Here's a photo album of activity on the lake yesterday.  Whether kicking back on a pontoon, rocketing around on a jet ski, or tubing behind a ski boat, everyone seemed to be having a good time.

First Fish of the Season

We've been slow to get to the "kicking back" phase this year.  Seems like we've been running in circles getting the island back after a particularly harsh winter.  This seems to have been the first day when Treasure Island could actually be considered a vacation place.  Cookie's leisure time was well rewarded, as you can see above.

The Daisies are Back

 

 

Once again, the daisies  grace Treasure Island.  Brought here by the geese.  They also brought the violets, which are becoming a nuisance.  Win some, loose some.

That Gawky Stage

I can't say that young geese are much to look at.  We have three families on the island at regular intervals.  One with two goslings, another with six and another with eleven.  We also had a pair of ducks with nine or ten ducklings--but they were one time visitors.

Clearest Yet for Manitou

Mark your calendar.  Last Friday morning marked the clearest water in Lake Manitou for at least the last twenty years.  A passing thing no doubt, as the sun was out in full force, the wind was non-existent, and there were no boats on the lake.  The Memorial Day holiday soon put an end to the clarity--as the boat wakes stirred the silt back into the water from the bottom.  The lake has a very gentle slope shore to water--which puts the lake bottom at the mercy of any wind or boat driven waves.  It was amazing for a bit, though.  You could see the bass and buffalo fish swimming by as if you were looking into an aquarium.  I'm including a pix of the bottom--not pretty--but remarkable.

The Good Life

Ah...to come back as a squirrel.  This little guy holds forth at the point deck tree.  He patrols from there to the Mulberry tree at the sea wall.

Who....Me?

We were wondering why no geese had chosen to nest on the island this year.  Today we found the answer.  This little fellow would probably be no match for a vigilant mother goose--but geese don't take chances when it comes to egg thieves.