CARETAKER'S LOG
NOVEMBER 2001
Thursday -- November 1, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 52
November temps in the mid 70's... is this what we call Indian summer??? There is not much use in writing a log entry today... as surely anyone with time to peruse the Log will not waste time thusly when the same time could more wisely be spent getting down here. There are fishermen out today who are hoping the swimming fauna will be frenzied in their effort to fatten up for winter... but still everyone laments that this has been the worst fishing season in memory.
Friday -- November 2, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 53
We have recently received this from Matt Barres of the Potomac Conservancy:
I am writing to follow up on your expressed interest in assisting with the Potomac Conservancy's River Monitor Program. The goal of this new program is to help keep an eye on the Potomac and its landscape to minimize further threats to our river's natural resources and quickly respond to emergency circumstances.
The Conservancy is planning to organize an initial meeting on Monday, Nov 12th to discuss the program in greater detail and distribute Monitor materials. The meeting will be held at:
the Potomac River Resource Center at the offices of
Friends of the Potomac
1730 K St., Ste. 300 NW
Washington DC
(Closest Metro: Farragut West or Farragut North)
Date: Monday, Nov. 12, 2001
Time: 7-8 p.m.
Monday -- November 5, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 57
Things were all a twitter down here Saturday afternoon as mysterious men with earplugs and radios in their sleeves could be seen on the towpath and the iron bridge. Arriving visitors reported at least 6 such between the parkway parking lot and the towpath landing... and a black suv with a dome on top that is the signature of the Secret Service. Someone important must have been in the area, but no amount of speculation or nosing around revealed why they spent all afternoon there. As there were agents standing watch on the bridge and towpath near the ferry landing... and as watching the ferry come and go was probably one of the most entertaining things for them to watch... and as they did watch Islanders come and go closely... some visitors reported some amount of spookiness... but this glorious Indian Summer weather made it difficult for all thoughts on the Island to be other than smiley thoughts... after all, folks were even able to wear shorts in November... and the presence of mysterious agents added to the festival atmosphere.
Tuesday -- November 6, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 55
It is no fun to walk the island at night now... not because of the cool... but because of the dead leaves. The leaves have removed any illusion of stealth from the dark Caretaker walks... not that he is still silly enough to think that any non-human neighbor on the Island can be approached and watched in secret... but critters at either end of the Island can surely tell when he steps off of the swept wooden walkway. This works also for critters, as the voles and geckos can go nowhere without making lots of rustling and scurrying sounds... but the cats can not approach anything sneakily.
Another disappointment to report is the appearance of new outdoor lights across the river where one of the homes on Crest Lane has lit up their grounds. The feeling of encroachment is palpable... as when these lights are on a largish area is lit up almost directly across the river where the house itself is hidden and it definitely brings the city to the river gorge.
Wednesday -- November 7, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 54
There are things about living on an Island in the river that are different from the norm... and one of them is surrendering to the inevitable when it comes to river sand/silt/grit/particulate that tracks or otherwise migrates everywhere. Also there is the "tree stuff"... or whatever it is that hangs in the air and eventually coats everything with a fine dusting. And then there is the institutional nature of the Club and its use by many visitors and ultimately its appearance of use by many visitors. There is the love seat brought to the Island and put in the "warm" room that has also developed a certain "institutional" appearance over time and, when, walking through the Caretaker noticed one of the two cushions looked clean... said clean cushion stood out and compelled the eye more than neon on a dark and moonless night. Why such an anomaly would be instantly connected with a group of recently departed teenagers is instantly understandable to any parent... and sure enough... close inspection revealed that one of the several coke cans left lying around had been spilled on the cushion... and someone had simply flipped the cushion over to hide the fact... revealing its yet clean and unsullied bottom side. The question that was begged: Are our Mothers supernaturally intuitive when catching us in youthful misdeeds... or is clumsy and sneaky youth always so incredibly transparent?
