As I think everyone knows, one of the nice features of this property is a beautiful pond below the house and dog yards. It's roughly 100' x 100' in size (30 m x 30 m), is spring fed, and water circulates from the spring, through the pond and out through a pipe even in winter. That constant flow, of course, means it doesn't freeze solid. We know that many years ago there used to be fish in this pond, but there aren't any longer -- we're not sure whether it was from overfishing or natural causes. We'd like to stock it with fish again, both for ourselves and for the cats (well, and as an occasional treat for some lucky dogs, too!).
So we've been in touch with a local company that does pond stocking and consulting to find out how many fish the pond can support, which types, etc. Their recommendation is for one of three types of trout -- brook, rainbow, or brown. Which one is best depends on the flow and temperature of the water in the summer. But the first and most important question they asked was, how deep is the pond? They wanted it at least 10 feet (.9 m) at its deepest point. They said a pond this size and that depth could hold approximately 130 to 150 trout.
Now, late July or August was no doubt a better time to explore this issue, but we were caught up with the move and unpacking and getting our feet solidly on the ground. Plus, I knew that ponds were typically stocked in spring or fall, so I figured we had some time to wade into this (so to speak).
As it was, one thing led to another, and finally, here we were in December with the question still unanswered. No time like December to find out how deep a pond is, eh?
Our employee Kate was kind enough to offer up her family's canoe for the project, and on Thursday after lunch we carried it down to the pond. After much discussion about who would actually go in the canoe, it was obvious that this job was going to be mine. Since I hadn't been in a canoe in 30 years, Alayne brought along the camera to chronicle any mishaps, which she was sure were bound to happen.
In her mind were these blog photos:
- See Steve capsize.
- See Steve swim to shore.
- See Kate pull Steve out of the water.
I'm truly not making up the extent of her concern about this. She actually insisted on tying a rope to the canoe "just in case." Kate seemed to agree that this was a really good idea. I told them this was embarrassing and that if I could, I'd Photoshop it out of the photos. Alas, here's my "training rope":
I said, "What, you don't think I can make it to shore on a pond this size? You think I might get lost out there?"
"Oh, I just think it's good insurance," she kept saying in response. Kate continued to nod in silent agreement. I think she was just afraid she'd never see her canoe again.
In fact, It was never really clear to me whether the rope was to help save me, or actually the canoe, in case of capsizing. Alayne was always a bit vague on that point.
In any case, I climbed in, wobbled back and forth a few times trying to find my balance, Kate pushed the canoe off the shore, and I began paddling. "Going in circles" is probably the kindest way to describe my first few minutes afloat. But finally I got where I wanted to go, roughly in the center of the pond, and then dropped our sophisticated, scientific "marine depth measuring system," or MDMS, overboard -- otherwise known as a ratchet strap with a heavy hook on the end.
Here I am looking at the data this system yielded, i.e., where the water line was on the strap once the hook rested on the bottom:
With data captured, I headed back to shore ... though I wasn't certain whether I was actually under my own power ... or gently and surreptitiously being pulled back to shore by Kate with the rope.
Here she is doing a "happy dance" that I made it safely back to shore and didn't sink her family's canoe during the excursion:
Okay, in truth I think she was climbing over some brush, but I'm sure she was doing a "virtual" happy dance in her mind that the canoe wasn't resting on the bottom of Rolling Dog Pond.
I handed the high-tech MDMS device to Alayne, showed her the data point, and off she went to measure it. The answer: 10 feet 4 inches.
I can't wait to see the barn cats line up on shore in the spring as 100+ trout are released into the pond!
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Still 2nd place -- but it's too close for comfort! Contest ends December 19th!
Please keep voting for the sanctuary in the Shelter Challenge -- the votes are adding up! And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Please note: Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up.
It was thanks to all of your amazing votes that we won the $20,000 Grand Prize in the final Shelter Challenge of 2009, and we came in fourth nationwide in the first Shelter Challenge earlier this year, winning $3,000. So this is serious money and can really make a difference for our disabled animals! Please help us win this round of the contest by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too. Thank you!
What a fantastic post! I'll be looking forward to your post about the cats' first taste of yummy, home-caught trout!
Posted by: Mare in Mass | December 17, 2010 at 07:14 PM
Training rope...that is hysterical. Thank you for a great laugh!!
Posted by: Tricia Taylor | December 08, 2010 at 12:47 AM
Go for the Brookies!!!
Posted by: Jane | December 07, 2010 at 08:14 PM
Oh my gosh. Thank you for this post! I so needed that laughter - it felt wonderful. I'm glad you guys have so much fun doing what you do.
Posted by: Tami | December 07, 2010 at 03:08 PM
Steve, you are HIGH-larious!! Best blog writer this side of the Atlantic. I know you've heard it eight million times but you really need to write a book. A great sense of humour in animal rescue is not something we see all that often.
