Just checking in

So vacation is in the rearview mirror and I plowed ahead through the week since and survived for the weekend. Pretty simple week, only petty things not worth the the time to type about though there was a get together at my SIL Elaine and husband Steve's for our niece Lena and her family as their visit to Maine came to an end. At this point week ahead is looking routine. For this weekend yard work, went to a movie "Suicide Squad" (it was ok). That was at Smitty's" one of those theaters that serve meals and beverages before and during the movie. Movie from Netflix was "Paul" Starring Simon Pegg and his crew plus some notable actors. Not surprising it was funny.

Did a little weeding, probably a little over do.

Time to pack up and go home

Adventure Day and vacation updates

For someone on a camp vacation with time on their hands I seem to be rather busy at other things than reading my book of the week. All to the better maybe though I am enjoying the book. Yesterday was Adventure Day as I like to refer to it. The one day of the vacation where I go someplace in Aroostook County that I may never have visited. The place this time was a portion of the Salmon Brook Lake and Perham Wetlands, in Perham, Maine. It is deemed one of the state's "Focus Areas of Statewide Ecological Significance". "At the heart of this focus area is the state-owned Salmon Brook Lake Unit characterized by extensive wetlands and numerous rare plant populations. The 1,706 acre unit hosts six exemplary natural communities and six rare plant populations including a 1,055 acre Ecological Reserve surrounding Salmon Brook Lake—a shallow, 50 acre lake with a maximum depth of five feet. In addition to the Salmon Brook Lake Unit, the focus area also includes the Woodland Bog Preserve in the southeastern section of the focus area and the Perham Bog Preserve located in the northwestern section of the focus area. Both preserves are owned by the Nature Conservancy."

I had packed a lunch in my daypack along with binoculars, camera, and bug spray then entered  from the northern Perham Bog Preserve and preceded to hike along the Salmon Brook Trail and was greeted by thickly wooded forest with a single width meandering trail, damp from a predawn thunderstorm. The dampness contributed to a organic atmosphere of rich soil and decaying vegetation and the sound of collected rainfall dripping from the surrounding trees. Eerily quiet otherwise. I never did see anything of wildlife other that a couple of birds I disturbed moving too fast to identify. There were a few Moose hoof prints and dropping on the trail itself which lead to hope of spotting one of that majestic member of the deer family. Not to happen on this excursion though I'd thought there was a possibly as the sun was shining and with the temps being high it was scorching hot, that a moose would be seeking shaded relieve in the vicinity.

Beyond the kiosk this is where the trail begins

The trees close in almost immediately
from the trail head.

Several styles of crossovers were used

Reaching for the sky

The Observation Deck

I took the panorama photo from here and ate my lunch. Never saw anyone the whole time, just sat quietly for awhile, the whole place to myself. Other than a loon floating near the opposite side and an occasional bird no other wild live appeared. Must have been away on vacation themselves.

Night to morning and a storm approaching

So far, so darn good

Nothing earth shaking happening - liking that. Weather is great, quite cool this morning, actually fired up the woodstove this morning. Started each day with a walk/jog along the camp road then looping back along the nearby state road back to the point where the camp road begins near the camp itself. Several times a day I take E'owyn for a short walk though she sleeps most of the time, when she gets up it's a good time to get her out and about, sniffing here and there and taking care of her business. Makes for an additional bit of exercise for me.

I've done a little bike riding and of course doing some serious reading, inside and outside. Preparing meals, doing dishes, set up some firewood, read, nap, read more.

Visited with some friends of Carol's family yesterday and today visited with our niece and her husband and little boy Sam for a bit. Back to camp, read, napped, read, drink coffee, blog - go read a bit, then prepare some supper.

Oh yeah, sunset photos. They're not bad but need some extra cloud action to create some ultra cool scenes.

Have been watching some movies at night though I thinking about doing a campfire. Should be a good night for it.

Vacation starts... NOW!

Been waiting a long time though I hate the thought of summer slipping away but here I am at the camp on Madawaska Lake. The downer, Carol has to work so I'll soldier on here and stay in touch. I am not quite alone. I brought E'owyn along. At 13 years old she doesn't travel well. I give her a lift to get into the truck, she may be 80% deaf, is on medication for incontinence and I wouldn't doubt she has some dementia. It has been 2 years since the last time I took my summer vacation here after maybe 10 straight years before. Last year I didn't make it for good reason, Ian  and Ali were married in NH so Carol and I camped a short drive away and participated in several gatherings of family and friends leading up to the wedding and the following reception. Now my task is to forget the office and kick back. I have Neal Asher's latest book, War Factory to begin, brought along my bike and kayak and plans on catching up on some things on the internet and correspondence. Now I just need a means to slow down time.