Thursday -- November 8, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 54
Last night while sitting out with a guest at 2145 hrs, a gunshot rang out from the across the river from the Crest Lane area. Walking down to the river to investigate, all manner of lights were on over there... by which seven different residential compounds could be distinguished. At 2430 hrs dog sounds could be heard from the direction of the upriver towpath... and from the clipped and regular cadence of the barks they were reminiscent of working dogs communicating with handlers. During the evening no beaver made an appearance, and one can imagine Ruppert going to a quieter neighborhood to munch.
Friday -- November 9, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 54
It could not go on forever... and as they say, all good things must end... but the intrepid Member arriving this morning in shorts before the Island temperature rose even to 50 degrees and intending to kayak like she had yesterday... was clearly in denial. It must have been an incongruous picture... she in her shorts and the Caretaker in his winter parka to shield from the north wind. It did not really sink in until she reached that point on the walkway where the river on the Virginia side could be seen. "Look at the whitecaps on the river... that means the wind is above 20 knots!" But she was undeterred... and paddled off into the wind with a huge smile.
Visitors are warned that coming to the Island they will now find the Club canoes locked up. Members will recall that after a canoeing accident this last winter dumped a Member into frigid water, the Club changed the rules regarding the use of Club canoes such that they cannot be used when the water temperature falls below 55 degrees or the river level rises above 5 feet at the Little Falls Gauge. This does not affect the use of privately owned canoes.
Monday -- November 12, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 51
Saturday's Club Orientation was a credit to the Club. There were over 70 people on the Island, most of them wait listers attending. Presentations were made by Jeff Komorow, Tryon Wells, Tove Elfstrom, Blair Bower, David Winer, and the caretaker. After introductions by Jeff, Tove spoke about the specialness of the Island... Tryon about the history... Blair about the tradition of Co-op... David about canoeing and swimming safety... and the caretaker about rules and the unique practicalities of coming to and being on the Island. The attendees were then fed lunch prepared by George and Marcia Loeb... with some potlucks thrown in. If the attendees were as illuminated about their responsibilities as prospective members as they seemed to be entertained by the event... it was a raging success, and Jeff and his committee deserve a special mention in the dispatches.
Jim Snow was down this morning to retrieve the cane seats from his canoe for repair. He is in possession of a rare resource... knowledge of someone who can do such work... no doubt another of those disappearing craft skills. Those of you with cane seats in your canoes should take note.
Tuesday -- November 13, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 50
During a presentation of the history of the Club at Saturday's orientation, Tryon Wells let drop several tantalizing tidbits not generally known. For instance... when women were allowed to have membership in 1914, one third of the then male Membership at the time resigned from the Club. There was a further backlash towards female Membership in 1922... when, because of an issue to do with locker availability... a quota limit was imposed. There was a lot going on that year, as Membership was increased from 35 to 100... and this was also the year that alcohol was banned on the Island. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the interplay of all these influences... the relationship between women, increased numbers, and alcohol?
Tryon prepared a Club History timeline sheet as a handout, and this will be displayed on the bulletin board in the Clubhouse.
Wednesday -- November 14, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 49
It was cold and misty gray during the early morning crossing... with lots of ducks on the water awaiting the departure of the last wisps of fog before taking flight. Grounds supervisor Trip Reid later brought a vehicle onto the towpath to deliver trees obtained from Lou Aronica of the Natural Plant Society for planting at Saturday's Workfest, although he was overcome by a playful mood and could not resist putting a few in himself. There will be black willow, ironwood, and lots of Sycamores to play with on Saturday, so those of you who cannot stand raking leaves... take note. Supplies of 4-foot chicken wire and rebar stakes have been laid in to wrap the new trees and prevent them from becoming beaver nibbles. The box elder strangling the grandfather walnut tree near the canoe shed will be taken down, a kudzu search and destroy team will be assembled, and if personnel and time permit... there will be an attempt to remove spreading ground ivy from certain parts of the island. The Grounds committee (meaning Trip) has been very active this year and is organized and ready for the Workfest.
Notice that the river water temperature has fallen below 50 degrees for the first time since April 5.
