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Quite regularly, we receive thank you’s from our guests. Sometimes in the mail but often left in the rooms for us after an enjoyable stay at one of our facilities. Sometimes they are cards, often they are simply notes on some scrap piece of paper and other times they are drawings from our younger guests.

This week, we received two cards from the Boy Scout Troops in Acushnet and Middleboro Massachusettes. For the last several years we’ve invited the kids to come up at a discounted group rate for ice fishing. This year we had a large turn out and everyone had a blast. If there are groups wishing to come up to the Lakes Region, we try to give them a deal to help make it possible. (See “Boy Scout Ice Fishing Weekend” post below.)

We’ve now added a message board, which we’ll be posting the “thank you’s” we get from all of you. Also feel free to write about your stay there if you’d like. But just remember if you’re thanking us–it’s really you that makes our job as fun as it is, so THANK YOU!

Thank You card from Scout Troop 64.

Thank You card from Boy Scout Troup 56.

To view our message board or to write something of your own, check out the below link: http://www.nh-vacations.com/Messageboard.htm

1st Annual NH-Vacations.com Ice Fishing Contest:

This is an exciting ice-fishing season for us at the Lazy E, Bear Tree Lodge and Lakeside Get-A-Way. In the midst of this coming weekend’s Rotary Ice Fishing Derby in Meredith, we’ve teamed up with Laconia’s Paugus Bay Sports Shop and Meredith’s A.J.’s Bait and Tackle for a little competition of our own.

Our guests will not only be competing on the large scale among the best of the best ice-fishermen in the area through Meredith’s Derby, but also have a separate chance to compete in a special contest for those staying with us. Granted, the prizes aren’t a23,000 dollar fishing boat and trailer or anything like that, but we do promise a smaller pool of competition. Plus, the contest will continue through the whole 2008 ice fishing season.

Prizes include a weekly give-a-way of $15 gift certificates from AJ Bait & Tackle or Paugus Bay Sports Shop and our grand prize, a free weekend stay at any of our facilities! (Weekend stay is up to a maximum value of $320, not valid for special events or holidays.)

So what does it take? Every Sunday at noon, our weekly prize will be awarded to the longest fish caught that week. Granted, it has to be a legal catch! All fish have to be measured by a Lazy E staff member and a photo must be taken, so trust me, you don’t want a photo of proudly displaying your trophy Salmon on the website! Grand prize goes to the longest fish of the season. So ladies and gentlemen, get your wool socks on and get out there on the ice! Good luck!

Here are pictures of the last couple of week’s winners:

Winner for week ending January 27th: David White from Acushnet, MA with his 18.5” Cusk

Winner for week ending February 3rd: Jay Grenon from Pelham, NH with his 18.5” Lake Trout

Two weeks ago, three Boy Scout troops from Massachusetts (Troup 51 from Acushnet, Troup 56 from Fairhaven and Troop 64 from Middleboro) came up to the Lazy E for ice fishing. There were a total of 37 ice fishermen (including leaders, scouts and dads).

Rich Schuster, leader of Acushnet’s Troup 51, explained that there were three new timers to New Hampshire and three first-time ice fishermen from the 6 scouts that joined him this weekend. Although none of the kids caught anything, they had a blast. They all brought their skates and hockey sticks and played all day on the ice. This weekend was an opportunity for the kids to get away with their dads, go outdoors and try to catch some fish. “It was more of a fun weekend, although three of the scouts earned credits towards a fishing merit badge they needed just by participating.” Apparently out of 27 different requirements for fishing, these scouts were able to earn two to three credits towards this badge this weekend.

As far as community projects, Troup 51 is not doing a lot during the winter season. However, come this spring, they will be returning to two local walking paths the troop has adopted. The troop acts as custodians for these walking paths, and visit twice a year to clean up the area. They come for the night, camp out and practice “leave no trace.”

This coming weekend, the troop will be camping locally in Massachusetts at Miles Standish. Their afternoon snack—four cusks and one perch that the boy’s dads caught Sunday morning at the Lazy E. “They’re not very big, but a nice snack!” Rich laughed.

The Boy Scout’s trip up to the Lazy E was such a hit that they are all planning on returning next year… and are hoping to extend it to as many scouts that the Lazy-E, Bear Tree Lodge, and Lakeside Get-A-Way will fit!

