It's been a long journey. One that unfortunately came to an end today. This morning, we took down what we've all come to know as "the beaver tree." Between the high water and the beaver's incessant sawing, the tree did not survive. We believe it died about a month ago. And with the strong winds we've had lately, we were concerned that it could fall and hurt someone or cause damage to the dock or someone's vehicle.
Many of you have followed the beaver story all year, but what you may not realize is that the big, beautiful cottonwood was as old as the lake. Tim remembers when it was "just a little bitty thing" back in the '60s. But despite it's modest size back then, it was always in the way, he says. Years ago the docks were laid out differently, and during high water conditions they had to split the dock, push it past the tree and reconnect it between the shore and the tree. Numerous times they considered cutting it down. But for whatever reason, they never did.
He can remember twice it was struck by lighting - once about 20 years ago. That summer there were bad storms on three out of four consecutive Fridays. When the lightning hit the tree, Tim was in an aluminum boat pulling a steel cable across the cove. (Talk about a death trap.) Doc Klayman was also on the dock that day. He says it split the tree right down the middle, and fire was shooting out the top. Everyone thought for sure the tree would die after that, but it survived! As the tree continued to grow, the shade it provided also grew - Phil Peters and Roger Long always liked to park near the tree for that very reason.
I was sad to see it fall this morning. I know some of you probably are, too. Today, when Doc came in from fishing and saw it lying across the road, he said, "It's the end of an era." And he's right. It certainly looks different out there without that tree, and it's going to take some getting used to. We're planning to save a log from the base of the tree to make a bench, so we can enjoy a little piece of it forever and ever.
I guess in the end the beaver won. Or did he? Wouldn't you like to see his face tonight when he comes out and finds nothing left of his little masterpiece... but a stump? SURPRISE!