Friday -- November 16, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 49
It was a bleary staff awakening this morning. Night before last we had been jolted upright in bed by the frantic activity of two cats skittering and scrambling across our bodies... seemingly in pursuit of some critter. One can imagine the reaction of the Caretaker's Wife as realization set in that some "thing" had been chased across the top of our bedcovers... and so now in the early AM everyone was looking for the pursed... to no avail. Well, with all that activity and adrenalin it was a while before sleep came again. But it did not last long. Gazing up from the Caretaker's side of the bed one looks into a weird ceiling corner... with exposed pipes and steel beams and valves... and next to the bed a tall but narrow book shelf sticks up into that space. Barney, our very large, shy, very massive, white, very heavy, seldom seen, very weighty, Czech kitty can creep into bed without incident, but when he "bounds" into bed it is an earthquake drill... and again and again the lights came on to see what the fuss was about. Most worrisome... Barney kept trying to jump from the backboard of the bed to the top of the bookcase... and as he did not always make it there some amount of yowling and bouncing and matressing as trampoline and such. Worst of all was when he would decide to jump down from bookcase to bed, and the bed would shake as if beneath a B-52 attack. Accordingly, the Caretaker was in ill humor at being awakened every ten minutes at all this... and the vocabulary was certainly exercised towards the hapless Barney... because despite constant rising and searching, no interloper could be found. It actually took a while before the Caretaker caught on that the Caretaker's Wife was unable to get back to sleep... I mean really... just because some strange, unidentified, wild creature had run across her sleeping body and was thought by the cats to be hiding in the ceiling recesses above our bed.
Well... you can be sure there were cranky humans the next morning... without any kind words for feline crew. And, when mid-morning mayhem erupted again as cats came scrambling and scurrying and chasing something into the living room... knocking over anything in the way... it was a relief to see that it was merely a Carolina wren loose in the quarters... soon captured and released. Of course, the Caretaker's Wife was that evening mollified that the mystery was solved and that the previous evening's intruder was identified as such a harmless critter... and a good night's sleep was looked forward to.
But it was not to be. Again, last night, the process began to be repeated, as groggy humans awaked to frenzied cats. There was a definite adrenalin spike as looking up above the bed... a strange tail could be seen hanging amongst the pipes. At first it was reminiscent of a horror movie where the monster keeps coming back... but in fact it was merely just a very juvenile squirrel that had gotten in, or been brought in as a plaything. Eventually... it was a long night... the squirrel was coaxed into a shoebox, taken outside, and released... and the Caretaker's Wife finally slept.
Saturday -- November 17, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 49
This is the day!!! This is the day you should be on the Island for the Workfest festivities. You folks on the waiting list especially should take advantage of the opportunity to come down and meet Members and have a good time on the Island… to get involved…and experience that one thing normally denied... a fun weekend on the Island. Every Member is expected to make a service contribution, and as the last few years have seen a trend toward larger turnouts, the occasion has become more of a Funfest than a Workfest, as many hands make the onerous jobs go fast. Bring a dish for pot luck and help George and Marcia Loeb with the feast. A special effort should be made this year to incorporate the inclusion of children in the Workfest… where else in this world can they experience something akin to a community barn raising. And even if you do not make it down for the heavy lifting at 0900 hrs, come when you can. Last year people arriving in the afternoon gave a fresh surge of energy.
Previous Workfests have seemed like those rare events where participation is its own reward. Think about it... many people who do not necessarily know one another come together in various small teams during the day to undertake a series of various tasks that singly are not very glamorous but together are crucial to making the Island ship-shape for the winter. Most of these teams are collaborative efforts where no one is the actual boss but where the better idea imposes its own authority to get the job done. Yet I dare say that when most people leave the Island they leave with that warm glow that comes only from a feeling of accomplishment... and where can you get that… and what price can you put on it?
Remember… at this Workfest, we can take time to work on that other fun and important thing: a feeling of shared purpose and community.
