Indian Summer
A little over a week ago, I looked out my window around 10pm and saw a covert operation in the cornfields across the street: three sets of headlights moving in practiced unison over the hills. The obvious first thought was that aliens were creating crop circles à la Signs, but I realized (a little later than I’d like to admit) that our neighboring farmers were hurriedly harvesting corn before the night’s forecasted frost. Maybe it’s because I’m not a farmer, but I’ll happily trade a few cold windy days for the glorious weather this week. Here are some recent photos of life around the Center, but first an anecdote from this past Saturday.
Living here is quiet if you let it be, and I like to take advantage of that on my morning commute to the Center via the incredible trail system. From our front porch to the boathouse, it’s 17 minutes of easy jogging on a cushioned mossy trail to practice. Completely silent, save for my footsteps, breathing, and the bottle of Ibuprofen that lives in my backpack. In addition to being a very green way to transport myself, running though the woods gets me physically and mentally attune to the day’s row.
I’ve seen lots of turkeys, a few grouse, some deer, and one time a small fat waddle-y mammal, but never anything bigger and cooler (subjective definition of ‘cool’ here)—until the other day, when fateful timing put me just ahead of a black bear. Bad news: I didn’t see it. Good news: I didn’t see it! Kyle and John were carpooling to practice that morning and saw it rumbling through the woods and then 30 seconds later saw a Jamie further ahead on the same trail. Stay-tuned for the next edition of Jamie vs. Wild; or in the cooperative mindset, Jamie & Wild Friends. Maybe I’ll find a new jogging buddy.
Moonset, 6:10 AM, Friday September 13th. This row was unreal. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but the full moon massive and hanging low above the treetops. Started rowing by moonlight, finished with the sunrise.
View from Hosmer Point camp, Wednesday September 25th. The mountains exploded with color almost overnight and the recent warm spell has prolonged the beauty.
Hosmer Point raised pigs over the summer, but all good things come to an end. Last week they went on a “permanent vacation” of sorts…I’ll spare you the details, but one of them will be used for this weekend’s Oktoberfest pig roast and the others will likely appear in some pulled pork sandwiches. Here’s a happy piggy soon before becoming a very unhappy piggy.