Beyond the Waters

White Lake State Park.  For many this name manifests memories spanning generations.  For them, the lucid waters and expansive skyline beyond them have never not been part and parcel of their lives.  But for me, nothing could be more novel; arriving here from southern New Hampshire, I had no idea what to expect.  Here are the sights that have welcomed me:

A typical morning on the beach. People love watching the water, mountains, and wildlife throughout the day.

This particular morning I led an activity called Lake Life.  Children and their parents gathered for an hour of exploration and discovery:

Folks gather ’round for one of White Lake’s nature programs. 

The never-ending shallows of the lake provide ample habitat for a panoply of creatures just waiting to be discovered and cherished.

A frog escapes our nets, much to her delight.

During my free time, I take the opportunity to digest the local culture, which includes free summer concerts like this one in Tamworth:

Cormac McCarthy sings for a rapt audience behind The Other Store in downtown Tamworth.

Few things beat great music on a shaded lawn at the height of summer.

As night falls, new characters arrive.  The Night Watch at White Lake State Park are a professional bunch, and friendly to boot.  They help preserve the calm, wilderness atmosphere at the park for all visitors.  They’ve done a lot to make me feel at home and welcome at White Lake State Park.

Two of the Night Watchmen, ever vigilant.

And of course, with the nightfall comes the changing of another guard: the watch of the sun is replaced by the vigilance of the moon and stars.

Twilight provides the most spectacular scenery at the lake.

Luna sets over the western edge of White Lake.

As the stars peek from behind their covers, two young girls decide to take a swim at dusk, away from the crowds that define a White Lake summer.

The Great Bear galavants across the sky above White Lake during the dog days of summer.

The following morning, familiar faces greeted me at my house as my old chums from SCA New Hampshire Corps showed up for their first project of many this month:

Justin Warner and Sarah O’Shea slather a liberal portion of paint onto the side of the manager’s residence.

Emma King begins work restoring the classic manager’s residence (and my current home) at White Lake State Park. She, along with Justin, Sarah, and four of their teammates will spend the next month painting this house and other buildings in New Hampshire State Parks.

These are just a few of the sights, sounds, and people who continue to define my experience at White Lake State Park.  I may not have the generations of tradition here, like so many others, but I am beginning to sense why people come back here year after year: it isn’t the lake so much as what lies beyond the waters.

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