The Lazy E thanks Troup 51, 56 and 64 for assembling the Lazy-E bob-house this year!

This morning was a cool crisp 19 degrees. Today is the last day of rifle hunting season and a great day for a walk in the woods. From Red Hill I could see Mt Washington and the beautiful scenery surrounding it. Unfortunately, I did not see any deer, just plenty of tracks in the 8-10″ of snow. All around the lake you could see the beginning of ice forming. Now there is solid ice around the edges of the lake and thin ice bergs floating in the bays.

It won’t be long before we are ice fishing again!

Although we planned on departing early in the morning, we forgot to mention that to Chip and Kelly. Probably thinking of rides we had gone together with them in the past, they had intended on arriving at the LazyE about 10AM. Planning a long ride, we had intended on departing around 9. Shortly before 10 we received a call from them letting us know that they were just starting out from Hollis…an hour and a half away. As always, getting away is easier said than done. We were also still waiting for our nephew Scott to arrive. Because he had worked the night before, he had napped for a couple of hours before heading over. He arrived shortly after 10 and we finally began our 237 mile trip to enjoy the foliage. We made tentative plans to meet Chip and Kelly in Lincoln with the hopes that the timing would be such that they could catch up while the rest of us stopped to have breakfast together.

The day was lovely, very brisk, but clear skies—a big change from the day before with lots of rain and high winds. (The winds returned on Sunday, so it appears we had chosen the right day for a ride.) With the LazyE left in the capable hands of several of our employees, we tried to forget we were innkeepers for the day and to remember what it was like to have a day off on the weekend like the rest of the world.

We began our trek by going north on Route 3, through Meredith, Ashland and then picked up picking up Route 175 on the north side of Holderness in the Squam Lake area. Route 175 has become a familiar ride with lots of hills and curves to enjoy. When we reached Thorton, we found a great place for breakfast, Brenton’s Maple Sugar Shack. Although apparently famous for the maples syrup, all of us chose instead to enjoy their omelets, home fries and homemade bread. We had more than we could eat and everything was delicious.

Following breakfast, we called Chip & Kelly to find out if our tentative plans of meeting in Lincoln were still on schedule. They had just reached the LazyE and were getting ready to leave so we came up with a revised plan of meeting up on the eastern side of the Kacamagus Highway, a breathtaking pass in the middle of the White Mountain National Forest. Back on the bikes, we continued north up Route 175 until we intersected back with Route 3 near Woodstock. Soon we were in Lincoln, ready to take on the Kancamagus. We made plans to stop at a couple of the scenic overlooks for picture ops. The ride was great. The leaves seemed to be peak along the Kacamagus, although the higher elevations of the scenic views were past peak with many bare trees from the day before. Still breath taking, but we wished the high winds had been a couple of days later.

Reaching the eastern end of the Kacamagus we hoped to find either Chip & Kelly or a message on our cellphones from them. After about a ten minute wait, we spotted them in the bumper to bumper traffic on Route 16N and signaled them to turn onto the Kacamagus where we were finally able to meet up with them. We had been traveling along with some traffic all morning, but had not been delayed at any point. They on the other hand had been in traffic since leaving Route 25 in Ossipee.

Finally all together we traveled west on the Kacamagus until we reached Bear Notch Rd…a great passageway to Crowford Notch, Route 302. Bear Notch Road is not open during the winter. It is narrow with lots of turns and beautiful views…as well as a couple of bumps that make you hold on to your handlebars. This past year many improvements have been made to the passageway, making it much more enjoyable.

Upon reaching 302, we headed northwest and began our journey around Mount Washington. It was fun to see it from every angle. Although Les & I had taken the same route earlier this year, we hadn’t realized which peak was Mount Washington. It was easier to spot this time as it already had a dusting of snow on it! The combination of the colored leaves at the lower elevations and the snow at the higher ones was beautiful.

The only traffic we got caught in was in North Conway, but a brief stop to get gas and stretch our legs cleared out most of it for us. After passing through Conway we were ready to make our way home. One more shortcut from Route 16 to Route 25 via Route 113, a few more hilly curvy roads to enjoy and then a beeline back to the LazyE. By the time we arrived back, we were ready to get off the bikes. It had been a great day with lots of fun roads, beautiful scenery and friends who enjoy riding together. We are already looking forward to being able to do it again soon.