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Perfect Timing
Perfect Timing
We are timeshare people. I know that word has an awful taint to it, so we'll call ourselves interval owners. Same time every year with an almost boring regularity. Actually we are quite happy with the situation and only a massive lottery win or a complete collapse of the economy would change it. As our name suggests we live in northern Vermont. Our home is on an island about the size of St. John up near where the first language is French and they put gravy and cheese curd on their french fries. Poutine.
In some years we are leaving just when spring is finally breaking out up here. The ice is either gone, breaking up or turning dark as it honeycombs and almost sinks. The snow is gone, the ground softens and people get stuck on dirt roads. It is called mud season. Some places have four seasons, we stretch it out to 6 naming the pre-frost and post-frost seasons. An old Vermont joke: a man rides his horse down a muddy lane. He sees a hat in the middle of the road. He dismounts, picks the hat up and finds his neighbor under it. The man asks his neighbor if he is all right. The neighbor replies, "Yea, but I think my horse and buggy are a goner."
After a long winter it is sometimes difficult to leave when spring seems to be "bursting out all over." No problems this year. We just got 9 inches of wet heavy "sugar snow." So named because it snows during maple sugaring season. It has its' benefits and its' drawbacks if you've ever hauled two buckets of maple sap through the woods in knee deep snow. It is so heavy that the snow-blower can barely swallow it and rather just push it along in front of it. And though the ice fishing shanties are off, ice still covers the lake even in its' broadest regions.
On Friday we leave for Boston. Fares out of BVT were obscene. We fly out on Saturday. To those on island STJ or flying down, "see you soon." To the rest of you, "your time soon come." Even if it will be a year or two. And to my friends and neighbors here in northern Vermont; "see ya suckers." Only in the nicest way.
If you want to see me, I'll be here most days for the next two weeks around sunset: http://sunsetridgevillas.com/SRVrightNow.shtml
In some years we are leaving just when spring is finally breaking out up here. The ice is either gone, breaking up or turning dark as it honeycombs and almost sinks. The snow is gone, the ground softens and people get stuck on dirt roads. It is called mud season. Some places have four seasons, we stretch it out to 6 naming the pre-frost and post-frost seasons. An old Vermont joke: a man rides his horse down a muddy lane. He sees a hat in the middle of the road. He dismounts, picks the hat up and finds his neighbor under it. The man asks his neighbor if he is all right. The neighbor replies, "Yea, but I think my horse and buggy are a goner."
After a long winter it is sometimes difficult to leave when spring seems to be "bursting out all over." No problems this year. We just got 9 inches of wet heavy "sugar snow." So named because it snows during maple sugaring season. It has its' benefits and its' drawbacks if you've ever hauled two buckets of maple sap through the woods in knee deep snow. It is so heavy that the snow-blower can barely swallow it and rather just push it along in front of it. And though the ice fishing shanties are off, ice still covers the lake even in its' broadest regions.
On Friday we leave for Boston. Fares out of BVT were obscene. We fly out on Saturday. To those on island STJ or flying down, "see you soon." To the rest of you, "your time soon come." Even if it will be a year or two. And to my friends and neighbors here in northern Vermont; "see ya suckers." Only in the nicest way.
If you want to see me, I'll be here most days for the next two weeks around sunset: http://sunsetridgevillas.com/SRVrightNow.shtml
Last edited by BillVT on Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
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hoosierdaddy
- Posts: 920
- Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:53 am
- Location: Indiana
Re: Perfect Timing
Nice post.
Love the webcam. Beautiful view of Pillsbury Sound and St. Thomas.
Love the webcam. Beautiful view of Pillsbury Sound and St. Thomas.
Re: Perfect Timing
hope to meet you on the island. Safe travels on Friday and Saturday
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
Re: Perfect Timing
Who you calling a sucker? Have a great trip! By the way, we've started to fly out of BDL because of fares and good connections.
Re: Perfect Timing
Notice I said only in the nicest way. Wish you guys could join us for another full moon Ram's Head hike next Wednesday. It's that or Miss Lucy's Full Moon Party. My stomach says Miss Lucy's. My weight says Ram's Head. Signed tons-of-fun.
Re: Perfect Timing
how about joining us for a full moon sail on Kiote--out of coral bay? he's got room for 4 more......
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
Re: Perfect Timing
Bill
The spring of 1975 we had 3' of snow in late March at VTC (Vermont Technical College) soooooo you may still have a surprise when you return
And others can know guess my age
The spring of 1975 we had 3' of snow in late March at VTC (Vermont Technical College) soooooo you may still have a surprise when you return
And others can know guess my age
Re: Perfect Timing
loria - This of course will have to go up for a vote between all those in attendance and I am only one vote. Perhaps we'll meet on Sunday and either confirm or decline your gracious invitation. I am thinking though that the concerns of those in the medical field among us will prevail and a hiking we will go. (Sounds of yodeling)
shoemak38 - Thanks for snowing on my parade. And yes I recall being snowed in on a Easter. Of course you were way up there on the hill. We sometimes fare better down here in the valley. But no thanks for reminding me.
shoemak38 - Thanks for snowing on my parade. And yes I recall being snowed in on a Easter. Of course you were way up there on the hill. We sometimes fare better down here in the valley. But no thanks for reminding me.