Posted by: Marisa | December 07, 2010 at 01:44 PM
Since the cats are occasionally referenced we know they're still around; what about the horses? It's been quite awhile since you've posted any updates on them and/or any specific cats.
Posted by: David | December 07, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Although it would not help the deaf dogs, the others might enjoy the music of Through a Dog's Ear. They are offering free downloads this week only and offer free CDs to rescues! That would be you!
http://www.throughadogsear.com/7_days_2010.htm
(I'm not affiliated with them in any way. I just like free stuff, especially for my dogs.)
Posted by: Lynne Parker | December 07, 2010 at 10:52 AM
whoo-hoo!
hahahahahahahahaahha......oh, my~
Posted by: Glenda | December 06, 2010 at 08:52 PM
OMG, I was laughing so hard at this blog I had tears rolling. You made my day. I love the way you tell a story! And, YAY, for the kitty's getting their own private fish pond. Can't wait to see those pics of them lining the shore!!!
Posted by: Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin | December 06, 2010 at 05:22 PM
I know you felt it decidedly unmanly to be hitched to shore by a "safety" rope. However, if I was Kate, I'd have been thinking this, "If for some reason it was a windy day and Steve capsized from let's say whitecaps on the pond, how am I going to get my canoe back?" Once you swam out and got out of your heavy, wet clothes into dry ones and had your hot choc. could anyone talk you into putting on a swimsuit and swimming out into December cold pond water to fetch back the canoe? I don't think so!! However, if they offer to bait your hooks next summer, that would be the time man up and put your foot down. Great blog!
LOLO
Posted by: Miranda | December 06, 2010 at 02:16 PM
Are you sure Kate isn't 7'1" and you 4 something? ;p
Steve you need to get some male volunteers to sacrifice, oops, I mean help.
Posted by: Amy A | December 06, 2010 at 08:46 AM
Two over-protective mother hens.
Steve, if it helps, think of it as a transect line and you were gathering data at one point only!
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | December 06, 2010 at 08:13 AM
Mmm... so the whole fun of this is to first set all the fish free in the pond, and then spend hours with a rod on the side to get them out again? I was never one to see the peace of mind in that :).
In the first pic you could have been in a lake, but on the others.. yeah, it's a pond alright. Where would the canoe go, only to the other side...but still the rope came in handy, if only to keep you from reversing, hehe.
Posted by: Jessica, NL | December 06, 2010 at 06:03 AM
Ah...just looking at a canoe gives me shivers! Had a real bad experience in summer camp way back in the day. Needless to say, I leave any kind of canoeing to others! I got a good chuckle out of the roap...I'm sure Kate and Alayne were thinking of your well being and not the canoes! But then again...LOL!
And I love the high tech device you used...maybe it'll catch on :)
Hope Brody is doing better. Keep us posted on Daisy and the others, too!
Posted by: Ann | December 06, 2010 at 01:39 AM
What a great post! I loved this - - the best part was the "training rope" on the canoe. I'm happy that the pond is deep enough to be stocked. The cats are sure to be delighted watching all the fish whizz by into the pond come springtime. Seeing all this happening in New Hampshire in December makes me think you folks must be Viking by heritage - - you're definitely much hardier than I!
Posted by: Moon Rani | December 05, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Gosh, I laughed so hard at the first picture of Steve in the canoe with the "training rope".
Glad you made it to shore Steve and we look forward to hearing more about the progress with the pond.
Posted by: Chloe | December 05, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Steve on a pond in a canoe in December. Not a blog I thought I'd be ready today. And wasn't there snow on the ground the other day when Brody went to the vet? Has it been warm enough to melt it? And how is Brody doing? And how about an update on not just the cats and horses, but on Margaret, too. I'd think we'd all like to hear. Thanks!
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | December 05, 2010 at 11:36 PM
I was laughing so hard I almost couldn't read the blog!!!! Too funny!!
Posted by: Leila - Washington | December 05, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Glad you successfully made it back to shore, Steve, and that your cheering section was ready to greet you. BTW, my brother had a similar sized pond in Ohio and the fish disappeared due to a snapping turtle... who also took a few unsuspecting ducks.
Posted by: Linda | December 05, 2010 at 09:34 PM
Well, at least some of the cats were kind of mentioned in the post so I suppose it is safe to guess that RDR still has a few of them around. How is Brodys treatment going? And please insert a blurb on how Daisy's ear healed up, she is just so cute. Oh, and Welcome Kate, the other day was first mention of you I think. We hope you like all "our" critters and their wonderful and sometimes silly caretakers. You are in good company if you care for animals too. Have fun and welcome. (Hey Kate, will you give some kitty chins and ears some scratches for me?? Thanks) Anne
Posted by: Anne in Florida | December 05, 2010 at 08:43 PM