Owls in the Duckpond*: Chanticleer Shores to Niles Beach (with Duck Itch)

The view from atop Locke's Hill overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. Go ahead, relax, take your sunglasses off and leave them here for a few days because we're on THAT kind of vacation. Then, days later watch as the earnest camp counselor leads her campers down the hill wearing your sunglasses like a teenage criminal. It's okay, really.

Pancakes at Chanticleer Shores, Mather Cottage. Huge thanks to the York family for the opportunity to spend time with them in such a beautiful place. The cottage is a museum of sorts. The sun rose on the lake a 5:20AM which meant we all did.

Moss with the Mount Washington at Weirs Beach. The York boys have a game where you call "Mount Washington" if your are the first to see it cruising down the lake. If you're the second one to see it you call, "second Mount!"

Mather Cottage Exhibit A: ceramic cat hanging from the wall

Around 5:45AM a mink, yes, a mink, would swim from from that buoy to the rocky shore. Initially, this was a source of great excitement and mystery before we knew what the hell it was. Then, the damn thing gave me duck itch, more on that topic later.

Mather Cottage Exhibit B: vacuum cleaner bags

Sam and Olie were great friends to Giles and Moss. They took them fishing on the dock and taught them how to target practice with elastic bands. Moss and Giles attempted to regress Sam and Olie to incessant potty talk.

Mather Cottage Exhibit C: I was advised not to use this kayak as Ross' grandfather is a "particular type of man" and because it "sweats".

Everyday was beautiful on the lake. Ross and I spent the nights by campfire planning our invasion of Welch Island (just 1 mile off shore) which of course would lead to our eventual control of the entire lakes region (and an alliance with the Mountainmen of the North). Unfortunately, one of their agents attacked me with biological weapons leading to a demoralizing rash. We knew Wolfeboro would be a problem.

We traveled North to Santa's Village on the advice of our friend Caitlin. We had a great time. Here Giles displays his latest camera face. I have no idea what it means.

This was a working vacation for Ross. One project was Sam's stylized octopus goalie helmet.

Mather Cottage Exhibit D: do not disturb tree swallow nest box

The Red Eft. On our hike up West Rattlesnake Mountain (located in the town which I would happily spend all my days) we found a few bright orange spotted newts crawling on the trail. We had found the Red Eft which is the second stage of the Eastern newt's lifecyle. They are born and live in ponds during the aquatic larval stage, then, they lose their gills and transform into the Red Eft. During the Red Eft terrestrial stage they seek out new ponds to meet new newts and mix their genes appropriately (who likes an inbred newt?) After 2 or 3 years the Red Eft finds a nice pond, settles down, grows gills and becomes aquatic again.

Squam Lake from West Rattlesnake Mountain. You can almost imagine our lake house on one of those islands in the distance. Yes, there I am. I have writers block and that in my hand is a gin and tonic.

Ross mixing business with pleasure.

Olie, Giles, Moss and Sam talking potty.

We took a one hour tour between Weirs Beach and Center Harbor. In retrospect, the intensely annoying first mate that I was desperately trying to avoid may have been Gilligan reincarnated.

The captain allowed Giles to pilot the Sophie C and he took this very seriously.

This was a perfect afternoon. On the walk to Bailey's Bubble we passed a group of old men racing RC sailboats. Later, we sat under the eave of the train depot and ate ice cream as a thunderstorm rolled off the lake.

The Klickety-Klack Railroad Model Train Museum in Wolfeboro. This building-sized model train had everything from plane crashes to prostitutes.

Oh Libby Museum how I adore you. I've been going to the Libby since I was a boy and thankfully it hasn't really changed. It started as a private collection of butterflies by a local dentist and now is full of all kinds of curiosities including: antique taxidermy, skeletons (including moose and human), mummy hands and a visitor log that is signed by Lizzy Borden.

Mather Cottage Exhibit E: Sloan Liniment, Salem Witch Creol Disinfectant, Off, 6.12 Insect Repellent (which was discontinued in 1990 for causing birth defects in animals)

Do you know about 'the duck itch'? Glad you asked. In this beautiful land of apple cider donuts, coffee, mountain roads, and clear, cool lakes lurks a little flatworm that parasitizes snails. After living inside the snail (and doing whatever horrific microscopic thing it does) it leaves. It swims freely to the surface of the water looking for water fowl feet. This is where I enter the story. Instead of penetrating some unsuspecting bird (and doing unspeakable things inside the bird) it penetrated my skin and not only my feet. Luckily, they die after entering human flesh and just cause a miserable week long rash.

The second half of our vacation was a mini family reunion on Cape Ann. Anthony and Faye rented a a lovely house on Niles Beach. Cambridge and Chris joined the festivities. We started by eating as much lobster as any human could possibly bear.

The old toll house to Eastern Point on Niles Beach

Front Beach, Rockport.

Moss loves all whales, actually he prefers sperm and sei whales, but I could only promise humpbacks. Stellwagen Bank provided us one humpback whale that goes by the name Shuffleboard. I have no photos of this whale, but this is Gloucester Harbor at departure.

Cambridge and Chris hunting whales

Moss facing off with a Jonah crab at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center.

The sailing junior olympics were being held at the Eastern Point Yacht Club. The best part was when they hauled out their boats and walked them up Eastern Point Blvd.

Giles tearing into some Woodman's fried clams.

Cymande fleeing the storm at Good Harbor Beach

After the storm we found two lobster buoys on the beach.

A short distance from Good Harbor Beach is Salt Island which can be approached and climbed during low tide.

The view from atop Salt Island

The effing impala. I have a long list of meaningless complaints about this car. For contrast, you find it parked in one of the most idyllic farm stands: the Appleton Farms CSA/Dairy store. Unlike the rented impala it appears to have not a single problem and is tended by young dairy maids that are descendants of nobility.

If you love Appleton Farms then you know something is wrong with this photo. The barn does not belong in the Great Pasture, nor the car on the ramp, nor the film crew, nor Mark Wahlberg. This a scene in Ted 2 where a car crashes through a barn and into 2 acres of marijuana plants. I hope I didn't ruin anything for you.