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:
This particular morning I led an activity called Lake Life. Children and their parents gathered for an hour of exploration and discovery:
During my free time, I take the opportunity to digest the local culture, which includes free summer concerts like this one in Tamworth:
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.
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.
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:
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.