Our latest snowstorm was a bit of a surprise all the way around. After a pretty big storm days before I expected that most of the energy had been taken from the atmosphere and the storm would not be a big deal. The forecasters seemed to agree with me first calling for over a foot of snow and then backing off to a forecast of only 5 to 9 inches. We were all wrong!
It was snowing when I went to bed and I woke the next morning looking out on over a foot and a half of fresh snow. After the snowy stretch we have had there are not many places left to pile the snow. The pile in front of the deck where I shovel has grown so high that the deck is now down inside a wall of snow. Actually when we get a warm sunny morning it will be very pleasant in that little pocket of sunshine protected from the wind! Where the plow has pushed the snow back from the driveway the piles are over 8 feet high and creeping onto the driveway everywhere. Even where I shovel the dog kennels the snow is now piled over my head and it has been quite a while since the dogs could see out of their runs.
I spent some time shoveling the snow off of the roof; for those of you in more southern areas. Roof shoveling is not a sport for the faint of heart! Soft fluffy snow is not a problem on the roof but as it piles up the weight increases and with rain showers in the forecast you have a 3 foot thick sponge sitting on top of the house. So up on the ladder I went, shovel in hand. The snow on the roof is just a little more than waist deep making for interesting walking on the roof and significant exercise getting it off. All the while trying to keep from sliding off into the snow pile below or dropping the shovel down over the edge; it is pretty close to an athletic event for me.
The redpolls, goldfinches and chickadees are bunched around the feeder providing color to our white world. It is after all, winter in Maine and this is to be expected. Still it is remarkable and I have forgotten what the yard actually looks like. If you are looking to get out and enjoy all that this snowy winter has to offer sign up today for an afternoon exploring winter excursion. This is the best part of the winter to get out and about, the days are longer, the temperatures a little warmer with plenty of snow to snowshoe on. I promise not to make you shovel the roof!
Online calendar
Over the years I have toyed with the idea of using an online calendar that would allow folks to book their own trips. I spent some time this winter looking at a variety of options and decided that allowing clients to book without me talking with them would actually decrease the quality of my service. After thinking about what we actually need I imbedded a Google calendar so folks can check availability and think that for now it is the best option.
Let me explain, first in over twenty five years I have only had to turn away a handful of parties because I could not fit them in. It happens to be sure but not as frequently as you might expect. Usually the party that I must turn away has only a certain time available leaving little room to adjust. Most of the time my schedule can be adjusted to accommodate or I know another guide who is available. Over the years George Harris, Jeff Bellmore and Ken Bailey have helped me when I was already busy and I have done the same for them.
I want to talk with each prospective client to be sure that I understand their needs. I am proud of being able to accommodate a range of needs from small children to older folks in wheelchairs all possible but much easier if I know in advance. It is also important that I know what they are looking for in their experience. If they are dying to see a seal and book a canoe trip we are both in for a long afternoon or more frequently they have a dinner reservation or another trip that we need to work around. So frequently start and end times are adjusted to fit schedules. None of this fits very well into an automated system, in fact I think that even a live person would need considerable training to understand all of the variables.
I used an online calendar to coordinate with various package partners over the last couple of years. First by simply posting a copy of my calendar to the web and most recently using Google calendar that syncs directly with Outlook in my office. I think folks will appreciate knowing if a week is already getting full or if they can wait to see what the weather is when they arrive because I am not especially busy during their vacation. At any rate please take a look and I would love to hear your thoughts, would it be more convenient to actually book trips online?
Speaking at LL Bean Spring Fishing Expo, Kittery Trading Post and World Fishing & Outdoor Expo
March will be busy this year! I will be at the World Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Suffern, NY March 5th through 8th representing the mid coast at the State of Maine booth. Stop by for a visit if you are in the neighborhood.
I will be presenting at the Kittery Trading Post on Taking Your Family Fishing on March 21st at 3PM as part of their Spring Fest event and I will be giving a similar presentation at The LL Bean Spring Fishing Expo on March 22nd at 1 PM the Freeport ME store. Both of these events are an excellent opportunity to see firsthand all of new fishing equipment and talk with representatives from a variety of conservation groups not to mention visiting with your favorite Maine Guide.
Free Hats with your 2009 Season Reservation!
Free Maine Outdoors Waxed Cotton Hats for you and a partner ($35 value) with any fishing trips reserved before April 30th for the 2009 season. Offer good for striper fishing on the Saint George River, large or smallmouth bass fishing , a learn to fly fish experience or a family fishing trip. Offer expires April 30, 2009. Of course you can simply buy your hats in the store, but without the trip they are only great looking, functional hats without a story or a shared memory of a great time on the water.
New for 2009
As an added benefit on freshwater fishing trips, I have decided to include fishing licenses in the price of your trip. I have sold licenses for a number of years to make going fishing with me more convenient and up until this year simply added the cost of licenses on. Now if you need to purchase a license for your trip it will be included with no price increase!
This winter I am spending more than a little time changing the web site and added a couple of articles that I have written and a new winter exploration trip. Stop by and take a look.
Best regards,
Don Kleiner
Master Maine Guide
Maine Outdoors
(207) 785-4496