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PatrickMcc
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:43 pm
- Location: Boston
Re: Perfect Timing
Hi Bill- I usually don't like (or get) Maine and Vermont humor but I laughed out loud at the one where the guy is under his hat in the mud. We just got back from St John last month and I always wanted to check out Sunset Ridge Villas but never did. Can you tell me what you like about them? I am curious about their location. Are they somewhere off centerline Road? i don't think we would buy one but I have seen them for rent a few ties and we might do that. Thanks.
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Tracy in WI
- Posts: 1624
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:39 am
- Location: Wisconsin
Re: Perfect Timing
Have a great time Bill! We'll be back at Sunset Ridge sometime this summer, still figuring out dates with two teenagers...!
Hoping you come back to full on SPRING!!
Hoping you come back to full on SPRING!!
Tracy, Seaside Properties at Grande Bay
Re: Perfect Timing
For PatrickMcc:
First of all let me be right up front, I somehow got myself elected to the board of directors of the homeowners association. This gives me a constant dose of STJ all year round, whether I want it or not. We just got our 2011 tax bills on 3/19. We will qualify for a discount if our payment is received by 3/23/13. You get the idea. This is like doing business in a fun house.
Now that's out of the way, SRV is about 2 switchbacks above Sirenusa. There are two ways in, one involves a left turn at the top of Jacob's Ladder and just go up till you can't go up anymore. The other way is by turning right where Pastory Gardens used to be, continuing past the Moravian Church. Then take your first left, then left again and then a quick right. There will be small signs.
I like SRV because it is small as timeshare resorts go. There are only six units, but the units are big. We have a lot of room including private open space. We aren't opulent but we are comfortable and our view is fantastic. At one time we had private dipping pools in the unit courtyards but unfortunately we've had to do away with them. They were built poorly and the combination of cost and liability made the decision for us. But you get the idea. As an owner, I get to see some of the same people every year and we've become accustomed to each other and with only six units we seldom get in each other's way. I am a New Englander. I need a lot of personal space.
So before this turns into anymore of a sales presentation, sales or rent, it is all good. By the way, the owners association owns the facility. Every cent of rent or maintenance fee goes back into the maintenance and improvement of the place. And we don't have A/C … yet. More hand wringing, deep sighing and eye rolling discussions to come. Check out the web site and if you have any more questions PM me. http://sunsetridgevillas.com/index.shtml
Tracy: Thank you!
First of all let me be right up front, I somehow got myself elected to the board of directors of the homeowners association. This gives me a constant dose of STJ all year round, whether I want it or not. We just got our 2011 tax bills on 3/19. We will qualify for a discount if our payment is received by 3/23/13. You get the idea. This is like doing business in a fun house.
Now that's out of the way, SRV is about 2 switchbacks above Sirenusa. There are two ways in, one involves a left turn at the top of Jacob's Ladder and just go up till you can't go up anymore. The other way is by turning right where Pastory Gardens used to be, continuing past the Moravian Church. Then take your first left, then left again and then a quick right. There will be small signs.
I like SRV because it is small as timeshare resorts go. There are only six units, but the units are big. We have a lot of room including private open space. We aren't opulent but we are comfortable and our view is fantastic. At one time we had private dipping pools in the unit courtyards but unfortunately we've had to do away with them. They were built poorly and the combination of cost and liability made the decision for us. But you get the idea. As an owner, I get to see some of the same people every year and we've become accustomed to each other and with only six units we seldom get in each other's way. I am a New Englander. I need a lot of personal space.
So before this turns into anymore of a sales presentation, sales or rent, it is all good. By the way, the owners association owns the facility. Every cent of rent or maintenance fee goes back into the maintenance and improvement of the place. And we don't have A/C … yet. More hand wringing, deep sighing and eye rolling discussions to come. Check out the web site and if you have any more questions PM me. http://sunsetridgevillas.com/index.shtml
Tracy: Thank you!
Re: Perfect Timing
Bill,
We'll look for you at the Beach Bar on Sunday , March 31st for Jazz or April 4th at High Tide for Post Sunset libations.
We soon Come,
Dave
We'll look for you at the Beach Bar on Sunday , March 31st for Jazz or April 4th at High Tide for Post Sunset libations.
We soon Come,
Dave
Re: Perfect Timing
Hopefully we will run into you the week after next! I will be the one in a shady hat with a painkiller haze. 
Re: Perfect Timing
it was 22 degrees when we left indiana this morning.
82 degrees when we got here, not to mention plentiful sunshine.
bet you can't wait for friday....
82 degrees when we got here, not to mention plentiful sunshine.
bet you can't wait for friday....
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PatrickMcc
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:43 pm
- Location: Boston
Re: Perfect Timing
Thanks Bill. They look very nice and sound spacious and the price is reasonable. You are getting some excellent reviews on Trip Advisor where I get the impression that the units have improved a lot since the homeowners bought them. We probably won't go back until next winter but I am going to show them to the others in our group.That sounds far away but we have booked in July for the last few years so we have to make decisions early. I have been past that road at the top of Jacobs Ladder many times and always thought about driving up there but never did. This may be my chance. have a great vacation.