Day 58: North Hero, Vermont Rest Day

Day 58: North Hero, Vermont

August 9, 2016

Miles: 0

North Hero Rest Day

Di must have gotten up before me, because when I awoke she was gone and I could detect the distinctive aroma of coffee.  That's a good way to wake up (I mean with the coffee aroma, not with Di gone).  Di hadn't gone far, just to the kitchen to make that coffee.  Barry and Denise had planned breakfast for 8:30, so after we drank enough coffee to wake up, we headed over to their cabin.

That's what you see from the front of our cabin

Barry and Denise had prepared a generous amount of scrambled eggs and bacon for all of us, so we got a great start to the day with this delicious meal.

Breakfast al fresco

Once we finished our breakfast, it was time to head to the boat and get the fishing started.  I'm trying to learn as much as I can about fishing from Barry, Denise, Brian and Michelle, and one of the most important things I've learned so far is there is no dillydallying when it comes to fishing.  The more you delay, the more fish you haven't caught.  So, when it comes to fishing, get out there as soon as you can and stay as long as you can.   Same goes for when you are on the boat - get those lines in the water as quickly as possible and keep them there.  For example, its no problem if you are going to pour yourself a glass of wine or eat a jelly doughnut as long as you keep your line in the water and keep an eye on it. I'm new at fishing, but I've learned this much in the last two days: there is no urgency in fishing, but there is dedication.

Brian pushes us off (yes, he made it into the boat)

The view from the bow as we motor on Lake Champlain

The view from the stern (those are our cabins receding in the distance)

It takes the right kind of hat to go fishing in style

As she did yesterday, Michelle landed the first fish.

Barry unhooks Michelle's small mouthed bass

Michelle gives her fish the obligatory kiss

Brian lands the second fish

Its a keeper

It was a beautiful day out on Lake Champlain.  The sun was shining, the temperature was in the mid to upper 80's and the water was quite calm.  It felt wonderful to just be out on the water.

Amorous dragonflies have a romantic tryst on Denise's hat

But, it is even more wonderful when you are catching a fish!  Not to say that the deep contemplation and meditation on all things that the act of fishing provides isn't rewarding by itself, because it certainly can be.  But when you hook a fish you toss any deep thinking aside, because for goodness sakes, you've got a fish on the line!

I've got a fish on the line!

Yes, that's what its all about

It got hotter as the day went on and finally we needed to cool off.  So we put down the poles and jumped into the lake.  The water temperature was 73 degrees and while that can't be considered frigid, it is certainly refreshing.  After the initial shock wore off, the water temperature felt just perfect.

Michelle, Denise, Brian and Barry cooling off

I enter the water gracefully (at least I thought so until I saw this picture)

Di takes a pic of all five of us (Di came in later)

Barry, our fearless captain

Michelle uses Di's camera to take a picture of Di and me

And here's the picture Michelle took (nice shot, Michelle!)

After our dip in the lake, we went back to our real purpose for being out there: fishing.  The way we fish is to first impale a worm on the fishing hook, then to drop the hook into the water and let it sink to the bottom, and then wait for a fish to come and try to eat the worm.  When you feel the fish take the bait, you secure the hook by jerking the tip of the rod upward.  With conviction!  After the fish is hooked, you get to enjoy the sensation of being a hero while you reel the captured fish toward the boat.  You might think from my description that it should be easy to fish and anyone could do it and I would agree.  It is easy to fish, its just not easy to catch a fish.  And there is something to be said for experience, because even though the rest of us were in the same boat in the same spot of the lake using the same bait as Barry, he caught a lot more fish than us both yesterday and today.  So, you have to have skill as well as patience to be a good fisherman and so far I am only good at the patience part.

Barry catches yet another one

We had made dinner reservations for 6pm, so around 4pm we laid down our poles and headed back to shore.

Denise and Di on the way back to shore

We aren't the only ones fishing

Brian, a man of leisure

Look how smooth the lake surface is as we returned to shore

We went to Ruthcliffe Lodge and Restaurant, which is located on Isle La Motte, another Lake Champlain island.  This is Denise and Barry's favorite restaurant in the world, so I was really looking forward to eating there.  The restaurant is located right on Lake Champlain and you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the lake and the distant mountains.  So, in addition to looking forward to eating there, you get to look forward to merely being there.  And the food was excellent, so the restaurant definitely lived up to the accolades Barry and Denise showered upon it.

The view from our table at Ruthcliffe

Enjoying our great meal

Shot from the restaurant lawn

Our waiter took this shot of us on Brian's camera

We came back to the cabins where we had pie for dessert (Denise forced me to eat a piece of peach cobbler and raspberry pie.  Okay, forced may not be the right word.  The right word is probably "asked" and how could I say no to peach cobbler and raspberry pie?  I want to live with no regrets and I know I would have regretted saying no to one of those options).

Tomorrow we get back on our bikes and ride to Burlington, which is about 35 miles away.  If we get there early enough and feel inspired, we will ride a little farther.  We have had such a wonderful time here with Brian, Michelle, Barry and Denise that it feels like hanging out here is the normal thing we should be doing and not bike riding.  It has been so enjoyable to be relaxing, fishing, laughing, eating, and playing cribbage with those guys that Di and I will miss them greatly.  To Brian, Michelle, Barry and Denise - thank you, you have given us a wonderful and memorable few days.  I know I should be thinking about biking again, but the last few days have been so relaxing that all I am thinking about is this: