It's a long way . . .

We returned a week ago from an idyllic week in the Adirondacks with Sara's extended family. The highlight of the week (for Sara at least, but I think for most of us) was an overnight canoe trip to Lake Lila. Sara has been dreaming of going there for at least 7 years, and it was all she hoped and more. After a 0.3 mile portage from the parking lot, we canoed about a mile and a half to a clearing in the woods by a gorgeous natural beach. The beach was framed by a clear cold spring flowing from the woods, and a deserted beaver dam. The girls had fun fishing with Dad--they caught a small small-mouth bass and cooked it up for breakfast. They also played with frogs and ladybugs, chased toads, pet a field mouse (yes), climbed Mount Frederika overlooking the lake, checked out the site of a former great camp on the lake, paddled, splased and swam, roasted marshmallows, oohed and ahhed at the Milky Way, identified constellations, and investigated the beaver dam. We saw a few other paddlers on our way in, and 2 or 3 on our way out. All in all, though, we felt like we had the whole lake to ourselves.

The whole week was a lovely break from computers, and e-mail, and cell phones and other cords--spent instead getting caught up with fabulous family. Very relaxing.