Help: Lake Champlain

Subject: Lake Champlain
From: Hoolet
Date: 11 Feb 00 - 06:33 PM

We will be on holiday/vacation in the Lake Champlain area in early July and does anyone out there know when the folk festival at Lake Champlain is on? Failing that any chance of any local folk clubs around this area for two fine Scottish singers happy to come along for a sing around.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Pontiac Joe
Date: 11 Feb 00 - 07:18 PM

In the past the folk fest has been the first week end in August.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 11 Feb 00 - 08:28 PM

The Champlain Valley Folk Festival will be August 4-6 in Burlington, VT.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Susan A-R
Date: 11 Feb 00 - 09:19 PM

I'm not sure what is happening in this area (a bit east) but remind me as time gets closer. As Mike and Joe mentioned, the Champlain Festival is a bit later, but it may be a good escuse to instigate something. I've always fancied an excuse to check with Norman Kennedy about singing, and this may be my chance. There are a couple of Irish sessions in the Burlington area. I'll check on the folk show to see what's up with those.

Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Midchuck
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 10:56 AM

I don't know if you have any interest in Bluegrass music at all, but there's a fine local-level festival in Brandon, VT about July 8-9, and there may be another, larger one, in the Burlington area the preceding weekend, but I'm not sure.

Of course, if you were here just a little sooner (last weekend in June) you could do Old Songs, near Albany, which is the best festival in the northeast for traditionally-oriented folkies.

I have some friends I could put you in touch with who are heavily into this stuff and have places higher up on Champlain that they spend most of the summer at...

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 11:15 AM

There is a fishing camp/cabin in my mom's side of the family near there (Lewis NY) where we go some summers. It sleeps many (20 - 50 indoors/out), has electricity, and has running water which you can flush but not drink. Drinking water is brought in by container from local clean spring. It has tent space also. There are 50 acres I have not personally seen, probably more tenting than I can imagine, sites to hike into not drive into. Naturalist's heaven. Babbling brook. Parking arrangements should be possible, not sure just how/where.

We aren't going this summer but shall I begin exploring using it during summer of 2001 and we can arrange a pre-festival or post-festival on-location Cafe? There is a state campground on the west side of the lake in the area also, if we get an overflow of people, and the camp could be where we gather to swap songs and have a campers' potluck. I envision many Dutch ovens and BYO table service.

Organizing ideas welcome.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Marymac90
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 11:59 AM

Dear Praise,

Yes! Let's do it! Pre, post, ar during the Champlain Valley fest. It's another very nice fest for traddy types, and has nice, small workshops, and good dancing, though I can't dance anymore with my bum knee, dammit! They don't have any camping there at the fest, though you can rent a dorm room for some $.

It's a relatively long trek for me, (I've only gone twice, for that reason) so let's stretch it out and make it worth driving that far! Usually the Falcon Ridge Festival is the weekend before, so one could go from that, in Hillsdale, NY, up to Lewis. That's relatively close for the Canadian and New England crowd. Camp Mudcat 2001!!! You can count me in to help organize it, etc.

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 12:20 PM

Let's ask for some sliding scale sort of donation and give half to pay toward the camp's taxes/utilities and half to Max.

REMEMBER ALL--

NOT THIS YEAR, but 2001.

Others interested-- Please indicate your interest here first then see me on the personal page to go on the list to get details as they develop. At a certain point we will have to close the offer to additional "reservations" so I want us to be careful not to generate more than we can handle, or make a mess at Camp.

If we get a good number of organizers through this thread then we can post a thread later with our plans. This can be the planning/wishing thread and if not everyone sees it that's OK. They'll see it once we get a grip. A loose grip but a grip.

Yes? If you know good souls to be on this *committee* would you message their pages? I don't know everyone yet...

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Amos
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 02:04 PM

Glad to see it happening, Praise. Keep this one alive (or move it under a new thread with a title about the 2001 Live Mudcat Cafe! I was wondering where it would happen. It's a long haul from California, but with this much lead time I might be able to make it!

