My Week in NH
 

Hi Everyone,
I'm here in Laconia staying at the Naswa for the week. (just heard my first loon call.) Happy, happy, happy to be here. I toured Wolfeboro yesterday afternoon and got a VERY good feeling of home there. (I have been to Wolfeboro many, many times when my family had a vacation house in Melvin Village, but never as a potential resident. Much different perspective.) I am meeting with a resident of Wolfeboro this week who is also a forum member, for an orientation tour.:)

Had a big stuffed lobster roll at Pop's in Alton last night. About $15 bucks with tax. (That 8% prepared food tax is up there-going grocery shopping later today)

Working today and then off the rest of week. Feels like summer is in full swing. Wish I had brought my Sunfish to sail.:(

Took a Dip
 

Took a dip in the big lake today. Wow. That was brisk!!

Welcome to the area!!
 

Hey Cate,

I wish I had read your post earlier, we went right by the Naswa on the boat today. Could have given you a ride around Winnipesaukee. We clean a few camps on Sleeper and Rattlesnake islands. Its tough having to go out on the boat to go to work:):) Well enjoy your visit. Frank




www.greatnortherncleaning.com

Remember this, our lake water is not cold but invigorating!

don't forget refreshing, especially with 80 degree days.
went in several times yesterday, it rejuvenates the soul after spending a few minutes in. :D

you missed the best part....getting bit by a mosquito or listening to it buzz by your ear at night while you sleep....glad you had a good time

Mirror Lake?
 

Okay-this is my first chance to write on the forum. I had a really busy week meeting people (old friends and new), looking at houses, exploring neighborhoods in Wolfeboro, and climbing Rattlesnake in Holderness. Absolutely fabulous time. I LOVE IT HERE!!

I have history here so all is not new to me, but after 13 years in NJ, the contrast is incredible. I feel like I'm remembering who I am and what I love about NH.

So, here's the latest on my house hunting, in the Wolfeboro area. I am looking at properties over on Mirror Lake Drive in Tuftonboro. (About 4 miles from Wolfeboro) If I were a property owner over there I would have lake access and could moor my Sunfish without a permit. Fabulous.

Does anyone know about Mirror Lake? Are there loons there?

Hey Cate...
 

I looked at land on Mirror lake about 2 years ago and was about to buy a double lot until the realtor told me not to let my dogs swim in the water.

He said there was a type of bacteria in the lake that could be deadly to canines.

What kind of bacteria could be deadly to dogs but safe for humans to swim in is beyond me, but I was disappointed nonetheless.

I loved it over there...quiet and secluded, yet close to Wolfeboro.

I also must mention that I have absolutely no idea if there is any truth to the realtor's statement but if he wanted commission I don't know why he would lie.

I'm sure other Winni Forum members have more info than I do but I just wanted to mention it because I know you have a pup(s).

Mirror Lake has had bacteria issues the past two or three years. They are all pointing fingers, some say it is from the runoff of the Wolfeboro sewer system which has been changed. Some say it is just people's septics. There is a Mirror Lake Association that may give you some info. I don't know if they have a website or not. You could also get information from the Tuftonboro Conservation Comission, I would think. It is a very pretty little lake. It is a shallow lake. It is too bad they have had these issues.

I live on Mirror Lake Drive! It is INCREDIBLE! Peaceful. Great Neighbors! Yeah, they have had a couple of outbreaks of cyanobacteria in the past few years, but it really has not been a big deal. My brothers dogs go in the lake all the time. My family has been on the lake since 1957 (in fact, my grandfather bought the first house on that drive). A busy day on the lake is 3 jet skis and 4 or 5 boats on the lake at the same time. YES, THERE ARE LOONS! Sometimes they come around us when we are fishing. We just stop fishing and enjoy their beauty.

Hope to see you there!

clarification
 

Well, I don't live there full time, yet! Still stuck in Pennsylvania, but we have the cottage there. Didn't want to confuse you!

Hi Chris,
I would be living there full-time with dogs and don't want them to get sick. It looks like there is enough of a problem with cyanobacteria that the Mirror Lake Protective Association sent a letter to residents acknowledging the "pollution" last year.
http://mirrorlakenh.org/forms/Notice...al_Meeting.pdf.

I don't want to be an alarmist, but it would really upset me if my doggies (or I) got sick from the lake.

3 outbreaks in one small area of the lake. That is what they called an outbreak (over on the other side of the lake). I think they are being alarmist for no reason. But, that is just me.

I talked to some friends from Gilford tonight at dinner and they said there were beach closings at their beach for ecoli (duck itch) and the cyanobacteria blooms were not uncommon in the lakes either. They said most of these outbreaks are brief and in the heat of summer. They also said I should listen to residents that live in the area because they probably know better about conditions and history than other folks. That made me feel MUCH better about Mirror Lake, so THANK YOU Chris!!!

CateP,
So the lesson to take away from this one is don't feed the ducks. Not on Mirror Lake, Not in Meridith, Not anywhere. They poop in the water and cause duck itch and e-coli.

And when you go in the water in any of the lakes, you are safest with some sun screen before you go in and a brisk dry off with a dry towel when you get out. (Don't air dry as this is what the parasites like to make residence)

I shower in lake water probably a 100 times a year without a problem. (But we discourage ducks from our area and don't have any shallow water areas)

And remember, don't feed the ducks.

I've seen many friendly ducks during my week at the lake. They swim by and eye you up. They appear nonchalant as if they don't care, but I know they do... a LOT.

But I have a no wild animal feeding policy that has been in effect for decades. :coolsm:

Are you comming back for bike week?

No bike week this year. Although it seemed like things were revving up over here at the Weirs. (I had breakfast at Donna Jean's and then lunch with friends over at Squam and then sat on a bench at Melvin Village and looked at the water. Quiet day. My last day...:(

Sailor to Sailor...
 

I think you'd find that Mirror Lake is not only shielded from winds, but the area deep enough for sailing would eventually make Mirror Lake a small and boring tour—even by Sunfish. I can't say why, but the Sunfish I bought from a Mirror Lake summer resident—from Pennsylvania—had a perfect daggerboard. :confused:

The really good part, is that Mirror Lake would be a good "sail" when the frequent strong winds on nearby Lake Winnipesaukee can keep smaller sailboats at the dock. :)

If you want near-perfect waters for nearly everything, check out Lake Wentworth. It's quiet, deep, and large enough to make your sailing experience very rewarding. Their association is effective, informative and quite active. :look:

http://www.lwa.org/index.php?option=...=133&Itemid=39

Parts of Lake Wentworth are close to downtown Wolfeboro. :cool:

Some parts are far away! :coolsm:

Where can I laucnh a Sunfish?
 

Where can I launch my Sunfish? The public launch seems to be in a place where it would be hard to sail out of?

If you did buy on Mirror Lake, you could launchto Winnipesaukee right by the Libby Museum which is about a mile from the northern end of Mirror Lake.

Sunfish Launch
 

I actually found several nice launch places onto Winnipesaukee over near Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro. Including my old haunt in Melvin Village. :cool:
Some really nice bays over there...and pretty wild when the wind gets kickin' up.

Directly on Route 109, Headin' East...
 

You could launch and moor your Sunfish just east of Wentworth State Park. Yours would join other happy Sunfish moored there in sandy and shallow water: it is seldom too windy there, and an easy wade—no mooring fees.

Moor it there, while looking around Wolfeboro. :look: