Ode to the Derelict Playground

Saturday, September 9th, 2017

Under new management, Camp Val-Esterie, a previously profitable outdoors camp, went bankrupt a few years ago,

 

 

 

leaving behind, amongst other things, the best playground in town.

 

 

 

Real see-saws.

 

 

 

Metal slides.

 

 

 

Tall swings.

 

 

 

Used tires.

 

 

 

Wood climbing structures.

 

 

 

The best.

 

 

 

According to me.

 

 

 

It is perhaps because it all reminds me so much of my childhood

 

 

 

that photographing it in color seems wrong.

 

 

 

If only Akiva’s boots were not so blatantly patterned, one might question the year.

 

 

 

This playground is, by far, not the newest.

 

 

 

That award would go to the

skate-park-louge-obstacle-course-tennis-court-ice-rink-pavillion-playground

located in the center of town.

 

 

 

This 400-acre property,

 

 

 

with its out-door obstacle games, rivers, trails, magnificent building, and outbuildings,

 

 

 

and not to mention the coolest playground in town,

 

 

 

is for sale for a mere half-million. However, it is not for development.

 

 

 

It is for sale to be run as a non-profit education center.

 

 

 

 

Inside of Our New Home

Saturday, September 2nd, 2017

The quality of light is poor, but the quality of children is superb.

 

For Sale: 1995 Toyota Corolla.

Saturday, August 26th, 2017

Minimal rust. Low mileage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids not included.

 

 

 

We ended up getting $500.

On the Way to North Hatley

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017

We stop in the woods at the side of the bike trail, to visit the Massawippi River.

 

 

 

And, look! So many things to see.

 

 

 

What else can we find?

 

 

 

In this little sliver of heavenly woods— the greatest blooming of Indian Pipe that I have ever seen!

 

 

 

My camera cannot capture the masses and the expanse, for at a distance, they simply blend into the forest floor.

 

 

 

Closer and closer, to the limits of my camera. I cannot move in close enough. 

 

 

 

Lac Massawipi

Wednesday, August 16th, 2017

Again, we take the bike path to North Hatley.

Like the tourists, local folk, motorcyclists,

bicyclists, summer people, and retired folk,

we are ones who like to watch the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

École des Enfants de la Terre

Friday, August 11th, 2017

Exploring before this year’s school starts, we find ourselves a swing.

 

Massawippi River

Monday, August 7th, 2017

To bike to North Hatley, we take the dirt road that goes over the covered bridge.

Before the bridge, there is a pull-out at the Massawippi River.

The slope at the bottom is gradual.

 

 

 

It looks like a nice place to get wet.

 

 

 

The bottom is covered in small pebbles. There is no industrial debris.

 

 

 

Certainly there is agricultural run-off. Fortunately, there are no cows standing in the river.

 

 

 

Few cars pass. We are alone.

 

 

 

I am certain we will come again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While Papa is at Work

Tuesday, August 1st, 2017

We return to North Hatley. The bike ride there is lovely.

There is a teeny-tiny sandy beach at the spot where the pier begins, right by the main road.

 

 

 

A few rocks make a retaining wall, and where there are rocks, there are rocks to climb.

 

 

 

It is not a bad spot, small as it is.

 

 

 

It is not a bad spot to stop and play.

 

Finding North Hatley

Saturday, July 29th, 2017

Papa has to return to Shelburne to do some work on the house.

The rest of us take the electric bike down the bike path to North Hatley.

We find a tree to climb,

 

 

 

a pier to look about,

 

 

 

a wall to walk upon,

 

 

 

and Lac Memphremagog, where there is no place for swimming.

 

Looking for a New Blue River

Friday, July 28th, 2017

The Coaticook River is only a minute’s walk from our house.

 

 

 

Industrial town. Industrial river.