Programming change

We interrupt our irregularly scheduled “just a little is enough” blog with a special report – “Vacation at the Lake 2010." Yes, as much as I'd like to get a full report of the previous vacation posted I must now focus on the near present. I usually try to post daily but for some reason it never worked out that way. As it was my main activity, reading, seemed to fall short of my expectations. The book I chose for the week is terrific. Alastair Reynolds' "Redemption Ark." Everything I could hope for in a SciFi book. I still have about a fourth of it left to read. One bonus of the week was having cell phone reception, previously there wasn't much of that. Hardly used the camp phone other than for internet access.

I'll begin with “the delay” for starting this last week's vacation.

A couple of months ago I received notice that there would be a family reunion held on the day I'd be leaving for the lake. Since it was on the way I didn't a alter my plans much, an hour or so at the reunion then the continue my journey northward. Enter “vehicle malfunction”. When with my mother we were departing a pre-reunion brunch at a second cousins house the truck wouldn't start. Someone had jumper cables but getting a boost didn't get me started. Calling for a tow truck the driver determined that the starter was shot, 200,000 plus miles on the truck, go figure. My sister Kathy and Jay came by to pick up Mom. But good fortune given the circumstances the guy that the tow driver worked for was working in his repair shop could fix it that afternoon, a Sunday no less. Not to mention the garage itself was only a short distance from the facility that the reunion was being held.

The glorious view of my vacation chariot being loaded on a flatbed.

So I ended up staying at the reunion several hours rather that maybe an hour as I planned. The reunion was a lot of fun, some good eats and catching up with cousins, uncles and aunts at a happening that didn't involve a funeral or a wedding was a bonus.

It was about 4:30pm when Patches and I were able to continue our journey to the lake.

Finally made it to Route 1 in Houlton and what do I see, a sunset that from the lake may have made as spectacular a photo as the 2006 “fire in the sky” image and here I was two hours from the camp. Cellphone picture, I had my eyes on the road when I snapped this photo.

Monday was rather cloudy with a bit of rain. Ian drove up to spend his three off days at the lake.

Tuesday morning eastern shore.

We headed to the golf course in Fort Kent, our first time there. Real nice course, seemed short, wicked nice greens and a great view. Unless something else comes up I hope to return next summer.


Once we finished golfing it was back to the camp to spend the rest of the day lake side.

Patches chillin' looking out over the lake.

Ian doing a little cycle troubleshooting.

Margaret joined us for supper and made an apple pie for dessert.

After she left it was time for Patches stick chasing into
the lake and some sunset shots.

A couple teaching their daughter to water ski.

Tuesday's best sunset shot.

Ian stayed until Wednesday noon then headed home as he needed to be back to work Thursday morning. Meanwhile after she got out of work Carol boarded a bus in Portland and I picked her up late in the evening at the bus stop in Presque Isle to spent the rest of the week with Patches and I at the lake.

Wednesday's sunset.

Where did the lake go?? My first thought when
stepping out early Thursday morning.

A little later just a sunny day.

Not an impressive sunset but as it turned out it
was a terrific evening to sit outside.

Margaret and Carol's Aunt Carolyn came for supper, I grilled some chicken and after eating Carol showed our Teton-Yellowstone photos to our guests. Meantime I was outside throwing Patches' stick out in the lake for him to chase while I started and tended a campfire where Carol joined me for the remainder of the evening.

As the week began I discovered that the old gas grill was rusted out and entirely unusable. While Carol was out running some errands with her mother she picked up this nice grill to replace the old one.

I can burn a steak on anything. Actually
the steaks turned out pretty good.

Last sunset of the week,
headed home Saturday morning.