Pawtuckaway Lake Association

The rules are every day starting with August 26 that I am home-sleeping in my own bed-I will kayak on Lake Pawtuckaway for at least thirty minutes.  Why do it? Because it is there-my red kayak sits on the shore and longs to move across the waters.

Day 1 - August 26, Saturday - a check on turtle cove-nothing but sun peeking through so Ansel Adams’ cloud formation

Day 2 - August 27, Sunday - off to see Tom Duffy-no one about, meet Bob who just bought an old small house on the lake-he had a beard-white and smoked a corn comb pipe-neat conversation.  He will raze the house and build a new one on its footprint and extending landward.  He owns a lumberyard in Boxford, MA. Also one loon guarding the entrance to our home and beach and one Blue Heron perched on the dam rallying

Day 3 -August 28, Monday - before going to work, followed three loons –they swim fast, kept together, led me to the Park, seen to be able to project their calls across the Lake.

Day 4 - August 29, Tuesday - It is about to rain but my commitment is everyday I can I kayak.  It does rain throughout the passage along the coves of the lake.  The morning journey features sounds and smells.  I hear rain splashing in the water and banging on the trees.  I am aware the sound of children as I glide past the Park.  I hear the nagging of birds and the soft music of wind chimes.   The sound of hammering and construction fills the air at certain places on the lake as well as the annoying warning sound of a truck or bobcat backing up.  Then there is the gentle, warming and refreshing smell of an early morning campfire. The rain adventure delighted the senses.

Day 5 - August 30, Wednesday - beautiful long trip-came to an insight-the big boulders occupying areas in the middle of the lake-the place where the kids love to jump from-are really part of the glacial erratic.  They are the same ones that comprise the boulder fields.  They just were deposited in what was to become the lake and the islands. Boy do I have potent powers of observation. In the early morning I have the opportunity to see the sun rise.  As it emerges in the east and by my home, it strikes the opposite shore and reflects golden off the distant windows.  I recall an ancient proverb of the children looks across the valley to the distant homes.  There they see the houses with golden windows.  They so long for that wealth and grandeur.  One day the journey down the valley and up the other side.  They reach the observed houses as the sun as crossed the heavens for the day. Then as they look back toward their own home, the see in amazement their windows now appear gold!

Day 6 - August 31, Thursday - The sun is slipping upward and it shines on the distant shore.  Lake mist blankets the water-I paddle through a haze not unlike a scene from the Phantom of the Opera.  As the sun climbs higher, it dissipates the mist and water is clear for the return trip home.

Day 7 - September 1, Friday - went with Peggy, nice flat water.  Sun again away the mist. Saw some small fish over at turtle cove.  By the Park  a family of ducks cruised by.  A little girl watched the scene but she did not wave to complete the picture. A rainbow partly around the sun-a hint of rain coming.

Day 8 - September 2, Saturday - Later, went with Peggy, she found much trash –soda cans washed up on island near Park beach, found KonKiki type raft-five logs together with duct tape, cup sail and two compartment-cute, white caps beginning, harder to paddle into the wind.

Day 9 - September 3, Sunday - kayaking in the rain.  The remainder of the topical storm causes much rain.  It meant paddling against the wind.  There were moments of white caps. Definitely benefited from being in the lee of the islands. I recall the Camper’s Bible weather tip-‘when the wind is form the south; rain is in its mouth!’  And the wind this morning is from the south.

Day 10 - September 4, Monday - Labor Day - the wind is from the north-so I head for the other side of the lake-quiet water over there. The sun is out-I prefer to kayak in the sun. and maneuver the kayak so I can be in the sunshine of the sun rise.  I spy a bright red object in the water.  I paddle over to it-it is a maple leaf-another sign of fall.  Lake is still at 25’10”.

