[Journal entry for Sunday, June 11, 2006] I drove up from Palisades, New York
in the mid-afternoon, the ride taking about forty minutes. The afternoon is bright and warm and the air
is dry – a welcome contrast to the dam, cold weather we have had during the
last week. I launch my sea kayak Hraun (Icelandic
for lava) from the dock at the American Canoe Association camp, which is just
off of Seven Lakes Drive
on the southwestern corner of the Lake. I then paddle at a relaxing pace around the
circumference of the lake, stopping to take some photographs now and then. The mountain laurel bushes that edge the lake
are in full bloom. The pink blossoms and
the dark green of the forest canopy make the lake especially beautiful this
time of year. Numerous painted turtles
were sunning themselves atop logs and boulders.
They too are enjoying the end of the rain. They are hard to approach, especially when in
groups. I hear lots of plop, plop, and plop’s as I paddle by. I spot several interesting birds: a heron, a
turkey vulture, and high in the sky, an osprey.
And I pass several families of Canada geese. These birds are rather a nuisance on the
lake. I see that Baker camp has their
swim dock decorated with fake coyotes in the probably vain attempt to keep them
from fouling the area. I pass several
other boaters: several in small sailboats, a kayaker or two and some anglers in
rowboats. The five mile circuit circuit of the lake
circumference takes about an hour and a half.