With small mountains of snow surrounding us this January 9, more pleasant thoughts are carrying us back to the warm days of the past summer. Our seasonal travels have taken us to visit several mountain lakes in the few years that we’ve lived in New England.
And last summer our vacation took us to a new one on our radar, a Maine lake where we enjoyed three generations of family fun with youngster from age 10 months to the really old folks (us!).
The small village is named Lovell, just over the border from New Hampshire, and the body of water is Kezar Lake, a gorgeous, deep, clean lake surrounded by the rural hills of Maine and New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
It is a very quiet lake. Jet-skis are discouraged as well as loud motors on boats. We spotted a good share of kayaks and pontoon boats and early morning fishermen with small motors on john boats. At first glance you might think that you’re the only folks on the lake due to the deeply forested waterfront that hides camps and rental cottages.
After a couple of days, we boated around the 9-mile lake and could make out the modest cabins that blended so well into trees from afar. We weren’t the only people staying on the lake after all.
We were told by locals that this lake community frowns upon showiness and conspicuousness in architecture. Peer pressure seems to prevent the mcmansions from being built for the most part. We boated around the lake a couple of times to check out the real estate and were enchanted by what we saw.
We would boat awhile, but it was much more fun to turn off the motor and drift, allowing our able fishermen to have a moment to practice a little casting, then reeling in their (plastic) catch of the day.
A great many of the camps we saw were rustic and small, very similar in color to the log cabin where we resided, dark brown stain and forest green trim. Our accommodations were modern and comfortable indoors with the latest conveniences but instead of tv and internet, we were usually found frockling on the waterfront or catching up on summer reads beneath the pines.
I have to say I fancied everything this lake offered… maybe a little more than other lakes we’ve visited… so far that is. It matched the flavor of my grandparents’ rustic log cabin in Virginia on the shores of the peaceful Chesapeake Bay where I spent seemingly endless summers in my childhood.
Locals residents and summer people want to keep the lake and the camps just the way they are… quiet, clean, and rustic with all the local traditions kept in place. A local proprietor shared the news that the King family, Stephen and Tabitha, the well-known authors who reside part-time somewhere around there, purchased the sole campground on the lake, then closed it down. That took jet-skis and lots of boats from the lake and folks couldn’t be happier. We didn’t go looking for Stephen King but folks said it’s not unusual to run into him at local establishments. I don’t think we went out shopping or eating out enough…. but, hey, I finished two books.
Kezar Lake’s water is clean, one of Maine’s cleanest lakes. The sunsets are spectacular over the White Mountains and I can’t say enough about the absolute QUIET… except for the crickets and an occasional duck or two.
Living on the Seacoast of New Hampshire, we feel so lucky that we’re mere minutes from the ocean, yet the mountains of New England are oh-so-close! Salt water? Fresh water? We love ’em both and we can take our pick any week of summer. How divine is that??
Only 51 days more days till spring
Oops! Boy, am I wrong. It’s 69 days as of January 10. Sigh….
Sounds wonderful. I miss the cabin. I enjoy your blogs and look forward to reading them. Wan
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Hi 👋 Wan, I miss the cabin, too, but if I close my eyes, I can still be there…with a little sand in my bathing suit and wearing a mismatched pair of tennis shoes for crabbing ….the toes of the shoes cut out, of course, so your toes could escape if the shoes were too small. Remember the big basket of shoes to choose from? All sizes! 💕
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Of course! Wonderful memories. Do you remember the fireflies, blackberry picking, blackberry rolls freshly made, Mr. Brown’s store and his pond full of goldfish, skating rink,Grandmother’s stories, hypnotism games and candy throws. I would love if you would write about those times and send them to me. You are a wonderful writer and I really love reading your blogs.
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I remember it all. I’m at the age where those childhood memories can be more vivid than what I did yesterday! 😉
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Oh so beautiful!!! Love the lakes and mountains! 😍
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We had to be on the beach every night for those wonderful sunsets. Of course, while we waited, we all got a little sticky eating too many s’mores! Very tricky trying to capture a sunset photo with sticky fingers…
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Frockling. Is this a new form of dancing? Put on a frock and sashay or skip down a lovely forest path whilst holding the skirts of that frock, on a lovely summer’s day. I’d be in that! 🤗👌🎈 Looks like my kinda place. Janina
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Frockling is something you do with grandchildren involving sandcastles, innertubes, sunscreen, beachballs, waterbuckets, etc. No special frocks required but agility is a must. 😊
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What a lovely and tranquil place! A couple years ago, I read Stephen King’s memoir titled On Writing. Your pictures bring some parts of that book alive for me. Also, what a beautiful sunset picture!
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Thank you. I have not read On Writing but my daughter and her college age children have very high opinions of it. It’s on my ‘To Read’ list.
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Oh, do I wish you were right, but I think it is 69 days until spring. But, hey, maybe Mother Nature is reading your blog and will speed things up. 🙂 Your photos are lovely and a nice break as your weather warms up a little this week. Great shots of that handsome fisherman. 🙂
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Maybe I rushed it? Let’s hope it works! ☀️ We hope to greet warmer weather as we pack our bags for a trip across the Mason-Dixon Line soon…
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Annie – it looks like a lovely place. I like that it is quiet and peaceful – sure hope it stays that way. Thank you for the break from the cold. xo kim
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