Just ahead of Irene

We went on our mostly-annual camping trip with Dave a few weeks ago, venturing to Lake Champlain, Vermont and then to the North Conway area in New Hampshire.  We left the area the day they evacuated our campground in preparation for hurricane Irene.

It was a week of beauty and reflection, and one of the things that I loved was watching my husband.  I am a big challenge, and one of the challenges that I brought with me was a best-guy friend.  What I love about them both is that they found a way to become friends to each other, in ways that have little to do with me.  So, in addition to beauty and reflection, I was outnumbered and we did guy-things, like take the clog train up a mountain.  Great view, freezing cold because of the driving wind, two men interested in how-things-work, and me tagging along.

We hiked one day to Ripley Falls. Let me just say that this was not a hike we should have been on, but not a one of us wanted to quit.  We just weren't prepared for the rocks and the twigs and the crazy ways
the path twisted.  I should clarify too that I am not really a hiker.  True hiking requires stamina and flexibility and endurance that I didn't have that week.  The guys didn't either, but I haven't yet heard them admit it.  They would just chalk it up to women being "weaker".  I'll let them.   Still the reward at the top was so pretty.  Worth every stupid obstacle.

The area surrounding North Conway is moose territory.  Yeah right.  There were road signs promising moose sightings (didn't you know that thousands were hit every year by unsuspecting motorists?).  There is even a tour company offering a 97% moose-sighting guarantee.  In a week's time, we saw...one.  The husband has finally seen a moose that isn't in a zoo.  Success!

We camped by a swift moving river, the Saco.  I had expected to see more wildlife by the river, I admit.  However, it was only about the third day or so that I realized there were campsites lining both banks.  Not a lot of room for deer.  But then, not a lot of deer either.  We did however see signs of a raccoon who had come to drink out of our bucket.

One of the best days happened by complete surprise.  We stopped just to see a pond for moment, en route to get some of the best ice cream ever.  Thorne's Pond is a tranquil spot, and as we walked around we realized that there was a group of otter fishing.   I'd never seen them in the wild before and they were just the light hearted fun we needed.  They are quite the acrobats, and even a little bit cheeky.  One of them stood up and barked at me when he realized I was taking his picture without permission.  We liked them so much that we stopped again the next day.


There was a very sweet moment for me on this trip.  They guys were doing the dishes and I walked down to the river, wanting to watch the sun set.  I thought that I would be there alone, but it seems that half the campground was there--all buddies who dragged down their lawn chairs and formed the "sunset club".  These are, I think, people who spend their summers in their motor homes, something that my mom wanted to do in her retirement.  They formed a semicircle, chatted with each other and watched the sun close out the day.  Then they walked up the hill with their chairs, promising to do it again tomorrow. It was a lovely thing to witness.

I have come to believe that traditions are important, and this week-a-year is one of ours.  It's the only time we play kuuduk, and it is the best time to talk.    There's only one thing we'll change for next year...I'm making the grilled cheese.