VACATION WEEK ONE FAVES

We have spotty wifi service so not sure I'll be able to post the weekly FFF hosted by Susanne  while up here in the north-central Adirondacks in the cottage we rent.  Hopefully it will post!

I started my first week of summer vacation last Friday afternoon and it's been glorious so far.  So difficult to choose just FIVE FAVES!

our home for the week

the dock and part of the beach

cottage backyard

• COTTAGE 3:  we are staying the week in our 2nd fave cottage that I booked last February because our very fave (#1) was already booked.  This is the "front" of the cottage showing both bedroom windows and the little porch.  In the back overlooking the lake, is the screened in full length porch and the backyard is a few steps down which contains 2 Adk chairs, a grill, a small table and a picnic table.  It's a lovely spot for rest and relaxation and just a few steps down the other way is a wooden staircase to the beach! I'm thankful for a week long vacation in my beloved mountains. 

bonfires and s'mores

me and my youngest girl Claire

me and my oldest girl Courtney

my husband enjoying dinners on the porch

• FAMILY TIME!  My husband, youngest daughter, and I have been planning this vacation since February when Claire first asked me if we could book a cottage again for our 6th year here. And since our oldest daughter is also on vacation this week and couldn't travel to Texas due to covid like she wanted, she decided to join us for the first 3 days.  She left on Tuesday but we sure got lots of family time in during those first 3 full days.  We walked to town and shopped in our fave general store, had a bonfire and made s'mores, cooked dinners together and ate on the porch, made yummy cocktails and sat on the dock talking and taking photos, and swam in the lake together.  I'm so thankful we had this time.

 trail into Lake  Lila
17 August 2020

Lake Lila in the Whitney Wilderness Region of the north central Adirondacks
a real wilderness lake where most people do not go and no motor boats allowed

resting by Little Tupper Lake
Whitney Wilderness Region
17 August 2020

Map of where Dave and I hiked (bottom lake:  Cascade Lake and Falls loop)

Dave on first mile of hiking to Cascade Falls

me at Cascade Falls

Trail along Cascade Lake
19 August 2020

Cascade Lake
19 August 2020

• REMOTE WILDERNESS LAKE HIKES:  my childhood friend and hiking buddy Cheryl B came out for a visit from Sunday evening to Tuesday.  It was a lot of fun...she stayed in the motel on the cottage grounds and we had a blast swimming, going out to dinner and also finding a wilderness lake that both of us have had on our bucket list for many years.  It's far into the Whitney Wilderness Region of the north-central Adirondacks.  It's a gem!!  We were the only people there although there were several cars in the lot at the start of the trailhead (many locals go there to fish and no motorized boats are allowed on this pristine wilderness lake.  It felt so good to wade in these wild waters with quiet nature all around us.  We stayed for a good hour and then discovered Little Tupper Lake and took a few photos there as well.  Also, on Wednesday, Dave and I drove to the south-central part of the Adirondacks about an hour south of the cottage, to hike into a wilderness lake called Cascade.  I was actually headed for the falls for the 50 Falls Challenge I've been working on for about a year....and because we saw that it's only a 6 mile loop we did the entire thing.  It was wonderful to hike to these never before seen spots.  I'm thankful we did them!

kayaking to the town beach from our cottage
16 August 2020

Claire and I kayaking
20 August 2020

• KAYAKING! Claire and I are the ones who have been using the kayaks most of the week.  Dave might go with me tomorrow morning before we check out.  She and I got up rather early Sunday morning so went to town in the kayaks because it was a perfect morning for it.  And then one afternoon we took the boats the other way for quite a ways...about a mile or so south....and it was so peaceful on the water!  I'm thankful we own 2 good kayaks and can use them so much in the summer months.

Courtney and Claire on Long Lake

Cocktails in the lake!

beach time

mornings on the dock

• SWIMMING AND HANGING ON THE DOCK/BEACH:  we hung out on the dock just about every morning and every late afternoon and sometimes even after dinner.  We swam alot this week and used the tubes we brought.  It's been so much fun and so relaxing.  I'm thankful for this beautiful Adirondack lake and village and for the accommodations while renting here.  It's something I never want to take for granted.

Those are the highlights of the week.   There were many other blessings of course but those are the big ones that just shout out "VACATION".

I hope whatever you are doing to end the summer, that it's giving you time to reflect and rest.

HAPPY WEEKEND!