The Lake

There's no where better to be than on the water. There's something about it that's really calming and exciting at the same time. I have grown up going to "the lake" every summer and have been waterskiing and tubing ever since I can remember.

Raccoon Lake. Indiana.

I took my cousin's moped down a gravel road a few miles from the lake house. 

There was an Amish family sitting on their porch down the gravel road. I asked if  I could take some pictures of their sheep, which was tied to a tree.

This was before I got my trailer. The trailer will make it MUCH easier to get in and out of the water.
All loaded up and trying to head back from the lake into reality.

The past two summers I have worked as a waterski specialist at a summer camp in the endless mountain region of eastern Pennsylvania (almost in New York). It's an awesome job. I love the kids, love the other counselors, and love what I do. The summer of 2010 at camp is where I learned how to sail. I made friends with Ben who was the sailing specialist. He's from France and has been sailing for many years. The lake at camp is the perfect place to learn any kind of water sport because it's completely privately owned by the camp so no one else is allowed on it.

Callum (Oxford), me, and Ben (France) in Hermosa Beach, CA. Ben taught me how to sail.

Boating and Waterski Staff 2011

Waterski Staff 2010

        I love the lake, but any body of water will do. My first boat was a kayak. Kayaking is a lot easier to do on a whim. My aunt's friend lives on the Wildcat creek here in town so I usually start up stream from his house and end when I see his property. Kayaking the creek is almost like a free roller coaster where you get to control your car. When I was in Yosemite, I remember reading a side by side comparison of National Parks vs. Amusement parks. It compared various things such as price, adventure, environment, value, etc. It really made me think about how much more fun you can have basically for free out in nature. 

A few years ago, managed and lived at a campground which was across Sugar Creek from a canoe and kayak livery. On my days off I could throw my kayak on the trailer and hitch a ride upstream with the livery van and kayak back to the campground. I saw my first bald eagle while kayaking on Sugar Creek.

Bear and my kayak downstairs at the camp store. I lived in the room above the store.
  

The rock bluff and Sugar Creek from the banks of the Canyon Campground

A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.  ~William Wordsworth