DOCKS IN: THE BOYS FROM VERMONT/NEW HAMPSHIRE ARRIVE

7:14

I slept in, sort of, until 6:40, just as the sky, the lake, the shoreline were becoming visible, though the fog, the steam rising from the lake has, at the moment, 7:30,  obscured most of the shoreline, seems to be about twenty yards offshore.  Most of the docks along Woodlawn are in, so the view of the lake and Long Point is once again open and unobstructed.  We cannot wait to paddle it.

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Bawana Tom

Evie Joy

We enjoyed another fall day of perfection, sunny and warm enough to just need a light fleece, a heavy T.  And, of course, we were out on the lake early, again a slate blue lake, no ripples, and seemingly just us, paddling toward Long Point.  When we reached the bay, three or four boats were fishing off the bay, enjoying the morning.  We then paddled over to Wells Bay, then along the shoreline as is our wont, back to our home.  What a great morning to be on the lake enjoying the day.  Our friends, Mac and Dale, were arriving late afternoon, spending the night, so Evie was busy in the kitchen getting our dinner of fresh pasta and a sauce of shrimp, tomatoes, and various spices.  I fussed around outside, in the garage, straightening, sweeping, putting more stuff in the attic, and cleaning the dock, getting it ready for later in the day when the boys were coming to take it in.  And, of course, mid afternoon, Evie went out to chop the leaves one more time before our friends arrived from the East. And, most importantly, we both took our final swim of the year, in the increasingly frigid lake; needless to say, we did not stay in long.

Poseidon 'Chillin'

Esther Williams

Mac and Dale arrived around 4:30, a nine hour drive from Woodstock, Vermont, where Mac lives. All three of us taught at Western Reserve Academy, in Hudson, for at least thirty years so we have a lot of history, many stories to swap.  We could sit outside, on our front porch because of the mild weather, which was nice because we have not been our there in awhile.  Mac brought a couple of local cheeses, both amazing, one with  fenugreek in it.  And I made the boys their favorite, Manhattans, with my new find, Luxardo, The Original Maraschino Cherries from Italy, like gold.  We sat around enjoying the drinks, cheese, and Evie sat down and went through the Summer of 2013 photo album to oohs and aahs of Mac and Dale.  Around 7:00, we all adjourned to the kitchen, to make the fresh pasta, everyone pitching in and helping to make the fettucini noodles.  We ate dinner around 8:00, and we were all ready hungry by then.  The pasta was cooked perfectly, the shrimp and sauce  not too tomatoey but creamy and seasoned perfectly, so it was a great dinner.

Rose Among Thorns

Pasta Boys

We stayed up talking about the good old days, the present, our kids and grand kids, so it was a fun evening.  After a nightcap of Fireball Whiskey, we were all tired and ready for bed, the end of another great day, on the lake, with friends from the past.

Thursday Morning, Perfect for Kayaking