Sunday -- November 18, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 49
There were 73 people signed in for the Workfest, who were, in order of appearance: Pat Barry, Fran Short, George Dunham, Roger Herst, John Matthews, Jim Drew, Judy Bader, Chisty Ross, David Winer, Barb Neal, Ned Goddard, Tove Elfstrom, Susan Elfstrom, Howard Means, Garth Ross, Carl Linden, Alan Gelb, Robert Gelb, Trip Reid, Bernard Veuthey, Cora Shaw, Abigail Wiebenson, John Wiebenson, Dorothy Fall, HL Resnik, David Holdridge, Tryon Wells, George Malusky, John Membrino, Polly membrino, Jane Hill, Bill Hill, John Lentz, Ann Boneau, Al Boneau, Kent Halstead, Candy Means, Jeremy Symington, Joe Cecil, Sarah Fox, Bill Eichbaum, David Powell, Margaret Powell, George Malusky Sr., Jeffrey Jay, Lightning Jay, Lilly Jay, Isaac Jay, Noah Jay, Marianne Ross, Phil Ross, H. Klump, E. Klump, Marc Brenneman, Elissa Free, Bill Nooter, and A. Nooter. It should be noted that this year 5 people signed in as guests. This list was taken from the ferry log, and any Member not seeing his or her name listed should contact the caretaker as this year is the beginning of the new regime wherein Members have to contribute to a certain number of Club activities to qualify for certain privileges... such as having large parties down here.
Visitors to the Island will notice all kinds of improvements. David Holdridge contributed the new glass paned door to the Men's Locker Room, helped by Tryon Wells et. al. in removing and replacing the new door. The door can now be closed and still provide enough light to get canoeing gear together. A section of the brick walkway behind the Clubhouse has been completed by Greg Super. Kent Halstead and George Malusky hung the old caretaker kitchen cabinets in the screen porch, and George then did extensive brick work beneath them. The drought has allowed the bottom step on the towpath landing to be replaced by John Matthews, Bill Hill, Joe Cecil, and others. Bill Eichbaum re-bricked the small landing where the wooden walkway meets the stairs to the Clubhouse... not so visible a repair but one of the best safety improvements of the Workfest. Carl Linden straightened out the area beneath the workshop, which he reports consisted mostly of wood pieces left over from past and ongoing construction projects on the Island. Roger Herst cleaned the gutters and the leaves from the top of the canoe shed... and caused many comments to be made about his daring-do as he frolicked on the roof like a mountain goat. Jim Drew and Robert Gelb pulled the ferry in long shifts. Tove Elfstrom took on his yearly bane of screen repair, ably assisted this year by Pat Barry and Phil Ross, among others. There was a lengthy fun list run by Grounds Supervisor Trip Reid, and many folks seemed to disappear in that direction. Certainly many sycamore trees were planted, staked, marked, and wrapped in chicken wire to protect them from beaver depredation. Kudzu and English ivy were also attacked. Fran Short volunteered early on to organize the effort upstairs... and when there were several times that it seemed half the people on the Island had disappeared... certainly there were unsung multitudes laboring upstairs and on the grounds... the results were to be clearly seen. Despite a paucity of potluck dishes this year, George and Marcia Loeb organized the feeding of the masses with their usual flair and élan that we have all come to take for granted... and so all found their reward in this life in both good food and fellowship.
This year many people brought their own rakes... as if to declare up front their activity of choice and avoid being drafted into other projects... and the Caretaker has commented in years past that entirely too much laughter and enjoyment seems to be coming from the many yard rakers... and that just what is going on there should be investigated. In fact... it is a terrible state of affairs the way in which the Workfests have evolved. Where have gone those days when the sweaty, grunting few would show up and do all the heavy work... the noble bonding of the struggling and intrepid handful that alone did everything for everyone... the shared hardship and forlorn efforts that caused earlier Workfests to resemble boot camp. It flies in the face of tradition... it is unseemly... Members are having entirely too much fun at these Workfests!!!
