Chuck's Camp Blog

This photo must be Summer of 1964. I don't look like I want to go near that cold water. I think my mother has had enough of my clinging. No doubt shortly after this moment, I need extraction from the water due to prune hands and sunburn. There are many films of me camped out in the shallow water playing with boats and whatever was handy in the water. My connection to the camp starts here and continues today.

Over the years of my youth I learned to swim, canoe, kayak, sail, fish, and command motor boats. I spent much time supervised by Grandmother (Hazel). At the age of 10 she often asked me (wouldn't it be nice) to take her for a ride along the lake shore in the little boat (Alumacraft). I loved driving the boat and she would give me gas money which meant another boat ride for me to the gas dock.

Grandmother taught me how to paddle the wood canvas canoe silently as the Abenaki Indians had done long ago. She taught me the J stroke and several bow paddle techniques I don't remember the names. Along with these experiences, she told stories of her fascination with the life and history of the native people who occupied this part of NH way back when.