Camp: August 2013

Sailor's Touch

August 16, 2013

"What is it about sailing that so completely captures our hearts, captivates our souls, and enchants us with its magic? I believe this enchantment grows from our sense of touch. When we sail we are constantly in motion. The movement is a form of touch so unique, so intense that we find ourselves wanting more. We're never quite satisfied, never quite full. The constant rhythm of sailing makes us feel alive. For sailors, the memories are endless, the sensations, the touch, the feel unforgettable. And the urge to go again is uncontrollable. The feel of sailing is something once experienced, is always remembered. Nothing else comes close, nothing else compares. That, indeed, is sailings lure, for the feel of sailing is not the feel of the everyday or the ordinary - it's the feel of life itself."

Quote from Chas. Scott, Good Old Boat, Nov/Dec2011

Glenwood in the Kitchen

August 14, 2013

Pictured above is our Glenwood kitchen stove. Glenwood has a history dating back to 1902 when the Old Weir Stove Company was set up at West Water Street on the banks of the Taunton River in Taunton, Massachusetts. The factory building eventually became the Glenwood Stove Company. As you might guess, our "culinary center" here at Camp is not exactly granite & stainless, nor would we want it to be, but on any given Sunday morning you will find our Glenwood faithfully serving up eggs and bacon to family and friends as it has for more than 100 years.

Camp Starfish

August 10, 2013

Many of us have fond childhood memories of Camp Monomonac. Today's successor camp is Camp Starfish. A seemingly odd name. A fresh-water lake, Monomonac has no starfish. This story explains the name and exemplifies the camp's mission;
Camp Starfish fosters the success and growth of children with emotional, behavioral and learning problems by providing individualized attention as part of structured, nurturing and fun group programs.

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance, as he drew nearer he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water.
Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean.
As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water.
The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied,"I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. "But", said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference."
The boy looked down, frowning for a moment; then bent down to pick up another starfish, smiling as he threw it back into the sea. He replied, "I made a huge difference to that one!"

We are honored to have them as our neighbor on the Lake.

History of our Sailboat

August 8, 2013

1978 Tangerine 18

Initially, the Tangerine Sailboat Company manufactured the Tangerine 18′ pocket cruiser . In the early 80′s the Renken motorboat company bought the Tangerine company in an effort to try out the sailboat market.

Evidently, the company produced several hundred boats in the course of several years. The company then decided to move away from the sailboat market, and no longer manufactured the boat.

The boat is a Shoal keel pocket cruiser with marconi-type sails and rigging system. It is a fiberglass monohull sailboat with a fiberglass deck. Although small in length, it offers a surprising amount of cabin space for it’s size.

LOA: 17’6″

LWL: 15’3″

Draft: 24″

Beam: 6’4″

Keel: fixed shoal

Displacement: 1220 lbs

Ballast: 450 lbs

Sleeps: 4 adults

Sail area: main=91 sq. ft., jib=59 sq. ft. (total=150 sq. ft.)

Happiness in Retirement

August 6, 2013

Happiness for many, seems to be an elusive thing. Del Lowery in his podcast "Retirement Talk" refers back to the teachings of Spinoza;

"Well, when it came to happiness, Spinoza claimed that we all desire it, but don’t really know what it is and thus find it difficult to attain. He claimed that every time we pursue something and think it will bring us happiness we are disappointed once we achieve it. Once we get to our goal and receive the applause, the money, the big house, or the large screen TV, we find ourselves discontent in short order. The happiness we thought would be ours is not. We feel let down, disappointed: “Now what”?

Our problem lies in defining, or thinking of happiness, as a solid state; or as a position or place. It isn’t. Spinoza claimed that happiness really is a transitory state. It isn’t in having a better garden than we now have, but it is in the act of creating, or moving towards, having a better garden. Happiness lies in making the transition; moving towards a greater state of perfection."

I will never be the world's greatest sailor, but happiness can be found in the joy of sailing just a bit better each day.

Panoramic Photography

August 5, 2013

For several years I have been taking panoramic photographs as I travel. I hope to begin to use this technique to record scenes from Lake Monomonac. These linked photos are interactive and can be controlled with your mouse.

http://www.pixeet.com/pano/CVBKOV61

Find Your Favorite Place on the Lake

August 4, 2013

2013 marks my 60th year of summers spent on the Lake.

During the summer of 2008, while recovering from cancer surgery, I spent a reflective few days paddling around the Lake trying to capture on film as many of my favorite Monomonac locations as possible.

With almost 300 pictures in this album, the chances are good that I captured your favorite place or cottage as well. You are invited to take a look:

https://plus.google.com/photos/116692224022596469213/albums/5425269942737258881?banner=pwa

Individual pictures are available for free, high resolution download.

Your comments would be welcome.

Chipbull.blogspot.com

"Lived Reputably and Died Hopefully"

August 3, 2013

The NH communities near the Lake offer so many interesting and worthwhile activities, especially in the summer. Last night we had a wonderful dinner at one of our favorite spots; Sunflowers in Jaffery.

Afterwards, we traveled to Jaffery's old center to attend the Amos Fortune Forum presented each Friday night during the summer in the 1763 Meeting House. Last night's speaker was the daughter of a covert Cold War era CIA agent. She discussed her life growing up during this dangerous era of world history.

The benefactor for these events; Amos Fortune, was an African slave who bought his freedom as well as the freedom of numerous family members through sheer perseverance. Self educated and community minded, he left the bulk of his estate to further education in the town he loved. His gravestone is behind the meeting house and reads simply;

Sacred to the memory of Amos Fortune, who was born free in Africa, a slave in America, he purchased liberty, professed Christianity, lived reputably, and died hopefully, Nov. 17, 1801, AEt. 91