Wilderness Awakenings
Moosehead Lake
July 20 - July 26, 2003

V

The Log Book
Sunday, July 20 P.M.

            We all arrived at Pilgrim Lodge around eleven o’clock. We had lunch with the other camp counselors and once done, we packed up the boats and left around one-thirty. We arrived at Moosehead Lake around four o’clock, repacked the boats and launched them. We rowed around the island to Hardscrabble Point where we set up camp. We ate dinner at seven-thirty, corn and hamburgers. We had a small vespers at nine o’clock and settled down around ten-thirty. A few of us watched the stars. They were so beautiful and numerous. Two raccoons got into our things and a fox chased them away.  ~ Beka ~

Monday, July 22- A.M.

             We woke up around seven-fifteen and Devon and Tyler made breakfast, eggs, bacon & bagels. A few of us went in the lake and after we had a morning watch. We are about to set off to Big Duck to camp there for tonight and maybe Tuesday and Wednesday night. ~ Beka ~ 

P.M.

            Rowed in a boat from Hardscrabble. Had lunch at Big Duck. Set up tents. We also went swimming for a while.  ~  Andrew ~

Tuesday, July 22 A.M.
  Today we had to get up at six-thirty in the morning and eat breakfast. We packed the boat and went to the North East Carry. We bought stuff at the store. It rained. The trip took all day, we ate lunch in the rain. ~ Carrlyn ~

Wednesday, July 24 A.M.

            When everyone awoke it was lightly raining. As we stumbled up to the “kitchen” we were greeted with oatmeal, pop tarts and bagels. Oh yum, fruit too. The wonderful part of this breakfast was the fact that everyone could sleep as long as we wanted. No, “Rise and Shine” this morning. (Thank goodness) After breakfast everyone freshen up and Andy and I went swimming. Tyler joined us later. Morning watch was about everyone being family. After the service we discussed Harry Sylvester and learning disabilities. We also learned about the history of our boat the Heron and the Loon. So ends my entry. ~ Peter ~

Wednesday, afternoon

            We had a late lunch – quite a smorgasbord – peanut butter & jelly, chicken, cucumber, carrots & celery. Then we packed suits, towels and water shoes and set off for Little Duck. We decided to hike it rather than row. Mike set the compass and we went thru the woods. Saw lots of moose, deer and bear droppings along with raspberry bushes. We went thru shallow swamps with many downed trees, mucky water and slippery footing. ‘We tried to stay dry at first, but soon gave that up. We got to the beach with the ledge and had fun swimming and jumping. We came back a different way and were on the road most of the time. Steve saw a deer. We bushwhacked the last bit and were glad to see the lake and get back to camp – or home as we are calling it. What an adventure – lots of complaining as we were mucking about but I think everyone enjoyed it.

Dinner tasted great – mac & cheese, ham, waldorf salad and buttery popcorn a little later. Waldorf salad was new to many of the kids.

Vespers was very nice – great discussions about family traditions and what makes a family traditions and what makes a family, closed with a group hug while singing Kumbaya. Much to Andy’s surprise, “I didn’t know people really did that”.

            Sleeping tight  ~ Joanne ~

 Thursday, July 24- A.M.
            After our “slumber party”, we woke all stiff and sore at about 9 a.m. It was nice that we didn’t have to get up too early, because with all the snoring and sleep talking, sleep was minimal. When we got up breakfast was ready! Hot cocoa as usual warmed our freezing selves and scrambled eggs and CAKE were filling. Out stay at Big Duck was coming to an end and we were forced to take down our tarp city….tear! Just as we were collapsing our tents the strangest thing happened…it started to rain. Wow, it hadn’t rained all week, lol (lots of laughs). So as we took down our tents we got wet yet again. Morning watch was focused on friends today and we had some good conversations. This concluded out last morning at Big Duck and the fifth day at church camp. ~ Devon ~

