While Tony's Away...

Tony left me again.  He'll be returning at some point tonight, but having conveniently left his phone behind, I have no idea when that will be.  So he's on his own for dinner...

Anyhoo...

While he is at the NASCAR race I decided it might be nice to get away from the computers, iPods, our regular routine, and go kayaking. And as it happened, today was an unseasonable 80 degrees, so while it was a bit muggy and we'd be ditching the occasional raindrop, the risk of hypothermia if I fall in, will be low.

I chose a guided tour.  Basically you just show up, sign a wavier and go. And if you fall out, they put you back in.  Win, win.

Normally there's a lot more color change in the leaves by now, but it was pretty just the same...

The lake we were on is over 200 acres wide, but at it's deepest point is only about 8-10 feet deep.  Because of this, it's an ideal habitat for bass fish who thrive shallow water. Trees had been blown over all along the edges of the lake causing tangled root habitats where all kinds of species call home...

The land is a town operated park, and is home to the endangered red belly turtle, the threatened Osprey, and endangered lady slippers.  In June, one portion of the lake's edge is densely dotted in pink lady slippers, as well as white (extremely rare) and a newly discovered white/pink cross breed.  Apparently, they are a very hardy flower, but they die upon transport, thus resulting in them being endangered.  The boys could have cared less about any of it though, except for the red belly turtle that we did see sunning himself on a branch who's shell was over a foot across....

 ...and of course, racing kayaks, and splashing each other with the water...

At one point this was the oldest town run park in the country.  Care has been taken to maintain/rebuild the bridge that was used hundreds of years ago to gain access between the landings...

The lake has two islands.  The larger was once a family homestead.  When the matriarch of the family passed on, she willed it to the town, as to have it stay preserved.  The surviving family however, was not thrilled that their childhood home was no longer theirs, and not long afterwards, the home suspiciously burnt to the ground. In any case, the town was relieved, as they would have had to wait until the lake froze over to bring trucks across to remove the home.  All that exists now is the front stairs and a bit of the stone foundation.  Now, the larger island is used only for over night camping by the boy scouts. (Mental note: remember to suggest this little gem at the next meeting) 

The smaller island could almost be missed among the tree line.  Yet the cottage on it still stands (barely) among the trees...

Half way through our trip around the island we stopped at a landing for a mile hike...

Years ago, when there was a huge tuberculosis/Polio outbreak in Boston, someone thought that getting the patients away from the city smog could help them heal.  This was one of the places that the patients were shipped to, and fortunately for them, it worked. None of the hospital remains here though, unlike Bumpkin Island, where you can still find remnants of the hospital that was built there.

The lake is connected to a smaller pond, shaped like Mickey Mouse's head.  This smaller pond is a glacier formed pond, resulting in a rounder, deeper pond.  This pond is 90 feet deep in the center and is fully stocked with a wide variety of fish...

The hike ran through an older section of the park that is no longer accessible by car.  Since it was at one point though, most of the terrain is dirt road and was relatively easy to travel.

 We found plenty of sassafras, which back in the day, (the root) was used to make root beer, as well as many white pine trees like these...

These trees are several hundred years old and grow straight up, verses the scrub pines that grow throughout town that are smaller and scraggly looking.  In the "olden days" these were the trees they cut down to make masts for the ships.  I have a fascination with how trees fall when they die.  The natural state that they are left in always makes me curious about what happened. Youngest however, just thought this one looked like a giant sling shot...

Which of course, sent Oldest's imagination into warring countries and catapulting random things across the lake. *sigh* Not likely buddy, not likely...  Interestingly enough though, thanks to the conservation and hands off rules of the park, there are actually more trees now than there were when the park was originally established. So I guess, it's all part of the natural process.

Perhaps one of the coolest parts of the day, was relevant to no one else but me.  Remember how I said that years ago they allowed car access to this part of the park? The only other time I had ever been to this park was when I was 16.  We drove in and just hung out by this tree, where a bunch of us carved our names. What are the odds of me finding this tree nearly 24 years later?

Turns out, pretty good....

Crazy, right?

*sigh*

But the best part for the boys?  They run summer camps, one of which is a build your own kayak camp.  They give you a PVC frame and using DUCT TAPE you craft your own kayak and set sail.

How awesome is that???

Kind of makes me wish I was ages 8-16.