Day 11 - September 5, Tuesday - beautiful sun rise-kayaked to turtle cove-calm, quiet place.  Saw sand-pipper on our beach.-delightful. In walk with Peggy met some neighbors down on Lamprey Road.  Discover there is a story behind every plot of lake front.  Yes, the plot thickens. Dam still at 25'10"

Day 12 - September 6, Wednesday - Could go out later-like 8:30 AM-different sounds of construction, more hammering, sun came out TODAY-not like in Annie tomorrow, saw two loons but they preferred to be fishing than to being observed by me.  Went around Horse Island, explored islands there –saw some fish-made my day.  Several fishermen on boats out this morning.Went by now mostly vacant campsites-strange to see where people just used to be.  But still heard kids laughing and saw one campfire.  Got home swam and now off to dump.

Day 13 - September 7, Thursday - An amazing bad news good news day and kayaking- had meeting in Northampton, MA-stayed there Weds overnight-long annoying and frustrating way home-much-very much traffic on 495 from Route 2 north-ugly slow commute for those folk.  BUT got home just after sun set-the lake was flat, and in the afterglow the reflections were magical.  Saw homes with lights-neat.  Saw on Christmas tree like lights- talk about Christmas in July!!   Followed a quacking duck-outstanding-he/she kept quacking-small duck-wondered if he was lost and asking his parents to come-it was quite the experience of paddling along with him.The lake was my tranquillizer-it calmed me down and relaxed my angry soul!!

Day 14 - September 8, Friday - Up early-got to kayak with the moon setting and the sun rising-amazing combination.

Skipped Saturday on Mount Washington-too far north to do anything but climb.

Day 15 - September 10, Sunday – Another spectacular evening glide across deep reflecting flat water-moon through the clouds signed a glow in the heavens which translated into a brightness to the scene. It was good to be home.

Day 16 - September 11, Monday - cool morning so I raced to find the sun-it was brilliant and warming.  So refreshing to move in the sun shine.  Limited in time so I made great time in  paddling.

Day 17 - September 12, Tuesday - misty morning, since 9/11 the water level has been at 25'00". Followed a loon before the sun came up. Marvelous experience.

Day 18 - September 13, Wednesday - A 4:45 AM launch-paddled by moonlight-saw the stars, water quiet except one loud loon who actually created an echo with it call-and it call was answered by two other loons!

Day 19 - September 14, Thursday - perfectly flat, mirror lake this AM, paddled for exercise-  Saw big old Blue Herring or perhaps a Cormorant  perched on a huge tall dead tree on the island in the entrance to hole one in the Feb. Golf Tournament.  Then a slight breeze came up  and the moment of total reflection was gone.  A duck took flight-as majestic animal in the sky.
 
Day 20 - September 15, Friday - Time for a long slow quiet kayak around Horse Island.  Passed so campsites, one guy was out rowing-great work-out.  Each day, each hour the lake changes.  Had a bagel on the trip-tasted great.  We are so blessed.

Day 21 - September 16, Saturday - Another brilliant clear, calm morning.  Had a Nottingham Day with a Fun Run, trip to Post Office and town dump, so I had to limit my triangle course-over to hole one, then to Turtle cove via the three little island and galloping home. Again thinking I am alone I discover two people fishing in a boat off the three lslands-assume makes an ass of you and me.

Day 22 - September 17, Sunday - A red letter day-it was beautiful and the weekend.  Peggy and I paddled over to an island of the state park beach and had a picnic breakfast.  Met some folk from MASS.  Got to brag about the lake. Saw  a seagull. It seemed like national take your child and dog fishing that morning.  One million folk in kayaks. Super time.

Day 23 - September 18, Monday - I paddled out to a chorus of crow calling and flying about.  This was followed by the comfortable and reassuring calls of the loons. Then SILENCE-I was remembering the song called the Sound of Silence.  I still think I can hear traffic on 101 off to the West.  Flat beautiful adventure. So luck I can participate in it!! Saw two chipmunks scurrying along the shore-one was traversing along the top of a stone wall; the other ran along the shore.  Bombarded by acorns-this is the season. Many bright red berries on bushes.

