The Quiet Time

So, sadly, we have come to the end of another season at the Northern Compound. Last weekend, we wrapped things up, technically referred to as "winterizing", and locked the doors until sometime in May next year. It's difficult to leave, but the age-old truth that the long off-season is what makes us appreciate he north so much, is what we have to remind ourselves of as we depart; this year on a beautiful Indian Summer day.

The summer this year was truly that. Unlike 2009, we had a couple of honest-to-goodness heat waves, and plenty of sunshine. That made the boating, kayaking, and swimming much more enjoyable. Other things like biking and hiking were a bit more "work" in the warmth, but actually the only thing that really suffered was the frequency of campfires. Most of the evenings were so warm and humid, that a nice, crackling fire was about the last thing anybody wanted!

And so appropriately enough, we ended the season on a clear, crisp October night, with a welcome campfire to keep us warm as we listened to the coyotes in an otherwise very quiet camp. Good neighbor-friends had closed ahead of us and the waves of kids were gone. But the stars and woods and water are still there, transitioning now, but ready to treat us again next year. We'll just have to wait.