August 2017 Newsletter
~ August 2017 ~
Message from our President
Hello

2017 Mid-Year Report for CVOA
 
As the end of July is on the near horizon I thought I might report on the success of CVOA activities and events at mid-year. Membership continues to grow at manageable levels with a total of 460 memberships encompassing 865 members. Our financial health is excellent, which has allowed us to increase the number of no-cost or very low cost events to our members over the past six months.
 
The addition of our new Membership and Social Media Coordinators has strengthened our ability to manage growth and communicate more effectively with current members, possible future members and other communities of interest.
 
To date all of 2017's recreational events have been exceptionally well attended. The western ski trip to Telluride, Colorado, the Sky Lodge Trip to Jackman and the group camping trip to Schoodic Woods were all in effect "sold out". Other well attended events included the Victory Chimes Sail, the Route 27 Cleanup Day, Fly Casting Clinics at several locations, and the St. Patrick's Day Bowling Party.
 
The CVOA Range, under the continued leadership of Neal Trask, has had a great first half year. Attendance at the Sunday Trap Shoots is at its highest levels ever and we expect a banner Autumn season. The Five Stand Range is nearing completion and at that time CVOA will have the most advanced range facility in Western Maine.
 
One common denominator to the success of the above events is the leadership commitment shown by a small group of dedicated CVOA'ers. Trip leaders hold a special place in CVOA. These are the people who dedicate their time and energy to identify, plan and manage the recreational and community activities we are so well known for in our Western Maine area. Whether their efforts result in a major national or international travel event, a two or three hour hike, or a half day paddle, our Trip Leaders are what make CVOA GO !
 
My observation over the past 12 years is that Trip Leaders are amongst the most well respected and best thought of members of CVOA. These are the people "who make things happen" not just for themselves but for our entire recreational community.  I know we have more members that would find being a trip leader a very satisfying and personally rewarding experience. I would encourage you to consider becoming one of CVOA's "special people".
 
One of our 'special people' searches is for an enthusiastic hiker to help update the CVOA Hiking Guide; check out the article in the News section of this newsletter.
 
I fully expect the second half of 2017 to be as active and successful as the last six months. The Dead River Paddle and Barbecue, CVOA Skydiving Adventure, Homecoming Weekend, the Five Stand Range Opening and of course the three western ski trips are all awaiting us. Great times ahead!
 
Best to all,  Joe Loughran
Your membership is valid through December 31, 2017.
Calendar of Events
August 13 - Dead River Paddle & Picnic
August 16 - Visit to Skydive New England
September 8
- Skydive Adventure
September 17
- Board and Member Meeting
October 7-8 - Homecoming
October 20-22 - Bar Harbor Fall Weekend

2018

January 21-28 - Copper Mountain Ski Trip
February 6-13 - Banff/Lake Louise Ski Trip
March 6-13 - Schweitzer, Idaho, Ski Trip
June 14-17 - Sky Lodge of Moose River



Range

Events
Every Sunday - Morning Trap Shoots 9-noon
October 8 - Turkey Shoot
Future Events & Adventures
Activity Ideas Wanted!
We are planning for 2018 . . .

As I am filling in activities for next year, it will be helpful to get your ideas.

Do you have an idea of an activity you wish someone would organize?  Please let me know and we will see if we can't make it happen.

~ Betsy Chapman, Adventure Coordinator
cvoa.adventures@gmail.com or 207-944-3264

Paddle & Cookout 
North Branch of the Dead River in Eustis
August 13

On Sunday, August 13th CVOA will once again be kayaking and canoeing the North Branch of the Dead River in Eustis.


This will be the third time CVOA has sponsored this event and the participation continues to grow each time. In 2015 we had 40+ paddlers cruising one of the western mountains least known, but most beautiful, flat water paddles.
 
Paddlers will be meeting at the put-in ramp on King and Bartlett Rd. in Eustis at 10:00 AM. King and Bartlett Rd. is about 3 miles north of Pines Market on Route 27 North. The actual put-in is just beyond the wooden bridge about 100 yards off Route 27. Directional signs will be put up for first time attendees. There is ample parking and there will be folks to show you where the parking spaces are located.
 
Once launched, the trip is about 2 hours with one very short 200 foot portage. Assistance with the portage will be available for anyone needing a helping hand.
 
Spectacular views of the Bigelow Mountain Range and beautiful Flagstaff Lake await you on this trip.
 
Canoeists' and kayakers' will take out at the Wing Community landing in Eustis where Gail Miller and Joe Loughran will host the now famous post-paddling barbecue and gathering. Provisions will be made for transportation back to King & Bartlett Rd. to retrieve vehicles.
 