A

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Midchuck
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 02:17 PM

Well, I found Lewis on the map, and it's only a couple of hours away from me. I've actually spent a fair amount of time in the Keene Valley - St. Hubert's area, not far south of there. I may be able to be of some help.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Feb 00 - 05:20 PM

I think if we keep quietly gathering people who can give good planning tips this could actually happen. I hope you all will help my feet stay on the ground if we start in a direction that will be no fun due to underplan or overplan. I just want to fill the clearing at Camp with something I think belongs there. I want family fun, not festival madness. Do you think a realistic balance can be struck?

Let's wait a bit before retitling. If we bounce it back up to the top once in awhile with this title, and communicate with some folks thru their pages, I bet we'll have just the right mix of responsibility and creative chaos. I'm worried about the parking. Afraid a shuttle might have to thread people into the spot through the trees. Concerned some people may have mobility problems making access difficult. Wouldn't a little pony cart be just darling...

Someone will have to do Tubas in the Moonlight or I'm not coming.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Hoolet
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 04:26 PM

Sorry does anyone out there know of any folk clubs around Lake Champlain Many Thanks

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Susan A-R
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 09:22 PM

The Burlington Coffee HOuse generally has something going on. There is also a place in Hinesburg VT now that does some pretty high level coffee house/folk performer stuff. LiveArt here in central Vermont has been doingg reat stuff (Garnet Rogers next week, Gordon Bok at the end of April, that sort of thing.) I am not sure what they will do over the summer, if anything.

Praise, I would be very interested in your idea. I could also help with food for something like that, having gained some experience with that by doing music cama meals here in VT for a week or so. The water challenge might be interesting, but we'd figure it out. More as we get closer.

Susan A-R

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Midchuck
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 09:38 PM

Susan A-R said:

"There is also a place in Hinesburg VT now that does some pretty high level coffee house/folk performer stuff..."

Especially on March 8. (Harruummmph!.....)

Peter.

(I, also, would like to stay on top of this idea.)

Hoolet: Send snailmail to THE FOLK TIMES, c/o Addie & Olin Boyle, 969 County Route 10, Corninth, NY 12822; and ask if they'll let you buy the next issue or two and send them to you overseas. I's one big sheet, published every other month, that gives a fairly complete indication of what's going on in the area you can reach from Champlain.

P.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 00 - 12:06 AM

Water will be easy, it can be BYO, a gallon a day per person or back out the drive and head for the spring!

We can have a porta potty or two brought on site too.

I know we can do this!

Those of you who are interested, please help by bouncing this thread back to the top of the postings every once in awhile. Is that called refershing? How do I do it?

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 00 - 01:35 PM

OK, then I guess no one else will be coming to join us....

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: jeffp
Date: 14 Feb 00 - 03:12 PM

This sounds like a lot of fun to me! Not sure if I will be able to make it, but I definitely wouldn't mind helping to make it happen. Count me in for at least the planning stages.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Amos
Date: 14 Feb 00 - 03:21 PM

You just add a message, "Refresh" or anything else you like and it bounces to the top. The sort is all by time of last message added to the thread.

A

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 04:43 AM

Befresh!

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 01:34 PM

Zee fraiche!

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Amos
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 02:03 PM

You're so refreshing, young lady!

A

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 02:15 PM

Yefresh!

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Marymac90
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 12:31 AM

Dear Praise,

Don't give up and think that no one is interested. I don't think a lot of people are going to make a committment 1&1/2 years ahead!

I went to annap's last month. It was real low key, but there was a fair number of people who were there somewhere between the beginning and the end. By low key, I mean it wasn't highly organized or structured.

I think if we get something organized, announce dates next spring, etc, people will come-maybe not a huge number of them, but enough to make some music and have a nice time. And if it's around the time of the Champlain Valley Fest, then people will have an added incentive to make the trip. It would be a good location to get the Canadians, New Englanders, and Mid-atlantic folks together, and a good place to be in August.

Anyway, I will help, and Susan A-R said she would too. We don't need a big committee right now. I'm positive that in your work with the Red Cross and the church, you've worked with big committees, and had lots of people participating in things, but my guess (I'm a relative newbie, too) is that many of these folks aren't used to operating that way, at least not in this venue.

