Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Clam bake

Bob and Rusty get up early and fish from the dock. Bob catches a 3 pound bass. They bring it back to show off and then put it back in the lake. We have plenty of fish in the fridge already.

Jim and Joy have told us about a huge cabin that is being constructed 1/2 mile down the lake. They have seen it while kyaking and think we should take a look. The rumor around the Lake is that work has stalled due to a divorce dispute. We drive down there until we find something that resembles their description.

The cabin is indeed humongous, the size of which would be described in Dallas as a McMansion. With fresh white pine logs and a gigantic triangular window facing the lake, it strikes a beautiful image against the green surrounding it. We peek inside and see the fittings for winterization. A detached garage is now under construction. Wow! Our dream house! Vowing to come back later and/or investigate ownership further, we reluctantly drive back to camp.

Livin' Large in Logs

Bob's daughter Ali and granddaughter Anya are waiting for us at the smaller cabin on Augur Lake. They have just come from Old Forge Water Park and are in vacation mode, ready to party with Uncle Jim and Aunt Joy and Joy's family.

Grandpa Rusty, daughters Joy and Char, their husbands Jim and Bud, and Char's two girls, Carly and Ashton, have come up here for 15 years to these same cabins. Now the owners are absentee, so this will probably be the last year in this particular location. Everyone is determined to make the most out of this last blast of trouble-free R & R.

The Curtis Clan are staying in the larger, newer cabin on the level closer to the lake. Their porch is screened in, with new Adirondack chairs and a large table made from an old black door. The Kelvinator Fridge in the kitchen is chock full of food for 11 people for a week. Boxed wine, bottled water and sodas sit on the floor. There is a separate chest freezer for ice cream, meat and rolls.

Jim and Rusty prepare a delicious BBQ of chicken, burgers and hotdogs which we share while watching the boaters, skiers, kyakers, and skidoers on Augur Lake. As the evening gets later, the number of small boats with people fishing off the side increases.

About a quarter-mile from our shore is a small island where Jim and Joy's black lab, Winnie, likes to "do his business". Twice a day someone has to take Winnie out to the island. Anya likes to go along and swim in the deep clear water, which, unlike our shore, has very little seaweed to trap the ankles.

When the golden light of sunset has faded to purple, we adjourn to our upper level cabin to call it a night. Our cabin has not been opened up in years. It is fully carpeted, including the bathroom, and reeks of mold and animals. The beds are rustic, but comfy, so we fall in, exhausted.