IN SUMMARY:

Sign up by August 10 with Gail Miller:
    treasurer.cvoa@gmail.com or  or 207-650-0033

Please indicate how many are in your party, and  would you like burgers and/or chicken for lunch.  CVOA will provide the chicken and hamburgers.

Please bring a salad or a dessert. You are welcome to drop off your food at our camp before the paddle: 43 Wing Rd. in Eustis, the salmon colored camp on the right as you come into the Wing community. 
BYOB.  
 
People are welcome to join us for lunch even if they don't plan on paddling. 
 
Meet at the King and Bartlett Bridge at 10 a.m.
 
This is a weather dependent activity.  
 
~ Gail Miller & Joe Loughran
CVOA Members Are Going Sky Diving !!!
September 8, and there is room for a few more!
Plus a preview trip August 16 to Skydive NE.

As of the end of July we have a group of five CVOA adventuresome Tandem Skydivers.  We would love to see a few more hardy souls or "check off the bucket list" types sign up.

Prior to doing my first skydive last September I was very ambiguous and admittedly a bit uncomfortable, while at the same time very excited. Those concerns dissipated quickly when Gail and I visited the Skydive New England facility in Lebanon, Maine to spend a morning getting familiar with their operation, their focus on safety and watching a wide range of age groups do their tandem skydives. The visit was exhilarating and left me much more comfortable with the adventure that awaited me.

To this same end Gail and I will be visiting Skydive New England on the morning of Wednesday, August 16th.  If you are already planning on attending the Skydive on September 8th, or are even just mulling over the possibility, think about joining us on the 16th. Just going there and seeing the whole operation is a worthwhile experience.

If you would like to join us on August 16th, please call me at 207-650-3099 or email me at cvoa.president@gmail.com. Whether you skydive or not, this is a fun event.

Or if you would like to fill one of the available spots for the September adventure, get in touch with me.

~ Joe Loughran, Adventure Lover
Board and Member Meeting
Sunday, September 17, 1:00pm
 
Mark your calendars, all are welcome. The meeting will be held at September 17 at 1:00 pm at the Carrabassett Valley Town Park - outside if the weather is nice, inside the town office otherwise.
Homecoming Weekend
Help Wanted at our booth - October 7-8
It's fun way to help CVOA!

It is not too early to mark your calendar to help at our booth at Homecoming. It's a great way to meet people, and promote CVOA. Questions? Want to Help? Send me an email at cvoa.vicepresident@gmail.com.
 
~ Bonnie Farrar, Vice President
Annual Bar Harbor & Acadia Excursion
October 20, 21 and 22

Have you been to Acadia Park and Bar Harbor this year?  Each year a million people travel from all over the world to visit this beautiful place.  Now it's your turn! 
One of many things to do.
 
We've got the whole Mt. Desert Island reserved for the weekend of October 20 - 22 (well not really, but it kind of feels that way) and you won't want to miss this popular CVOA event.  You already know how special the Park is, especially with the fall foliage.  Add to that a nice motel to stay at, lots of good eats in Bar Harbor, the infamous COVA happy hours, and to top it off, you get to enjoy all this with your CVOA friends.  Feel free to bring guests with you as well. 
 
We will be staying at the Cromwell Harbor Motel once again, and it is not too early to make your reservations. It is in easy walking distance to downtown Bar Harbor.  The rooms are $88 or $98 per night, subject to availability.  We have not pre-booked any rooms, so it is recommended you make your reservation with the Cromwell Motel ASAP.  You can cancel the reservation up to 7 days in advance, with a $20 cancellation fee.  First night deposit is required at the time of booking. Be sure to tell them you are part of the CVOA group.
 
Cromwell Harbor Motel,  359 Main Street,  Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Reservations:  1-800-544-3201 --   Information:  207-288-3201

 
Our weekend goes like this:  Arrive Friday, hopefully early enough to get in a bike ride, a hike, or just a stroll through town.  Friday is the traditional Al Diamon Memorial pub-crawl.  We will meet up for happy hour around 5 pm at a local watering hole, or maybe we will do our own happy hour at the hotel.  After happy hour, people head out on their own to find that perfect meal in one of the 40 area restaurants (see www.barharborinfo.com/dining for a list of restaurants).  The motel does not have a restaurant so you will want to head into town for breakfast and lunch, or bring your own.  Some of the rooms have kitchenettes; so inquire when booking your reservation.  Saturday night plans are up in the air at this point, but we will have some sort of group get together for sure.
 
