July 4, 2004

• FOURTH AT THE LAKE

  This is our thirtysomethingth Fourth of July here at the lake. When we first came (summer of 1970), we had a quarter-mile crawl over a deer path after parking our 4WD at the end of the fire road. The place was a tar-paper shack and the mosquitoes didn't even slow down on their way through the walls. Now power within a few miles and we bathed in the lake (burrrrr). We did get a gas refrigerator and stove as well as an antique wood stove (a Glenwood seven, if you're in to such things). We had to lug the gas bottles as well as the refrig and stove down over the rocks.
  Our light was two Aladdin Lamps. If you've ever been on safari or in the wild outback, you know them. They are a bit of 19th century technology that's disappeared from modern America. they are basically kerosene lamps with an incandescent mantle. they give about as bright a light as a 100 W bulb with no hissing and pumping. We electrified them a few years ago and they are still our main cabin lights. If the power fails, they can be converted back to kerosene in a few minutes. You occasionally see them in antique stores at absurd prices.
  We spent the next twelve summers, including a sabbatical where we stayed until November, without electricity but we gradually added running water (pump it up, trickle down) and a septic system (no more flies!). It was fun, but I'm not about to repeat it.
  We spent that first summer shingling the cabin and putting in windows. This year we plan on spending a lot of time just sitting watching the eagles, loons, mergansers, deer, moose, bear, coyotes, foxes, beavers, otters, and other critters which sometimes get a little too close.
  There is actually less boating activity on our end of the lake than there was thirty years ago.

  • 3:25 pm
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