Kayak Surfing on Highland Lake

Today's stiff winds were not unlike our trip to Nequassett Lake the year we bought Joan's kayak. There were plenty of whitecaps out on the main part of the lake and we had to turn around shortly after setting out. We put in from a sheltered area on the South end of the lake. As usual - Joan, eager to get onto the lake puts a lot of energy into the start of the trip. She did all right against a stiff wind. I failed to get many pictures up ahead, as the whitecaps appeared and the going got rough. But we got far enough out into the lake to take advantage of the nearly 2 foot waves to do a little surfing on the way back in.


Can you guess what Joan is doing in this picture?

1. Getting ready to jump out?
2. Shielding the sun from her eyes?
3. Rowing the wind?
4. Telling me I've taken enough pictures?

Feel free in the comnments to add to the multiple choice questions. After a few days - I'll tell you what she was really trying to do...





This one is just a still shot taken from the surface of the water. We headed south to the dam in the very sheltered outlet to the lake. In our previous trip we had not be able to go far because the lake level was too low. The level was very high today and we made it all the way to the dam. The batteries on the camera gave out, so I didn't get any pictures of the dam.

MIGHTY MEN OF VICTORY

Well we might not look like Mighty Men prepared for battle, but there is not one of us without some sort of a smile and an eagerness to engage the real enemy and win back strongholds for Christ. This is a wonderful group of Christian men seeking to live the gospel in their families, their churches and communities where they live. Eduardo (Rector of Good Shepherd - Brockton Mass) stands tall second from left in the front. He organized the Retreat, led the singing and most of the sessions. He also kept us on schedule. The guy just to the left of me but in the back, is Don Stone, Pastor of Leigh Valley Presbyterian Church in Allentown PA. who led the Friday Eveing Session discussing the inappropriateness of women in the Military. The discussion was followed by our watching the movie "We Were Soldiers" starring Mel Gibson.

The weekend was quite refreshing. It is so good to participate in these discussions as men do not care what church affiliation you have. They are interested in relating to you as a person and in supporting one another in our efforts to glorify the one true and living God. There were at least three pastors in the group. Typical of Eduardo, who has the good support of the pastors in Brockton, he is not afraid to dialog and befriend any who claim the name of Jesus and to walk together in genuine love and support. I praise God for such men and count it a priviledge to know them...

How to stay warm during soccer

It is not often you get to see Joan smile in a picture, but the anticipation of a soccer game will do it every time. Shown here also is the smile of pleasure at having created a jacket of warmth (Dan - notice the ingenuity you inherited and Matt will recognize the duct tape) and possesing the treasured coat from Goodwill.

Lunchtime Adventure

Ok – thanks to Julie’s example and encouragement I am going to try to post here more often. If nothing else, I can record my noontime adventures which have been many and varied. The adventures center around used bookstores, but include a variety of other surprises as well.

Maybe I will start with a Friday adventure of some time ago. I headed down toward the Old Port determined to only walk and not buy lunch (it get’s expensive) and ran into Anthony’s Italian Restaurant, next to Bull Moose music. This restaurant has live dinner shows on Friday and Saturday nights in this wonderfully, but simply decorated small basement area made out to be like a villa. So I say to myself - how can they do live shows here? I edged up to the counter, and low and behold the owner was there and explained the whole thing to me – like these are well known opera singers (The Tenors) and others on Friday and Saturday nights. I know he is telling me the truth because their photos and autographed memorabilia is on the wall above one of the counters. The place only seats about 24 people. The very Italian owner says there is still room for Friday night. Tickets are something like $35.00 and include a three course dinner with a bottle of wine. So I say – how can I not do this. However, we already had arrangements for the weekend. Well, I made it through that the day without buying lunch.

I wasn’t so lucky the next day. It was Friday and I went back to chat with the owner again, when concertino music met my ears along with the Italian lunch aromas as I entered the basement restuarant. Sitting on a stool was this 80 year old man who rides in bicycle into Portland on the Friday’s he is not cutting wood, to play for those eating lunch. I could have restrained myself from buying lunch with the aromas alone, but combined with the great music my resistance melted away. It was a great lunch and I learned to stay away when I can not afford to eat…