There are literally hundreds of miles of hiking trails, some more challenging than others, but all are spectacular.  The Carriage Trails are great for walking or biking and pass through some of the more beautiful sections of the Park.  Biking the Park Loop is a great experience, probably one of the most scenic rides in the state.  Kayaking around the many islands in the harbor is also a fun activity.  And don't forget your golf clubs!  There are several outstanding golf courses on the Island including Kebo Valley and Northeast Harbor Golf Club.  This is a good time to shop in the town of Bar Harbor as the stores are offering end of season deals.  Sunday morning there is a farmer's market just down the street, with lots of great local produce.  Acadia National Park is beautiful this time of year.  And don't forget to get up early and catch the sunrise on top of Cadillac - it is worth the effort!
 
So, make your reservation at the Cromwell Harbor Motel, and let Pete Weston know you are going to attend.  It is that easy!
 
~ Pete Weston
Email cvoa.adventures@gmail.com or call 207-831-8565
Ski Trips in 2018


Copper Mountain - January 21-28
We have  room for 7  more.
 


Banff/Lake Louise - February 6-13
We have room for 2 more.

 

Schweitzer Mountain - March 6-13
Plenty of room for more!
 
Range News
Regular Sunday shoots continue
Sunday mornings, 9 to noon, until the snow starts to fly.
July has been a busy month
. . . for the Range - good turnouts for Sunday Trap, and lots of folks taking advantage of the Rifle and Pistol Ranges for practice and sighting rifles in anticipation of hunting season. 

~ Diane Stone, CVOA Secretary
A Turkey Trap Shoot will be scheduled for October 8th
. . . the Sunday of Homecoming weekend, so watch for more information in next month's newsletter or on our Facebook page: CVOA Shooting Range.

~ Diane Stone, CVOA Secretary
5 Stand Progress
On this past Saturday, a group of faithful and hardworking volunteers spent many hours installing siding on the Five Stand building. A huge Thank You! goes out to all the volunteers. We accomplished a lot in a day: 

















The Five Stand is nearly complete and official Five Stand Shoots will begin in September.
Other News
Our Hiking Guide...
Needs updating and an editor.

One of our 'special people' searches is for an enthusiastic hiker to help update the CVOA Hiking Guide; we have voted to discontinue printing the first edition as it needs to be updated.

Or even if you are just an occasional or non-hiker, you could help - we need someone to oversee the process of updating the book. And we will campaign for added and updated content to our Hiking Guide.

Please call or message for more info.  207-650-3099 or email me at cvoa.president@gmail.com.
 
~ Joe Loughran 
Outdoor Center Trout Pond Project
An Update:

Thanking a Fly Fisher for going trout fishing may seem a bit superfluous, but in this case it's appropriate. Since to publication of our article in the CVOA June Newsletter, the number of fly fishers visiting the Outdoor Center Pond increased significantly. Based on the survey cards left in the box, the majority of fishers identified themselves as CVOA members.

The catch and release rates reported were good to very good with the majority of trout caught in the 5" to 7" size range. That would be consistent with Sonny Pierce's recent trout s tocking. Sonny has been working on a spread sheet showing results and I will summarize his findings later this fall.

As the Outdoor Center Pond water warms in late summer, the fishing will, as usual, slow down.  Let's look to a good September/October season and keep the survey cards coming. Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to fish the pond, and if you have not yet participated but would like to, please fish the pond and fill out the survey card each time you go. And let Joe know of your interest so he can keep in touch with you.

~ Joe Loughran
Past Events and Adventures
Victory Chimes Cruise
June 27 - July 1
 
There were 10 of us on the Victory Chimes this year, and t o our surprise we found that there was also a Sugarloaf management retreat aboard, so it was like old home week.  

We had flawless weather mixed with some rain, and a few hours of fog.  As always, Capt. Files was a gracious host and the crew fun to sail with.  The food was terrific as always and a good time was had by all.  


It was to some extent a Chapman family event, as evidenced by the caption: From left to right - Pete and Judy Weston, John's granddaughter Jade Chapman, new member Sheila Pechinski, Sandy and Jay Osterrieder, John and Betsy Chapman, John's grandson Range Chapman, and John's son David Chapman. And as we later realized, the Westons are also relations of the Chapmans, somehow.

~ Betsy Chapman, Cruise Organizer
Schoodic Woods Camping, Acadia
July 13-16
 
It was 48 degrees, with moderate rain, at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning and I'm going camping! . . . with CVOA friends at Schoodic Woods. The weather had cleared by noon time. Everyone who was signed up showed up because CVOA campers are a hardy bunch.