Monday -- November 19, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 51
It is not possible to walk into the men's locker room and not notice the change... the new back door with the glass panes. Donated by David Holdridge, the new door gives an airy and lighted feel to the room even when shut. The previous door was always open as a way to get light into that part of the room in order to see and obtain the life vests for canoeing. This allowed wind and weather to always be in this part of the building. Today we actually had mosquitoes in the screen porch, and any folks that have asked why the screen door is never closed have learned that it is because it was always futile because with the back door always open there were always mosquitoes lurking in the locker room. With light coming in the door, the downstairs area will now likely stay closed and somewhat sealed against mosquitoes (and coons, possums, and other neighbors) even if the Caretaker forgets to close it during end-of-day-rounds. If the new door stays shut most of the time, it is possible the men's locker room may get swept with something besides the wind.
Tuesday -- November 20, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 52
During the Workfest two brick jobs were done that have greatly increased the safety of the area around the Clubhouse. One of these will probably go unnoticed, but the other should be a wonder commented upon by anyone exiting the back door of the Men's Locker Room.
Between the end of the wooden walkway and the steps up into the Clubhouse the brick landing had gotten very rough and uneven, and toes have been stubbed and footing uncertain because of the bricks sticking out. Bill Eichbaum has dug up and completely redone the bricks there... craftily matching the height of the brick landing with the height of the wood on the walkway. This is the sort of thing likely to go completely unnoticed... like a toe that goes unstubbed is unnoticed... but is none the less an important improvement to the facility.
During the Spring Workfest the area of the landing at the bottom of the stairs down from the deck was redone to make it one level. Left undone was the section between the landing and the brick walkway along the back of the Clubhouse... requiring a skip, hop, or jump to navigate... and unsafe to any casual stroller not paying attention. Greg Super has now graded and bricked this missing section... and it should be noticed by anyone going in that direction because of the skill with which he has filled in and smoothly bricked the slope.
Wednesday -- November 21, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 51
The endless summer is gone... last night it froze on the Island... and that is why yesterday the water was turned off in the Clubhouse... so visitors take note: You must bring your own drinking water and know where the heated bathroom is in the Men's Locker Room.
To Members, the Spring and Fall Workfests are the transition between high and low season down here... but nothing is quite as serious a demarcation as turning off the water and draining the pipes. The habitable portion of the Island is thus limited to the Caretaker's quarters... and on cold days the next warm space is reached only by crossing a cold river and climbing a cold hill. The exception to this is the small, newly (as in last year) constructed warm room upstairs adjacent to the Clubroom. Members should know that they can still experience beautiful river and Island panorama and still have a warm refuge. We will not actually keep the room "warm", but will try to keep the room warm enough that the heat can be turned up without waiting forever.
Thursday -- Thanksgiving -- November 21, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature:
It was a close run thing... the water drainage pipe from the kitchen had been clogged since Saturday and the possibility of an unusable kitchen loomed over all Thanksgiving plans and preparations. Fortunately our own Club plumbing legend, Joe O'Boyle, yesterday gave us the name of Carl B. Seeds, Inc. (301-855-1047 or 301-622-6772), formerly Joe's Drain Service. More importantly, he told us to use his name, and they responded within hours. It should be noted that their first attempt to clear 28 feet of line was not enough, and eventually they had to run 42 feet of electric snake to make the water flow again.
It is busy on the Island today... traditionally... as the Island answers those perennial questions of the Thanksgiving holiday... what to do with relatives and guests while the turkey is browning... or where to take them to walk it off.
Friday -- November 23, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5 Water Temperature: 49
This morning we received a call requesting a membership application to be sent out. This happens every week and inquirers are directed to the web site, but this was the first time we had had reason to also comment that applications were not being accepted for the next year. The inquirer did not want to hear this, seemed to think it was her God given right to come down and use the Island, and terminated the conversation rudely.
There is very little green remaining on the Island trees these days... but looking around one can see that the exceptions are invariably our abundant black locust trees. Most of these are juveniles, and seldom above 20 feet in height, but it is their time of the year, where each one stands out and marks its territory on the Island.
Monday -- November 26, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.9 Water Temperature: 51
There are geese and ducks scattered across the river this morning... and three geese that slept in on the captain's float until almost noon. They looked like exhausted teenagers recovering from an all night party... heads tucked under wings... and could barely bother to raise their heads as we approached the float. One wonders that with the moon high and past half last night whether or not they were flying all night, but it was so misty this morning that surely they would have had trouble finding a place to set down without an instrument landing. A substantial north wind has picked up, and everyone but the three party geese spread their wings to catch it.
