[Journal
entry for May 4, 2012]
In the evening, while at the Presbyterian Camp and Conference
Center in Holmes NY, I walkerd around Westminster
Lake. The lake is anthropogenic, imponded by
an earthfill dam on its north end, and is about a
half mile long. The buildings of the center on on its
west bank; the east is wooded. A foot trail circles the lake. The southern part
is rather marshy, with marsh grass, skunk cabbage, fern
fiddleheads and blooming high bush blueberry. Sign of beaver abound, with many
felled trees and clipped off bushes. The eastern, wooded bank has rock walls
and one monumental oak, which must oredate the other,
much smaller trees. A gazebo and a lean-to are also located along this shore,
as well as a small boat rampo that provides a pull-up
point for boats coming over from the more inhabiuted
west shore. An angler was standing at the dam on the north end of the lake,
casting out into its waters. Parts of the west side of the lake are wooded, and
while the shore is rather marshy, a puncheon crosses the worst spots, winding
among skunk cabbages. A small rocky penninsula juts
out into the lake, affording a place to sit and view the opposite shore. About an hour.