We can talk it up from time to time, but it's not going to be a hot topic for 1&1/2 years. The next time M'catters get together for something, like Old Songs or another gathering at annap's or whatever, we can feel folks out some more on it. Also, probably if we get a few mudcatters that others would especially like the chance to be around, like Max, Rick Fielding, Spaw, Big Mick, etc, to say they'll come, other people will get more motivated to commit themselves.

Don't give up. We can do this!

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 12:38 AM

Oh, I'm not giving up or discouraged, I was teasing another catter who I knew would be interested but hadn't opened up the thread yet.

BTW be reassured that I don't envision a big committee either, just refreshing this often enough to grab people who may be serious about coming. We can be in communication with each other as the time approaches, and then see if there are enough organized people to open the invite up more widely. I am concerned that if we just announce without having a few good planners aboard, we'll have a mess on our hands in a place that is meant for much better things.

I'm looking forward to addressing plans further and to getting to know everyone who is interested. I think that if we keep the idea live (but quiet) we'll end up "just right."

I'll do some personal messages once I get a clearer idea in my head how we are going to handle parking; that's the main practical obstacle given the site. Don't feel forgotten if it's awhile before this-- I will be in touch.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 12:16 PM

Huh, found the thread. Sure is funny seeing myself as a newbie. (I was called Praise then altho the posts are now all re-attributed to my newer name.)

2001 Champlain Valley Festival

Friday, August 3 - Saturday, August 4 - Sunday, August 5

IF we can do this this year, how many want the week before? How many want the week after?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Midchuck
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 01:46 PM

At this point, we have both the weekend before and the weekend after uncommitted. I would probably favor the weekend after, by a slight margin. There just seems to be less going on in August than there is in July. And the later in the summer, the more likely that the black flies have died off.

On the other hand, you have longer days and a greater likelihood of warm, sunny, weather two weeks earlier.

But we should probably decide fairly soon, Summer weekends fill up fast.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 03:59 PM

No big fly problems at Camp. At the west shore state park camping area, yes. I recall bad bites as soon as I'd come up out of the lake. But Camp is not, apparently, a breeding ground. And the pickin' porch there is nicely and newly screened.

Wish I had a scanner to show Camp pix.

Peter, you have a better sense than I of the people likeliest to come, maybe. Can you do some PMs and also help keep the thread up?

Of course I do need to confirm with Hardi and see if the cabin is free the week we are talking about, as we get this worked out, but even if Camp is not going to work this year, the state park nearby would be wonderful too and people could still Gather.

What are we thinking of-- having it for the weekdays and weekend following (or preceding) the festival? ~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 05:03 PM

Shame, really - the rest of our Morris side (Earl of Stamford) are going to be there, as guests of Midnight Capers. I'm just not up to the trip right now.

My good friend 'R.D.' Eno is one of this year's festival organisers. Excellent melodeon player - has a custom built Saltarelle. I've had the honour of playing 'Much Wenlock' whilst Midnight Capers danced it - in Much Wenlock village!!

I've some photos of Midnight Capers' visit to England last year, if anyone is interested (PM me with your email address).

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: GUEST,Midchuck upstairs, still dressed but not for
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 10:07 PM

Git back up there, drat ye!

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Susan from California
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 02:37 PM

When is the festival this year? IF i get to go to Williamsburg, the class runs from Aug 2nd to the 9th.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 04:37 PM

Bernard, hmmm... is it possible that it is a bit early to decide this definitively? I mean... well, I'd love to meet you in person...

Peter, thanks!

Susan, 2001 Champlain Valley Festival: Friday, August 3, Saturday, August 4, Sunday, August 5.

SCHEDULING A GATHERING-- From Hardi's schedule, it looks FOR NOW like if we can do it, it will be the week and weekend AFTER the festival, and we would hope to attend it on the Saturday. Camp would open (with volunteers needed to help me fast-prep) on Sunday the fourth (Hardi's birthday!!!) and then we can continue on through the following Sunday evening (Aug. 12). Volunteers to break down setups Monday AM will be invited to linger as available. Hardi and I may stay on several days longer if anyone is passing through who has missed the Gathering. (And there IS a phone up there.)

Time to count heads, tents, and beds. I need at least a start on numbers before calling my cousin to ask for the cabin. BTW there are some tents, cots, etc. up there already, and a canoe for nearby Lincoln Pond (which is also a warm swimming pond). And, croquet anyone?