This also means we will have to deploy the multipurpose red tool: the snow shovel/goose poop scraper. So wonder not for whom the red shovel sits... it sits for all.
Tuesday -- November 27, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.9 Water Temperature: 53
Yesterday and into the night there was an enormous amount of helicopter traffic... more than we have ever seen. Our houseguest has taken to counting and pronounced over 23 flights as of 2000 hrs. There does in fact seem to be more security emphasis in the river gorge as we occasionally see park Police patrols on the towpath after dark... and despite the continuing warm weather there has been no after dark or late night partying at the rope swing.
This morning Winers, Robinsons, and Dunhams gathered for the Great 2001 Persimmon Harvest Expedition. Everyone came prepared and equipped... and plans were even made to stretch tarps between trees overhanging the river before trying to shake said trees. Can't wait to see if the lips that return are juiced and puckered.
Wednesday -- November 28, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.8 Water Temperature:
Just another amazing day... a Member on the ferry commented that they were down to take advantage of the "last good day"... and then that this was the same comment they had already made on the ferry 5 times this month. Certainly it was too beautiful a November day to be inside writing the Log before nightfall... as it was a short sleeve kind-of-day. Insects were resurgent, and the Caretaker was silly enough to go walking in the leaves without tucking his pants legs into his socks... and has the chigger bites to prove it.
During morning meditations a bee plopped down inches away and proceeded to slowly groom himself in fascinating detail for at least 15 minutes, but appeared to move with occasional difficulty, oblivious to the large human adjacent. In the Men's Locker Room a large wolf spider, also moving slowly, appeared to occasionally lurch as he made his way, as though also partially damaged. It has already frozen on the Island, and one wonders if insects at the end of the season have a terrible fate... of being disabled piece-meal, of being partially frozen, of the slow death of a thousand cuts. Perhaps the collective unconsciousness of various insect species pray for mercy in the form of a sudden hard freeze.
Thursday -- November 29, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.8 Water Temperature: 55
It seems to us that the character of the southward migration of the ducks has somewhat changed. Formerly, flocks would pass above as masses or goose-like gaggles. But lately the flocks appear to be composed less of individuals and more of duck couples. Even when a large flock passes overhead, it is clearly discernable as groupings of discrete pairs, and one wonders if there is some dynamic at work in which the younger ducks leave for the south earlier while established pairs wait for the last moment. It may be that such a departure owes less to the appearance of north winds or reduced daylight hours and more to older couples being more efficient in harvesting a diminishing food supply. Perhaps it is more experience and confidence and less angst in the prospect of finding a place in the warm south. A case could be made that in the human species it is the opposite... that the older ones are sooner to flee to Florida rather than impetuous youth.
Friday -- November 30, 2001 -- The Club is OPEN
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.8 Water Temperature: 56
If this is really the last day of November... why were there joggers in shorts and short sleeves on the towpath this morning? Well... one reason is that down here it was 60 degrees at 0900 hrs. and 70 degrees at 1200 hrs. How long can this warm good weather continue? But do not worry... take comfort that our government has reassured us that the planet is not getting warmer.
Investigating the loss... again... of power on the Island, it was discovered that Pepco is putting in a new pole at the top of the hill on the Clara Barton Parkway. This is a good thing... and the Caretaker made a point to tell them that they were often the subject of good thoughts... especially in the winter when staff is trapped on the Island by either ice or high water and dependent upon electricity for warmth.
Yesterday we had only the third day since the beginning of high season in early May that no one visited the Island... and a pity because despite the misty clouds it was warm and beautiful down here. Note that for today the river temperature has risen above 55 degrees... meaning that the Club canoes can be unlocked for anyone wishing to use them.
We regret that it is necessary to remind Members that it is bad manners to enter the Caretaker's quarters when Caretaker and Wife are off the Island... or at any time... without express permission.
