b'68stConnectiontoDiannebyJimMetcalfFirIamslowtowarmuptopeopleandanewfriendDianneSlavinhadbeeninvitingusuptotheLaketohercottageintheAdirondacks.ItwaswithsometrepidationthatIsignedontopackingupthefamilyandheadingouttolivewithstrangersforaweek.LikeDianneIhadspentagoodpartofmylifelivingamongandlovinglakes,rivers,rocksandthesoundoftheloons.Asageologist,IspecializedintherocksofthePrecambrianperiodofwhichthemostexposedareaofthemintheworldoccursonthevastCanadianshield-apieceofwhichhadbeenexposedbythelasticeagehereintheAdirondaks.Resultinginanidenticallandscapeoftrees,lakes,rivers,swampsandbeaverponds.Iwasintrigued.Sooffwewent.Itwasalongdrivebecauseblueroadsareourfamilyspreferredmethodoftravelandthesunhadfadedaway,beforethingsstartedlookingup.Theheadlightsrevealedtallpinesonbothsidesoftheroadglimpsesoflakesbetweenthem.Weslowlyrolledthroughthelasttown,OldForge,closedupfortheday.Accordingtomyinstructionneatlywrittenonascrapofpaperweweregettingcloser.TheinstructionsDiannehadgivenmeindicatedafirstaturnontosouthshoreroadthentokeepalookoutforthebrokensignwhichfinallyappeared,anglingdownfromitschaintherightsiderustedaway.Weslowlyeasedupthesparsegravelanddirtroad,twistingandturningaroundtreetrunksbarkskinnedoffbyvehiclesencounters.Itwasverydark.Istartedtogetalittleexcited,thiswasgettingveryinterestingandfamiliar,mytypeoflandscape.Theroadcontinueduntilwecrestedthelastriseanddroppeddownintoparadise.Ontherightthemoonshinesparklesoffthestillwatersofthecreek.ontheleftthelakestretchesoutstillandsilent,wispsofmistonthesurfacewithlittlelightsfromothercabinsontheotherside.WehavehadtheextremegoodfortunetobeinvitedbyDianneandRusseveryyearsincethentoreplenishmysoulwiththetranquilityofthemorningmists,fullmoonrisesoverthecreek,andmanyquiethourscontemplatingbigfluffycumuluscloudsattheLake.ThisiswhereIdeepenedaconnectiontoDianne,herenthusiasmforthisareawasevident.Everymorning,shewouldhaveheroatmealandthenwewoulddiscussthemanypossibilitiesfortheday.Hiketheroadorevenbaldmtn.,goswimming,itsFridayfishfryatWaltsDiner.Canoeingthecreekwasmyfavorite.Theeveningswouldbeafun'