Thursday, July 24- P.M.
            At Big Duck we all pitched in and carried the kitchen boxes down to the Heron. Andy asked if he could pump out the Heron and with all the rain it certainly needed to be pumped. Six of us, three to port and three to starboard eased the Heron off the log and into the water. Joanne and Steve were up in the kitchen area removing the tarps and lines strung from tree to tree. With all the rain we had the kitchen area was the only dry spot we had. The rest of us loaded our gear into the Heron. We started the boat loading with all the small soft bags until the first two holds of the Heron were full up to the seats. Then the tarps were laid over the seats for the loading of the three food boxes, three coolers, kitchen box, five or six milk crates and finally tied on the water buckets.  Devon and Beka tied down each layer of gear using the handholds along the gunnels of the boat. Then the whole “camp” was covered with a blue tarp, with this the Heron was shipshape.  The sun broke through and turned the air into warm moisture and some of us had to put on sun screen for the long row to Hardscrabble Point. The sun stayed with us for over an hour then we could see rain columns and dark clouds farther down the lake. At this time the rain columns were on each side of us and were traveling northward as we rowed southward. Two float planes passed us heading south. This was on a day when the ducks were not even flying. The planes were low and staying over the water for a quick landing if required. One of the floatplanes tipped its wings to say hello to us as we rowed. We thread the Heron like a thread through the eye of a needle until we reached the last point of land before we had to take a heading across the lake to Hardscrabble Point. Sam turned on the cell phone a few times but there were no bars that came up on the cell phone signal strength. Sam was going to call PL and Carrlyn asked if she could call her Mom, but with no signal on the phone Sam slowly pressed and held the off button. With hands back on the oars we picked up the pace on the rowing. The rain columns moved in quickly and socked in Mount Kineo as the rain was right off our bow. Some of us put on our rain gear and kept rowing into the pending downpour. A flash of lighting was seen by some. Carrlyn thought it would be a good time to say the Lords Prayer, so with oars making four time we all said, “Our father…” The rain hit us hard with those big round fat rain drops that hit with a pop on our skin and a kerpluk on the water. The raindrops hit the lake with such force that the noise made some of us start singing, “Raindrops are a fallen on our heads and…I am free… nothing is worrying me”. Beka spread here arms and continued singing when the rest of us ran out of the words. She said that her Dad sings to her all those songs that Steve sings. The rain passed and we were wet again. But now the Loon could be seen on the shoreline of Hardscrabble Point. Joanne, Devon and Beka guided the Heron into our slip and beach it on the shoreline. A group quickly went to set up the kitchen tarp and tent tarps while the others emptied the boat of all the gear. Dinner was ready in no time and we even had a folded blue tarp tied to each of the picnic table seats so we had dry seats. Hot chocolate and tea warmed the bones and veggie burgers, fruit salad and cookies filled our bellies.

            After a brief discussion about sleeping arrangements another tent was set up with the familiar sound of duck tape being ripped off to aid in the repair of the tent set up.

            Then Devon and Peter gave us a most wonderful vespers. As part of the vesper they had us sing, “Bless our friends” (to the tune of Edelweiss). Then we discussed the quote, “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possible not born until they arrived and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born”. Vesper’s was over at ten-forty p.m. and then Steve, Joanne and I shared out thoughts on the day and we all went to bed in our tents on Hardscrabble Point. 

~ Mike ~

Friday, 25 July a.m.
            The stars were out last night as we went to bed and I awoke at six this morning to a dry breeze from the south and clearing skies. By eight in the morning we were all dining on blueberry pancakes (except Carrlyn who opted for plain) and talking excitedly about drying clothes, tents and selves. Mike laid out tarps in the field above the beach while others strung clotheslines in the breeze. Soon the camp looked like a major yard sale with sleeping bags and gear lying and hanging everywhere. We swam, read and talked in the glorious sunshine while a miraculous solar drying event took place. Rebekah and Tyler led us in a Morning Watch focused on welcoming strangers under God’s Roof. Lunch was brought to the beach/field and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to eat while under “God’s Roof” instead of “Mike’s Tarp” for the first time since Tuesday dinner. During lunch we took stock of the plans that everyone had for the day (climb Kineo, stay in camp, row to Pebble Beach, stay in camp, eat dinner early to get to Kineo summit for dinner and stay in camp). We decided to pack dinner (spaghetti) in the boat and row to Pebble Beach, walk to the “village” and the store, swim, cook, eat and return to camp to change clothes in time to head up the mountain at six p.m. That would take care of all but one of the listed desires for the day! ~ Steve ~