Paddling Mountain Pond

We never completed the Paddle Pursuit we started several years ago.  So friends decided we should take the opportunity to paddle Mountain Pond today.  It is reached via the roads at the Hays Brook trail system north of Paul Smith's where we hiked among the lady slippers last week.  The weather was nice, there weren't many bugs, and the paddle was very pleasant.  So now we've done all the required large and small lakes.  Just a few rivers to go and we'll qualify for the patch.

Paddling South Creek to Second Pond

This morning we led a group of 13 on the one-way paddle from South Creek, through Middle Saranac Lake, up the river through the upper locks and into Lower Saranac Lake where we had lunch on Bluff Island then through First and Second Ponds to the takeout.  It was fairly windy so the waves were exciting on Middle Saranac, but fortunately the wind was behind us.

Lady Slipper Orchids

We walked with a group on the Hayes Brook trail system this morning to see the hundreds of lady slipper orchids that bloom there every year.

Bleeding Hearts

I was so pleased to see my bleeding heart coming up and blooming beautifully.  I was afraid the digging for the internet cable had destroyed it.

Paddling the Raquette River

We had our "traditional" paddle and picnic for Memorial Day.  Over 20 of us put in at Axton Landing and paddled the Raquette River to the Crusher.  The water was so high from all the rain we have had that the ride was very fast, despite some high winds in our faces.  The weather was great, a bit cool in the wind but bright blue sky.  And the bugs aren't bad yet, though there were lots of mosquitoes at our lunch stop.
Then off to the picnic with this great bunch of friends.

Downed Tree

We have been having violent thunderstorms, not too surprising given the high temps and humidity.  Last night we had a tree come down in the storm and it ended up partly across the driveway.  It was a large beech and they are all sick by the time they get that large so it is not too surprising that it fell.  But the wood seems to be good, so we'll get lots of firewood.

Here is my trusty lumberman starting the long process of cutting it up.  Then I get to split the wood.

Spring Flowers

It is so great to be here in May for the flowers.  There are trillium still in bloom and today I saw jack-in-the-pulpit for the first time.  They are right along the driveway and must have been here in the past, but I never noticed them.

Home At Last

We arrived at camp yesterday and took our first paddle with the group today to Stony Ponds.  There were few bugs and though it started out rainy the temperature was quite mild.  The water has receded quite a bit but we only had to go around one really big beaver dam as we headed up Ampersand Creek.  It is so great to be here, which will be our home until sometime in December.  We should finally get time to relax and maybe I'll even start posting regularly again.

Closed on the Condo Today

Well at least one aspect of our crazy life is complete.  We closed on the sale of the condo today.  So one less set of things to worry about.  We have our final meeting at the Toll Brothers Design Center Friday afternoon, to complete the selection of items for our new house.  Then off for some much needed R&R in St John, Virgin Islands on Saturday.  We are there for a week, then visiting my Dad in Oregon for a week, then back to camp to stay for a long while.  It will be great to stay in one place for a while.

At Camp, Briefly

Another month has gone by in a blur.  The condo sale is nearly complete, except for the buyer getting his mortgage.  Closing is scheduled for May 1st.  We signed the contract to build the new house last Monday.  Then we began filling boxes.  We are taking them to a storage unit in Jamesburg, NJ, a bit west of our new neighborhood.  We've taken a couple of loads, with many more to go.  Thursday we brought a load up to camp and are staying a few days.  We had a wonderful get-together with friends last evening.  It was so great to see everyone.  Tuesday we head back to NJ for more packing.

On the family front, Dad has been back in the hospital for a couple of weeks now.  He had all sorts of complications and was finally diagnosed with Guillian-Barre Syndrome.  He is receiving treatment and seems to be responding, but it will be a long road back.  The doctors say he may yet walk again, but he is in for many months of physical therapy.