The Boathouse and the Outhouse.

2 weekends ago Dee and I took a long weekend to spend some time in the Lake George region of the Adirondacks. I visited the area many times as a kid and was anxious to see and feel the town 15 years later. Dee has never been to Lake George, so I thought it would be nice for her to get a sneak peak of the area as she will be taking on her first overnight hike there in July.

We stayed at the Boat House Bed in Breakfast in Bolton Landing about 9 miles north of Lake George Village. Before even exiting the interstate the deepest part of my memory was wide awake in the backseat. It was pressing its nose against the window wide eyed with amazement by the beauty of the landscape.

We sailed up route 9N, weaving through towering pines which guarded the lake on all sides. The forest was speckled with lodges and cabins all of which were still rocking their original 1960’s style no vacancy signs.

I knew we were lucky because this would probably be the last weekend the lake’s frozen surface would sparkle as if it was sleeping underneath a sheet of diamonds. As soon as we got out of the car the power of its cool clean breath displaced ours and we were alive again. Vacation!

The Boathouse was a perfect place to stay. It was literally on the lake. Isolated but also close to anywhere we needed to be. 80% of the house was build over the water. The house used to serve as a boat garage for a famous speed boat racer George Reis. After a few owners it ended up as Patti & Joe’s summer home and now their Bed & Breakfast.

Aside from shopping for some hiking gear for Dee, we spent most of the weekend just hanging around the house. Breakfast each morning was much less awkward than I expected. Usually at these types of places the conversations are shallow and forced making the morning feel like a bore. Perhaps because the weather and lake were perfect everyone was feeling relaxed. Or maybe it was just me who was more relaxed and so I single handedly commanded the mood of the morning banquet. Either way it was nice.

Each morning I was anxious to get to the Great Room early so I could sit outside and drink some tea. But really, I just couldn’t wait for another dose of the cool mountain air. I think Dee had the same feeling. One morning she commented on the large size of the mountain ridge in front of us…I thought, I can’t wait to see her reaction in summer when she sees what she is about to climb!

One afternoon we made our way into the village and I was pleasantly surprised to see that nothing has changed about this place. Well, nothing other than my perspective of it. For one, there was always a cool little store that sold rock and roll paraphernalia right on the lake. I must have run through that store 20 times between ages 4-10 and had no idea it was called Shakedown Street, Ha!

Another thing was the obscene amount of mini-golf courses. I never realized how many there actually were. There must be 10 at least within 2 miles. That wasn’t as strange to me as recalling that I’ve played at every one of them!

We walked all along the street and the park along the lake and I must have told Dee 100 stories from being a kid at the lake. I pointed out restaurants, museums, and tours that I’ve been to as a kid. I told her how we used to walk by the steam boats for what seemed like hours, drained of energy and bored out of our minds. I even impressed myself with how much knowledge I retained about Fort William Henry and Lake George’s role in the French and Indian War.

Most of the businesses were closed for the season, so when Dee had to use the bathroom we didn’t have the option of just stopping in a gift shop. Without hesitation I redirected our route down a muddy, park hill toward the tiniest, crappiest building she had ever seen. At this point, she was getting very frustrated with my lack of effort to find her a bathroom. Sure enough, there by a dingy little dock was a public bathroom. I couldn’t even believe I remembered where it was. I do recall waiting outside that bathroom with my grandmother while my mother was inside with my little sister.

It was then that I had one of those moments when so many of the questions we never bother to ask ourselves, about our personal development, are answered all at once. I thought of my parents and how different my interests are from theirs. I thought about how little they prepared me for the future and how they saved almost nothing to pass along to me to help me in my adult life. Then I thought about this place. I began to make connections to all my passions, interests, and desires in the life. I thought about my curiosity in American History, my passion for the outdoors, my desire to push my body countless miles, and my amazement for being awestruck by something so beautiful you can only share it with someone by showing it to them.

I felt as calm as the surface of the water. I will forever be grateful of my parents because although individually they are both crazy, in a way, they gave me calmness. To me, there is no better way to prepare someone and no greater gift.