Leaving This Behind

We live in a tiny little borough that is 1.2 square miles in size, yet has a country club with 18-hole golf course and 22 lakes tucked in between 1500 homes, 150 of which are genuine log cabins (chinking included). Indeed, our little borough claims the highest concentration of original log cabins in the world. 

Here, there are no streets or roads -- only trails, most of which have a Native American name, be it that of a nation (Apache), animal (Mishe Mokwa [Mama Bear]), or famous person (Sitting Bull). Yes, the trails are paved. 

We live on one of the 22 lakes, though not in a rustic log cabin. Our lake's called Lake Mushkodasa. Thanks to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha, we know that Mushkodasa means grouse. 

 

A Grouse

This is a partial view of Lake Grouse:

A View of Our Lake

One of the best things about living here is the Canoe Carnival, which takes place on one of our largest lakes on the first Saturday of August. This year's 90th (!) Annual Canoe Carnival was held last Saturday, August 6th. We took our 9-year-old granddaughter Penny. She's been coming to visit us at the lake since she was born, and she loves it here. How much does she love it, you ask? Well, Penny loves it here so much that, although her first spoken word was "hi," her second and third words were "Mishe Mokwa." True story! 

Anyway, Canoe Carnival takes place on one of the largest lakes. It consists of themed floats that sail around the lake competing for prizes. The rules require that a float be supported by no more than two canoes. Each canoe must be hand-paddled by one person only. No motors permitted! The floats -- or those that win anyway -- are typically quite large, light up, and have moving parts. They can weigh thousands of pounds. If there is even a hint of wind, many of them become sails and wind up careening into a dock or a beach and have to be towed. This year was no different. 

The parade of floats does not begin until it gets dark. Before then, the public gathers on a swimming beach where, earlier in the day, they were given access for the purpose of setting up their chairs.

People Waiting on the Beach for Darkness

We watched Canoe Carnival from the beach of a lakefront property. While we waited, Jim and Penny waded in the water.

Biding Time

Watching the Boat Patrol Take its Position

We were seated in the area where one of the floats set sail. The group that built the float is called the Scrub Pines, and the theme of their float was "You Should Bee Dancin.'" The float was propelled by two canoes. It was large and had lights and music. The float itself consisted of a giant bee hive with bees flying around it, and a dancing queen bee inside the hive, which opened periodically to show her dancing away. There were other people on the float, including a beekeeper with a smoker.

Waiting For Darkness to Fall

As you watch the video, you will see the two paddlers, each paddling a single canoe, in the lower left of the clip. They must "bee" strong!

Other floats included The Blue Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland, which sailed to The Who's "Who Are You?," and Medusa.

When all was said and done, "You Should Bee Dancin'" was declared the overall winner. Great job, Scrub Pines!

It was difficult to time the filming to see the hive open and the Queen Bee emerge, but Jim did manage to catch her dancin,' as she should "bee."

It was a great night! Penny loved it, and we loved sharing the experience with her. When I think about the charm of our little Land o' Lakes and life in the Great State of South Jersey, where I've lived my entire 61 years, it's hard to believe I'm about to trade it all in for life on a big sandbar.