STORY PAGE
Sandy Pond Storms
There
is no way I can remember or write about all of the storms associated with Sandy
Pond that I have witnessed. I will
start by saying that I have lost a minimum of 15 ft of shore just to general
erosion by the waves. I have seen
water covering the “boaters beach” leaving only the tree tops showing. I
have also seen waves on the Lake well over ten feet in height. I have been in
hail falling so hard that I took refuge under my aluminum boat. Wind, surf,
rain, snow, hail, waterspouts, hurricanes, wind shears, and sandstorms have all
caused havoc and damage in my presence.
Mild but unique
and memorable was a sandstorm that lifted sand from the beach miles away and
sandblasted the paint from the front and one side of my dad’s travel trailer.
The
most unique storm was a period of wind shears that in mini areas did great
damage. My place was untouched. Four cottages West of me the roof was stripped
clean. Next door East, a large gas grill was lifted off the ground and carried
over 100 feet without touching ground. It stopped within inches of my cousin’s
truck, upright and ready for use. Numerous trees were lifted from the ground and
deposited next to the hole left by their roots. Unlike a hurricane the trees
fell in all directions. A branch from a 100-year-old cherry tree broke, went
across two properties and struck my wife in the head as she was going towards a
neighbor's cottage. (She was sore but OK) My cruiser was supposedly in safe
harbor in a channel in the creek. It was lifted out of the channel and all but
the out drive lay on the mud and cattails beside that channel. (It also was
undamaged) Many cottages had green
spots, which on closer inspection were leaves that looked more like paint than
leaves. All of the above, happened in less than an hour.
Hurricane Hazel was different. Traveling to camp on a Friday evening we were just ahead of it all of the way. It was wearing itself out as it traveled North across the State but trees and wires were falling all around. (Thankfully mostly behind us.) It still had the wind of a hurricane and if my grandfather was alive today he would tell you that our gas mileage was increased by at least 20% from the trailing winds .
We arrived at camp just before dark. My grandmother and
sister took refuge in my uncle’s block cottage. My
grandfather and I went to see what we could do to secure boats, bikes, and his
little house trailer. As the wind hit the openness of the Pond and Lake you could hear
it whistle as it picked up speed. Maybe it was just the noise from the passing
of it through and around the Elm trees by the shore. Not one of those trees
succumbed to the wind. (They were all wiped out a few years later by some bug
called the Dutch Elm Disease.) Although we had driven crowbars and fence posts
around the house trailer, it moved almost two feet. Luckily it slid on the RR
ties beneath and did not fall off. Nothing inside was damaged. My painters cap
blew off my head and was captured for me by two elms growing almost tight
together. It blew off a second time almost to the same spot of the two elms.
This time it went between taking bark and tree with it. It was the only item we
lost.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In
the Coast Guard I have been in many rough and scary storms. One with waves up to
50 feet high. Our cutter took rolls where you would have one foot on the deck
and the other on the bulkhead. Was I afraid? “Yes.” For my life? “Not
really.”
On
Lake Ontario: Have I been afraid? “More than once.” For my life? “Read below”
I
had a 25-ft Fly bridge cabin cruiser called the Wet Dream. (Yeah, My wife named
the one before “The Happy Hooker”.) It was a Carver Santa Cruz a top of the
line boat and it was in great shape. She had driven to camp and I was to bring the boat up the St. Lawrence and across Lake Ontario to Sandy Pond.
I left early from Massena able to easily make the trip in a day. By the
time I was near Cape Vincent the Coast Guard announced Small Craft Warnings and
I pulled in to the City Dock. I
could not see any rough seas directly ahead but I didn’t take a chance. A
number of other small cruisers were also tied up. Those who had arrived from the
Lake confirmed that they had come from Henderson Harbor and the weather was no
problem. Henderson was only my halfway point so I decided to stay at the dock. I called my
wife and told her if I was unable to leave the following morning I would call again.
The City dock has no shore power for boats. I needed none. I was amply stocked with food and I had DC powered equipment and an alcohol stove. I invited a couple boaters with less facilities to share my dinner and they ended staying awhile to watch a little TV. We all hit the sack early. The next morning the Coast Guard had lifted the small craft warnings. I got underway for the Pond. It was choppier than the day before. If I had a smaller craft I would have probably returned to the dock. I continued.
The waves were not receding. I decided to go
behind the Galloo Islands toward Henderson Harbor rather than the open Lake. I never reached
the turning point. I was in front of Tibbett’s Point when I knew I was in
trouble. I was on the fly bridge, and could not see over the wave in front or
the wave in back. Worse, the waves
were close together and coming toward me. I was heading out and turning around
or changing course was more dangerous than continuing.
I had life jackets in the seat under me but did not dare stand to remove
one and put it on. I kept repeating to myself, “If a wave places me in an
immediate danger get one out, put in on.” I also practiced in my mind how to
do it quickly, if the time came. I could hear the "ship to shore"
radio on the fly
bridge, but the microphone to transmit was at the cabin helm. I was in trouble, and it continued for what felt like a
lifetime. The number of thoughts in my mind would fill a book. All of a sudden
there was a ½ size wave in front, followed by a HUGE one. I quickly made a 180
on the small wave, powered up, went over that wave and then up to the crest of
the next. I road that wave all the way back to the entrance of the Cape.
When I docked, my new found friends were there to handle the lines. Docking taken care of, one came up to the fly bridge and removed my hands from the wheel. It was like I was in shock. They had been watching me for hours, wondering each time when I disappeared whether I would reappear again. They could not understand why I hadn’t turned around hours ago. (They weren’t there.) I hadn’t really gone far for the amount of time I was gone. Mostly up and down. I was also probably pushed back a foot for every two I gained.
They all walked me to
a place where they helped me contact my wife and tell her I would be another
day. She had been worried. I explained what had happened. They then bought me a Jack
Daniels to calm my nerves. In fact, they purchased quite a few for me.
When I returned to
the boat I took a nap. I slept like a baby. The next morning I was underway once more. This time it was almost calm and I was at camp before noon. My body ached for a week.
 | |
|