Ours is a 30-acre lake, spring-fed not stream-fed, so it doesn't behave too badly during rainy periods and floods. I'm happy to say the purity of our water matches the quality of life here, and the fun we have together. It's very tiny compared to the big lake, but big enough to hold plenty of watercraft! And so quiet--thanks to the noise restrictions in the covenant.
The procession included paddle boats, canoes, and at least one kayak. I can report that the patriotic spirit of the year-round residents (us and a few others) and our summer people (most of the participants) knows no bounds!
Setting out. I'm sporting my gondolier's hat, purchased in Venice. Our canoe wasn't decorated, and neither were we.
We were the last to arrive--fashionably late--so we found ourselves at the rear. It turned out to be a pretty good vantage point, though.
There were lots of boats.
No prizes were awarded this year. I think we were just having too much fun. But I'm pretty sure this boat would've won!
At one point, the great blue heron added to the festivity--she did a fly-over on the way to her nesting area.
Lots of neighbours watched from their docks, waving flags or pointing cameras, as our boats passed by.
The strawberry social was a wonderful gathering, a chance to catch up with neighbours old and new. We had strawberry short cake and lemonade and iced tea, and somebody brought along delicious brownies.
We even had an obnoxious party crasher--Jake the Retriever, who lives way, way down the road. He often hangs out on our lake, where he can usually find people to throw sticks for him.
No matter how far people would throw, he'd always retrieve the stick. And then he'd come out onto the shore and shake water all over people.
Sadie the Border collie watches intently. She was very well-mannered and obedient. You could just tell she wanted to be out in the water with crazy Jake.
It was a long time before the party broke up. Sadie and her people are heading for their cottage on the other side. It's their first summer on the lake.
It would be nice to get Sadie and Ruth together, I think they'd like each other.
Practically everybody asked about the girls...most hadn't heard the sad news about Shadow, either because they're summer people just settling in, or year-round people who are at work during the day when we walk the dogs. They look forward to meeting Ruth. It was nice being able to tell them that she "doesn't bark"--unlike Lola, who feels compelled to announce every human, delivery truck, bicycle, or dog-walker who passes in front of our house.
Now I must locate our supply of sparklers and other legal fireworks. Our stuff is pretty tame...I have a feeling it's going to be a very noisy night all around the lake. Which means there'll be a couple of very nervous, shell-shocked dogs here at the Lodge.
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