~ Fessing Up ~

          

Ok, so these stairs are actually the way down to the camp.  I think I remember the kids counting them years ago and there are 72.   I wanted to grab this picture to give you, as well as friends in real life an idea of them.  It's hard to describe and even harder to imagine.  There was a time that it was the only way down to the camp and back up.  Now, well they are much luckier.  There is a new neighbor who redid the property next door (to the right of the stairs).  He is still working on it.  He built a gorgeous home on the top of the hill and tore down the existing camp and built a new one.  In so doing he also put a road down to the river.  He is a good guy and lets us pull down to load and unload the car.  On Friday when we arrived we did it the old fashion way by stairs, but I never had to walk back up them.  With my Achilles and calf muscle issues I would never have been able to do it.  Down is rarely an issue, but up 5 stairs can make them both act up.  They would have needed to borrow a crane to get me back to the top.  So forgive me for not fessing up immediately :)

 

 

This is a house on the way up.  It's along Black Lake.  My sister uses it as a landmark for her ride in.  I rarely take that route if I'm driving.  I like the easier, less turns, no way to get lost route.  She thinks it looks like something out of psycho.  LOL   A little smaller, but I see why.  I imagine the house was gorgeous in it's day.  It's so sad to see it just stand there like that.  Actually, there are so many just left, empty to fall apart.   

 

 

Ahhhh... my nephew.  Don't let the subtle smile fool you, he is in heaven.  He is a fishermen through and through.  As we arrived and brought our things down to the camp he was on the dock out front removing a Northern from his hook and line.  He was afraid it would die, and he was going to throw it back and did so before I could get the camera.  I dropped my bags and immediately went out to try and beat him but it was to late.  Or so I thought, he was reeling in another.  It was overcast, the skies a bit dark and the river a bit rough.  The fish were feeling good.. safe one might say.  No one had fished off that dock in months, and who would be out in that weather.  HA!  They don't know E.  This was the second, and actually smaller then the first.  He's not real fond of Northern's, they are hard to clean with lots of bones, and I don't think he likes the taste.  Maybe it's because they have teeth!?!  Sharp nasty teeth! Whatever the reason he throws them back.  Didn't much matter, on Friday I bet he caught 10 in a matter of an hour or so.  Believe me when I say he was happy. 

 

 

A bit later in the day he caught another.  I happened to be sitting nearby and attempted to get a shot of the teeth.  LMAO  Doesn't look bad here as you can only see a few, but trust me.  They are the ugliest fish and those teeth are nasty.  Don't ever let anyone tell you only sharks have teeth :)~

 

 

Looking to the left or south of the camp is the Ogdensburg/Prescott bridge.  By water it's probably a little over a mile away, by road I think it's close to 3.  This is the same bridge from my previous entry, but they were on the boat and just about under it.  I'm taking this from the dock out front.  You can see by the clouds the weather was weird. 

 

Friday and Saturday it was a bit cloudy, windy, and chilly.  I am sure away from the river it was much warmer, but we were getting the wind off the cold water.   Saturday the guys did some work around the camp.  Cleaning the grounds if you will, getting rid of what winter had washed up on shore.  Cutting grass and cutting back weeds.  They started a fire to burn things away as it's a pain to haul it out of there.  Me?  I was lazy and laid around relaxing, reading, sleeping, eating, sleeping some more, eating more.  Ohhhh I did help clean up after dinner.  LOL  It's easy carrying paper plates to the huge pot belly stove in the living room to burn later.  Again hauling it out of there.......

 

By no means is it the Ritz, tho I think E may argue :)  It is a wonderful place.  They have running water, but it is pumped in from the river so you can't drink it.  The hose is taken out each winter and put back the next year.  They never got the water set up until Saturday so lets just say Friday night was interesting.  They did it a bit different this year for now.  The water was way to rough to put the removable dock portion in (which is what the hose is connected to), and the water was to damn cold to get into the water.   There was a time the connection to the house was actually under the house so someone had to go in and submerge themselves if they wanted water.  Now, they have the connection on the side of the house so it isn't as bad.  Easy for me to say, I didn't have to do it.  BRRRR  Saturday morning when the water was hooked up we cheered.  They have a hot water tank so there is hot and cold to shower, flush toilets, etc.  Bottled water is brought in for cooking and drinking.  Hmmmm  well that is when you need something to drink besides a beer, wine, or mixed drinks. 

 

 

Later in the day on Saturday we did take a boat ride.  I took my camera hoping to get some pictures.  Funny thing.  I swear the captain had a rearview mirror.  Every time I had my camera up and focused he would speed up and turn the direction we were going.  I was lucky enough to sneak a few.   The St. Lawrence has 1000's of islands, hence the name The 1000 Island region.  As we past this island I thought the view was interesting.  Green grass, wild weeds, purple wild flowers, and the bare tree.  The captain held the boat pretty steady at the perfect time.  I will bet he was bending over getting a beer out of the cooler. 

 

I have so many pictures and I couldn't decide which to use and which to just hold on to.  This is getting to be a pretty long entry, and I'd hate to bore those that read to tears so I will pick up tomorrow with more pictures and a little bit more about my weekend.  It's not earth shattering, it's about fun and relaxing on a long weekend away from the hustle and bustle of work and home life. 

 

Hugs

~d

Tags: st lawrence river, 1000 Islands, fishing, blogplugs