In and around the lake.

My dad and I took his canoe out for the first time in ten years or more. We paddled around Round Lake. Unfortunately the trees there were just past peak (read: dead) so the scenery wasn't as impressive as it would have been 2 weeks earlier. We started at a creek in the NW end of the lake and covered the entire northern and eastern edges. It's not a very big lake. We saw a couple Canadian Geese. And some Blue Heron. Check out hose giant nest in the dead tree tops. It seems like an alien landscape to me.

We found a spot on shore that had been used for a campfire so we pulled ashore and stretched our legs. Following a path we discovered we were on an isthmus with lake to the west and swamp to the east. It certain weather the trail is probably submerged/impassable. Then we found a tiny abandoned hunter's shack. It was 4x8 feet had a door and 2 windows (broken) and contained the remains of a mattress and bed frame. A bit beyond it was a 20x20 cinderblock house. It too had been abandoned for at least 40 years. It had a full basement, one bedroom, tiny kitchen area, living room, attic, no bathroom. It was wired for electricity and had a water pump system. The roof was collapsing. The stairs to the basement we missing.

Two more out-building were nearby each about 5x10x10. One house an electric generator. They were wood frame and might have been about 100 years old. Past them the path was more like a gravel road. Near the shore line someone had trucked in sand and made a nice small beach.

The road in (or out) was swampy and impassable on foot. What an isolated retreat someone had here. It was probably a hunter's cabin gone slightly elaborate but I wonder if anyone lived here year round off the grid.

Back in the canoe we followed a winding creek southeast out of the lake. Until we both asked "Do you hear a waterfall ahead?" We did. And we couldn't see around the next bend. We slowed . As we got closer to what looked like a drop in the stream I paddled to a tree limb and grabbed hold to stop us.

It was a small drop. Maybe only 8 or 10 inches down. We didn't get close enough to find out. We turned the boat around and paddled back.