Day 24 - September 19, Tuesday - flat and calm so I went the middle of the lake route-everyday is a different adventure.  Today I followed a loon-I kept my distance and he wandered about then I went over to the camp grounds on Horse Island-a flock of ducks were on shore and as I neared they took flight.  Several baby ducks swam away under a log.  One of the charms of the lake are the many fallen and just there trees.  They become focal points for turtles, fish and birds and neat objects to paddle past.

Day 25 - September 20, Wednesday -  Magical- a 4:15 AM launch-no moon but several shore lights guided me. Found that the light-house had strobelight.  Heard a duck but never saw her. It was calm and flat-very much satisfaction with being alone in the middle of the lake.

Day 26 - Septemeber 21, Thursday - cool, raced to west side of lake to catch the sun shine.  Trees now changing colors besides the bushes. The lake goddess has offered up another tennis ball!

Day 27 - September 22, Friday - Racing toward the sun-all kinds of different parts of the lake-some areas choppy; others calm and flat. Great exercise. Heard a cacophony of bird sounds way to the park side near their beach-crows and loons –all shutting together-quite marvelous.

Day 28 - September 23, Saturday - I’m kayaking in the rain, Just kayaking in the rain-that wonderful feeling –Just kayaking in the rain. Did one hour in the rain-saw two loons, two ducks, around Horse Island.  You’d think with the rain I would have the lake to myself-there was a fisherman out there and he nearly caught something as I passed him. Oh well another fish story.  Many folk in the Park camping-the last rose of summer-now into fall..

Day 29 - September 24, Sunday - Got caught in the rain.  It was a brightish day with a hint of blue in the sky.  It was warm and the lake inviting.  Peg and I made for the farside of the lake.  It was the hope to catch Tom Duffy at home-alas he eluded me again.  Again I found new homes-new to my discovery-tucked back in PawTUCKaway.  In the west the sky darknened.  Then the rain came and shortly after I made it home the sun came back out!!

Day 30 - September 25, Monday -  I did it!!! 30 days almost in a row so not make same mistake as A Million Pieces had to go up to Tuckerman’s Ravine and did not feel like portaging the kayak up to Hermit Lake.  I was accompanied by my partner Peggy who took pictures of the 30th.  It was not a Disney ending nor like in the movie the Big Fish but it was glorious as the morning sun rays shone down up our Dolloff Dam dwelling. No the loons did not come by (what do you call a loon wearing a watch?…………………..a lunatic!!!; no ducklings paraded across my bow; no turtles greeted me on Turtle; no Tom Duffy salted me; no Blue herring watched my paddling and no fisherman ignored me nor any one ashore waved.  But it felt great!  And it did not rain and we had some flat water.  The tree offered a colored display. 

Lessons learned:

1. The lake changes moment to moment-some moment calm and flat with a mirror; another breeze and choppy.
2. Each house, lot, camp, deck and piece of land has a story with it.
3. Tom Duffy is everywhere and yet I have not seen him.  I paddle passed his real estate sign on the lake and jog passed his real estate sign on 156 and swing by his beautiful house on the lake.  But I have never encountered one our of great local heroes.  But I will just keep paddling and he will yet appear-perhaps?
4. One of the unsung guardians of the lake has been Mount Pawtuckaway.  Some times it looms over the horizon as a huge mount with granite sides and its observation tower ever vigilant.  Other times a mist shrouds it.  And some times it does not appear.
5. Every the lake a different covering-sometimes organic-pollen, sometimes fall leaves; sometimes an occasional tennis ball, once in a while near the Dam foam , and in some coves lily pads.
6. I discovered I could kayak any time of day or night.  The lights on the shore, the reflections in the water provided key navigational cues. I did most evening and early morning voyages with out the need of my trusty headlamp.