rhapsodic.org is a weblog by Valette Keller

Caribou Lake

I spent the weekend with my brother, Rodney, out at his cabin on Caribou Lake. Which, if one considers the rual-ness of Homer, is basically out near Nothing, close to Nowhere. It's, I don't know, 15 miles from Homer city limits? 20 miles? There are other cabins nearby, but nothing really within shouting distance.

All electricity powered by generators, no telephone or cell service, and no running water. But there is a pump-powered shower (the water of which needs to be heated on the wood stove), a flushing toilet (the water of which gets poured into the tank with a bucket), a DVD player, and decks of cards.

What more could anyone need?

We headed out on ATVs, he on his new four-wheeler and I on his wife's six-wheeler because she is out of town (thanks, Jen, it was a smooth ride, and I can't get it stuck in anything), his dog in the back of the six-wheeler and my dog in my coat.

Once the bumpy and muddy ride was over, Lacey looooooved it out at the cabin. Not only were there new squeaky toys to play with, but also tall grass to run through unhindered by a leash and large swans to bother.

Oh, how she tried to bother the swans. I don't think she even realized she was swimming in the lake; her mind was preoccupied with one objective: Death To All Swans. When she realized her attempts at getting them wern't even ruffling their feathers and her barking calmed to a low growl, the swans started honking at her and getting her going all over again.

And I forgot how physically taxing it can be to ride an ATV; my back and shoulders are going to hurt for days I just know it. But I might go back out with them next weekend.