Fly-casting is in the environs... licensed only. Brook trout, mmm! Now if I can remember where the wild strawberries grew....

And before he died a few years back, my cousin Ralph had continued a long-term restoration of native plants throughout the walking trails.

ACCESSIBILITY-- This is a site that could be do-able, I believe, with a wheelchair, with only the slightest last-minute modification of the front entrance which is already very low and which has enough support to add a plywood ramp right on it. For other mobility-impaired folks, it is flat, easy to get around in, and good for wandering around with zero or minimal help. In short, friends, this is a geezer site (speaking personally) as well as kid-friendly.

Sigh. I wanna go NOW.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Bernard
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 06:01 PM

Susan - I'm broke. Even if I felt I could face the trip, there's no way I could finance it. Catch 22...

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: GUEST,Midchuck upstairs
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 10:07 AM

Refresh.

Susan, how high is this place above Lake level? We got record snow depths in the mountains, and they're talking about record lake water levels when it all melts at once, which it probably will. Will your place still be there by Summer?

P.

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 11:11 AM

I think it will be fine.

I'll write about why I think so while I wake up with coffee. It will be like vistiing Camp, and if you care to indulge me by reading the rest of the post you can be there now too. *G*

I don't know how high it is, but the whole area is cut through by deep brooks and when we were there last we asked about this. We were told that through all the years of Camp, it has never once flooded even a little bit. Nor have the parts bordering the Camp brook been cut into much-- you know, no big chunks carved off by excessive runoff. It's been there now nearly a hundred years. The smaller cabin is closer to the Camp brook, but even it looks safe when you see how deep and broad the brook's potential run is, compared to what is taken up with full summer's run.

Actually our home in PA is more vulnerable, and our driveway may go any time now! The creek out there is very loud this AM, and the snow lingering under the trees up the pasture hill is looking thinner and thinner. I hope for no more rain till that snow finishes leaching down through the shallow soil covering the hill!

Camp also lies somewhat at the foot of a mountain (a hill really in local perspective) that is mined extensively. The commercial interests of the mine mean that the hardpack roads leading to and around Camp are well under-bedded for heavy equipment and are situated to withstand environmental shifts. So I would guess that their studies must have led them to conclude that the area is not terribly vulnerable to problems with runoff.

Now, the sandy soil has been washing under the cabins further and further each year, in invisible increments that now total the former joist space. This caused some dry rot to the floor planking but this has been checked and repaired in the last several years by a local craftsman who knows the building style well. He was pleased to find, when he took up a number of soft floor sections, that only one joist was affected-- there was more damage to the planking, but the dryness of the soil had covered and protected the thick joists from rot, and there was no termite damage. He did not advise raising the cabins or excavating the buildup.

We had all feared losing Camp to the cost of re-building all the joists AND floors, but the builders had sited and built well to begin with. And this would mean, I think, that what can build up HAS built up. Thus it is unlikely that even a serious creepage of sand with this year's runoff could have budged 'em, with no way for the sand to come in under.

My cousin Francy, who currently holds title and acts as caretaker, always goes to check Camp as soon as practicable and usually has opened Camp by mid-May. I am sure that if local conditions have potentially hamred Camp, one of her local contacts would have called her and the whole family would have heard.... Camp is a big deal with us, and especiialy with prolific lettter-writer Francy-- it would have been hot news. Francy would have written one and all family members if there were any concerns with Camp.

So keep planning.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Susan from California
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 04:35 PM

I just heard that I will be (one of only 25 eighth grade teachers from California) in Williamsburg from August 2-9th. So, tho I won't be able to make the music fest, hopefully I will be able to meet up with some 'catters on the way to & from! YeeeeeeeeHAAAAAAAAW!

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 04:59 PM

SfC-- cAN YOU HELP BY pm-ING SOME OF THOSE WHO SAID THEY MIGHT COME (oops) and see whassup? People in Annamill's thread are in range too.

Cool beans!

~SiP~

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: Susan from California
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 10:21 AM

No sweat, I'm still on spring break!!

Subject: RE: Help: Lake Champlain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 10:49 AM

Go for it baby!

~S~