My long time friends, Mary and Jan, and I were once again held captive to oppressively hot and humid weather during our annual camping trip to the Islands of Lake Champlain in Vermont. Last year there was no trip because of COVID.
I forgot to add, it rained everyday as well. UGH. My friends were beaten down by the heat and left a day early and then preceded to drive back to Burlington the following day to sell their camping equipment to a used camping supply store. No more camping for them. Next year, they will be staying in a rustic cabin on the shores of Lake Champlain. Me? I haven't decided about next year's lodging.
The T@G trailer was comfortable enough for me. My new canopy placed over my open galley in back of trailer kept the area dry. With no power, I needed bags of ice daily to keep my refrigerated food cool. Unfortunately the state park couldn't keep up with the camper's demand for ice nor their refrigerated ice bins where half melted bags weeped in your hands. Many people had to go in search of ice outside the park. That week's heat and high humidity was so oppressive and taxing on our bodies and equipment.
A dunk and a swim in the lake was refreshing and cooled the over heated body. I had to swim in my clothes because too much effort was needed to pull on my swim suit over an overly sticky body. Easier just to jump in fully clothed.
The next day, I traveled to Nadia's Emporium in search of dry clothes. With the rain and high humidity, the clothes I swam in never dried out. My only clothing option was to purchase men's swimming trunks decorated with huge red lobsters, bunches of yellow bananas or rainbow unicorns. What? Men would wear these? I bought the conservative grey ones with fluorescent green trim instead. Nadia expressed her disappointment.
Together we rode bikes on the Burlington Rail Trail to Leddy's Beach. The bathers young and old were enjoying a wind-whipped surf in the warm waters. Later in the week I painted at Albough's Sand Dune State Park where another sight of long rolling surf waters and a silky sand beach greeted me.
There was a visit to the Grand Island's Farmer's Market to buy bread and tomatoes. At the end of the day, would all the vegetables on displayed be well done after cooking in that heat and sun? I knew I was about cooked through and through. After leaving with our bags, a 'must stop at the ice cream stand' for a refreshing bowl of raspberry ice cream tickled my inners and trickled over the fingers. Gosh, it was HOT out.
On an overcast and humid day, I painted the marsh grasses at Sand Bar State Park. Now two and half hours of painting plein air is not a strenuous exercise but one look at my soaked tee shirt you would think I ran in place while painting. Another hot one out there. Numerous Monarchs flitted about in the flowering purple loosestrife. They looked so light and airy.
On another day I rode my bike to the dog swimming and fishing area of the Grand Isle State Park where we were camping. I sat drawing the shoreline activity in the shade of willows. Once again the winds whipped up the waves but gave me no relief from the heat. Despite the hot weather, people and their kids and dogs were still able to enjoy the outdoors; either by swimming, paddling, fishing.
Upon my return home from another hot, stifling Vermont camping trip, I really enjoyed sitting back in a comfy chair with the AC turned on. Ahhhh.
