Canandaigua Lake from Deep Run Point

The sun was shinning brightly but the winds were steady with the temperatures hovering around 25 degrees on February 1. No animals in sight. The ducks were gone, the geese were gone, and I didn’t see a single groundhog! I often wonder how the geese can fly when it is so cold. Do they do Yoga exercises before they take off so they don‘t get a cramp in their wings? And what about their eyes? My eyes tear up when the cold wind hits them. Imagine flying along at 35 miles per hour into the wind without any goggles!

Down in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Groundhog Day and according to the legend, there will be 6 more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil’s forecasting record has been petty dismal: he’s been correct only 40% of the time! The sun didn’t shine in Canandaigua on Groundhog Day, so if there were any groundhogs out of their dens, they would not have seen their shadow. Therefore, our spring here in the Finger lakes must be just around the corner!

One last note, there is no Groundhog Day in Alaska (groundhogs are very scarce in Alaska) as then Alaska Governor Sarah Palin signed a bill declaring February 2nd as Marmot Day. Groundhogs, Marmots, or any other Varmints, I’m going on record to predict that here in the Finger Lakes, there will be 6 more weeks of winter anyway!

James R. Bupp