In early September, I camped along the shore of Lake Champlain at Camp Skyland in South Hero, Vermont. Each day offered a portion of silence as well as the pleasure of listening to a variety of sounds: lake water lapping on shale talus lined beach, the mournful cries of loons, piercing calls of Bald Eagles, the drumming of a pileated woodpecker on old growth poplar trees, crackling camp fires and the click of the light switch extinguishing my daytime activities.
This old timey compound was divided into distinct living spaces: 10 forest green painted rustic cabins, RV rigs, smaller camping trailers like my T@G as well as a separate area for backpacking tents. Each section of accommodations offered generous views of the Green Mountains esp. of Mt Mansfield and Camels Hump Mountains. On a few dusky evenings, most in attendance checked their watches for the timing of gorgeous Full Moon risings with its melon colored ripples reflected on Lake Champlain.
There was one day spent cycling on a old railroad causeway converted into a much loved bike path. It runs north/south connecting South Hero Island to the Vermont's mainland in Colchester. For the passage of watercrafts though, there was a breach in the path but a non profit organization operates a seasonal ferry to connect the bike path for cyclists and walkers. With unrestricted views of Lake Champlain on both sides of a ten foot wide stone dust path, my bike ride was freshened by gentle breezes and sunshine with many smiling, happy people.
I spent most of my days drawing with charcoal while the evenings were spent preparing meals together with dear friends who rented one of the cabins. Conversations were always lively.
Here are my drawings.