Everybody helped everyone else as they arrived to set up their tents. Some were so excited to set up their tents they tried to install the tent 'fly' before they had the tent up itself. Maybe they were going to put the tent underneath the fly when they were done.

Thursday night we all gathered at Chase's seafood restaurant for wonderful fresh Maine seafood.

Friday was a very nice day. Everybody did everything that the area had to offer from hiking, biking, kayaking, Ferry rides to Bar Harbor, and shopping. A nice bonfire capped off the end of the evening and then snoring ensued.

Daily morning CVOA coffee was provided in the post and beam Pavilion at our campsite.

On Saturday, we did it all over again. Saturday night was our two-fer Lobster Feast. Several local CVOA'ers joined us and we ended up serving 31 people.


We all went to Fraser Point on Schoodic Point to enjoy a sunset, and we were serenaded by a bagpiper from Atlanta.

We all went back to our campsite and had another bonfire. Someone had brought a large potted 'fake' fern at a nearby table. Upon their departure to their tent a chant went out among us to "BURN-THE-FERN....", "BURN-THE-FERN" in the camp fire, but we never really did.

Sunday: BIG fog -- Pack'n 'em up & move'n 'em out. Everybody without fail, and I mean everybody, commented on how wonderful the Schoodic Woods campsite and facilities were!

We all had a very good time. Should we do this again next year?

~ Your hosts, Glenn and Peggy Bickford
 
p.s. Special Thanks go to Zoanne and Chris Paradis
A Day at McFarland's Cove
July 22

Greg and Cindy Foster opened their beautiful home on McFarland's Cove in South Bristol to CVOA members on Saturday, July 22nd. 16 members attended, some arriving by land, and some by sea!

Local blueberry stands were spotted along Route 1, and of course, a long line of people waiting for lobster rolls at Red's Eats in Wiscasset!

The weather cooperated, and the group enjoyed an onshore breeze while admiring the oceanfront views from the deck at the Foster's home. Lobster arrived from the local seafood coop promptly at one o'clock, it was supplemented by sides provided by everyone who came. The meal was followed by the Fosters' well-known and well-loved ice cream sundaes, and of course lots of friendly conversation!

It seemed to be a day of relaxation for most of the group, who opted to enjoy time in the screen porch, visiting and enjoying the company. And never quite making it out onto the water. Early in the morning, Bill Callahan took his Hobie pedal (yes, 'pedal', not 'paddle') kayak out in the cove, and he received recognition for being the only one feeling ambitious enough to actually get out on the water. Good work, Bill!

Thank you, Greg & Cindy!!

~ Jane Marden, visitor to the Cove
Grandparents and Grandkids Day Trip
July 29th - a note from Bill Haefele follows the report
 
We couldn't have asked for any better weather on our

Grandparents/Grandchildren day. Although we only had Alan and I with our three grandchildren and my daughter, we had a nice hike to Daggett Rock and ride on the train.  We made our way around to Rangeley and drove up to Quill Hill for the panoramic view.
 
We had some others that were going to join us . . . but had to bow out as grandchildren had last minute offers they couldn't refuse. They missed a fun day!
 
~ Susan Fraser

Our much loved member Bill Haefele had planned to bring his grandson on the outing. Bill writes to all of his friends:

July 31 - My grandson Brennen Jordan was the 5 year old from Newburgh who was struck by a car last Tuesday, July 25 and lifeflighted to EMMC. He had 2 broken legs, broken pelvis and serious concussion ... but fortunately no internal injuries ... Brennan was put into an induced coma; he has not come out of the coma yet however he is a tough little guy and fighting hard...we are having our good and difficult days ... my daughter Kelli and husband Jason have a strong support group ...

Please, No Facebook .... but all of your Prayers are Greatly Appreciated....

I text, talk and email - 207.266.7588 or billhaefele@gmail.com

Bill

[ed. note - this evening, July 31, Bill wrote: 
Brennen had a very good day today and my daughter Kelli was greatly relieved as well ... 
he has not come out of the coma, but he made big improvements .. .resting comfortably
]

Member News
Would you like to see a regular section with news about members? Consolations and Commendations and Human Interest?

We would rely on submissions from members, and permission from the members mentioned. Some guidelines would need to be established.

Drop me a note or give me a call with your thoughts.

~ Cindy Foster, Secretary and Newsletter Editor
cvoa.secretary@gmail.com or 207-644-1334
Photo of the Month
Bikes at Acadia National Park, taken by Rick Young in July, 2017
Do you have a photo suitable for "Photo of the Month"? Are you a CVOA member? If so, send your photo to: Cindy Foster, Newsletter Editor -  cvoa.secretary@gmail.com.
Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association
Valley Crossing #6
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
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