Kukagami Environment Watch Area News
www.KEWatch.blogspot.com Autumn 2008
The landscape belongs to the person who looks at it. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fall Road Clean-up
The official fall road clean-up will take place from September 26th Thanksgiving Day. This allows lots of time so that it can fit into most folks’ schedules and allow you to pick a sunny day. To register for your section of the road, drop a line here at KEW@kukagami.infosathse.com, or leave a message at 853-1571. We can provide garbage bags and work gloves. Bring a friend – it’s a fine way to spend a fall day while at camp.
Folks who have helped with this effort over the past year – let us know if you want to keep the same section you worked on in the spring.
North Island Fire!
Friday August 25, Laurentian University Adventure leadership program was completing their 4 day canoe trip in the area under the leadership of Mary Waddell. They camped on the island in the North end and upon departing Saturday morning, met 2 young fellows with a boat full of equipment for camping. The departing canoers chatted with the young men and learned they were planning to stay on the island for a few days .
On August 31st, another Laurentian group travelled this same route. The leader of this second trip, Darcy, had been on the previous the trip and knew the island would be a nice place to stop for lunch. He was shocked to discover that the fishermen had cut down a huge red pine and dug a huge trench - 4' long, 2' wide for a fire. The logs in the trench were still smouldering -so the LU students poured a lot of water on the fire and continued on to camp at Sturgeon Point.
The next morning Darcy reported this to Mary as he travelled by her camp. Mary jumped in her boat and drove up to check it out. The fire was now rekindled, smouldering in at least 3 different places and was into the roots of the surrounding trees. Mary returned to camp and called MNR and Hank Richer fire chief.
MNR had a spotter plane and helicopter in within the hour. and the fire was successfully contained
So - many thanks to Laurentian University for dousing the fire the fishermen started, and alerting the locals !!
Lakeshore Clean-up
KEW once again worked with the TD Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup project. In early September we concentrated on an old dumpsite on a point across from Lion’s Head narrows. We took out a huge load of ancient garbage. Another crew has worked through the summer to reduce the garbage at the public landing at the causeway. Others have concentrated on cleaning up campsites in the north end of Kukagami and on Donald Lake. There are still a few campsites on the main lake that need some attention! Free tee-shirts are available to anyone who leads a clean up on Kukagami Lake.
Let us know you are interested by dropping a note to KEW@kukagami.infosathse.com
All though the year, we ask all our Kukagami neighbours to take a few minutes to pick up stuff you find while boating along our beautiful shoreline.
North Island Clean-up by M. Waddell
On August 22-25, 12 Adventure Leadership students from Laurentian University completed a 4-day, 80 km canoe trip in our area. Their final campsite was on the North end of Kukagami on the island . They cleaned up a number of branches that had been cut from live trees and a large part of the old dump - 6 garbage bags. Great job - keep it up and pass on that interest in the care of our environment.
Don’t Cut All the Dead Trees!
(Tips from Cottage Life website)
Leave standing dead trees Not just for woodpeckers, these “snags” are a veritable hotel for a host of other birds, mammals, and insects. Let them stand, unless they pose a safety hazard; if felled, leave them on the ground to decay, providing another source of food and habitat for creatures such as salamanders and chipmunks.
In our area, those tall dead pines along the shore have been hoisting eagles all summer! Large birds often rest in tall dead trees to soak up the sun, and to keep a sharp eye on the water for their next meal.
Website and Newsletter
The KEW newsletter is published online, and sent by email to any interested person. Paper copies can be provided to residents upon request. Drop a note to Kukagami Environment Watch, 432 Fox Road, Wahnapitae, ON, P0M 3C0. Check KEWatch.blogspot.com to post your own messages, photos, or to see what’s new between newsletters.
Kukagami Spirit Trumps Kukagami Oops
For years to come, stories (some real, some exaggerated) will be told and retold about the summer of 2008.
After the last snowflake had fallen, after the ice guessing contest winnings had been spent, after snow boots, snowmachines and snowblowers had been put away, Kukagami neighbours smiled broadly. Summer fun would soon begin. The men of the camps lifted their well-worn tools and polished their fishing gear. The ladies of the camps gathered garden paraphernalia and eagerly prepared to escape cooking in the kitchen, as dads would be grilling on sunny decks. Children of all ages put on colourful bathing suits, grabbed their favourite water toys and waited. They waited with moms and dads; they waited with grandmas and grandpas, they waited with aunts and uncles; they waited with cousins and friends. They all waited for the long, hot, sunny days of summer to begin.
Somewhere, well hidden, Kukagami Oops giggled.
Every morning, families gathered to gaze longingly at the eastern horizon, expecting the red sun to break through the dark clouds. But, more rain drizzled, it poured, it fell in heavy sheets. Families huddled around TV’s; maybe the Weather Channel would give them hope for tomorrow….for the weekend…for next month…
The usual gatherings were planned, from crowded reunions to romantic getaways in the North end; everyone believed the sun would shine on that chosen day. It couldn’t rain every day.
Peaking out from his hidey-hole, Kukagami Oops grinned.
So, hope filled Kukagami neighbours got busy. They would be ready for those lazy, hazy days, when family and friends would eagerly come for fun in the sun on our beautiful shores.
And, more rain came, driven by howling winds, storms with flashing lightning and crashing thunder, steady rain pounded on our roofs through the dark nights.
And so, families heaved a sigh, then carried on with their summer plans. Kukagami bays bustled with activities, resounded with sounds of work and pleasure, drills and saws combined with drums and guitars, melded with shouts and laughter.
When the sun did briefly pierce through overcast skies, motor boats of all types crisscrossed the lake; children noisily splashed through waves; canoes glided silently around islands; beautiful people draped themselves on lounge chairs. Oh! Ah! The feel of baking under the hot rays of summer.
Kukagami Oops danced a little jig, ducked back into his hole and guffawed.
In an instant, the summer moment ended. Boats roared back to shore; soaking wet children ran for cover; canoeists frantically paddled for home; drenched, beautiful people donned sweatshirts & baggy pants.
But, somehow all the hopeful plans continued. Costco tents dotted properties, garages were decorated, a new gazebo was built. Guests would find cover. Happily, there were some sunny mornings, a few warm afternoons, now and then a starry, moonlit sky. Kukagami hosted gatherings: Proud Canada Day celebrations, a fun filled neighbourly picnic, memorable family and friend gatherings. And work got done…homes got built, roofs repaired, decks & trim painted. Families gazed at the beauty of their wilderness havens; souls filled with contentment.
· Loons serenely glided by - their haunting calls a comfort.
· Stormy skies left us awestruck – no artist could capture such colours
· The blue herons flew by just above the water – a daily treasure.
· The reflections on the water constantly changed – a kaleidoscope of wonder.
· And oh…the butterflies…the flowers…the birds…all the shades of greens of our forest.
Kukagami Oops stamped his feet and slunk off into the underbrush muttering; “No blueberries for their pies…big hungry bears in their camps…miles of rough roads for them to drive over…”
Ah, yes, more stories about the Summer of 2008, stories to be told around our campfires for decades, but the best of all remind us that the Kukagami Spirit can never be dampened.
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If you have ideas for a Kukagami story, send them to KEW or call 853-4772. If you don’t want to write the story, the storyteller will use your details to write for you. You will get to edit before final printing.
One of the main objectives of Kukagami Environment Watch is to serve as a source of accurate and timely information for residents and friends of Kukagami Lake and area. Ask you neighbours of they are receiving this newsletter! Offer to forward it to them, or ask them to send their address to KEW@kukagami.infosathse.com.
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