Yawgoog Day 7

It is a gorgeous morning—blue sky and a cool breeze. But it is the coldest morning we’ve had, which seems to be just right considering my luck. In about twenty minutes, I will be diving into the lake with G3 and who knows how many others to attempt the mile swim.

Today, by far, has been the best day at camp. The mile swim was a lot of fun. The air may have been cool, but the lake was warm. There was no time limit for the swim, which meant there was no pressure. I knew I could spend all day in the water doing a leisurely breaststroke. A mile was nothing. G3 was great. He swan next to me, keeping me company for the first half. Swimming with him made it even more enjoyable. He and I have swum side by side in so many bodies of water in various places throughout the states. This was just one more. Once we touched the buoy—the half way, turn around point—G3 started to pull ahead. I suppose my tortoise pace was just a little too slow for him. I didn’t mind. I was happy just to be in the water. I completed the mile in 39 minutes. Not bad for an old lady. I had expected it to take an hour, at least.

After the swim, I went to the cafe set aside for leaders to get coffee, but G3 called to tell me to meet him at the dinning hall. He got me an Arizona iced tea and wanted me to sit with him while I drank it. I thought that was sweet of him.

Knowing my dad liked the water, I texted my brother to see if he and Dad did the mile swim when they came here oh so many years ago. He told me he did it twice, but Dad didn’t. I said that was surprising knowing how much Dad liked the water. But my brother reminded me that Dad enjoyed relaxing on the water not exerting himself. I guess that’s where we differ. I’ve never been all that good at relaxing.

Before lunch, I took a short hike up the white trail. I had wanted to head back to Hidden Lake since the pictures would have been prettier today, but I didn’t have enough time. I needed to get back for lunch. I enjoyed the trail more today than yesterday. There was a short rock scramble that always makes a hike more fun.

Following lunch, there was a water carnival where the various troops at camp got to compete against each other in different water activities. One of the events was the Scoutmaster belly flop competition. Our scoutmaster didn’t want to do it, so never wanting to miss an opportunity to jump in a lake, I stepped up to do it. It was fun, but it hurt. My chest is still sore. In fact, my belly flop left me feeling more beat up than the accident. G3, who had dried off after his mile swim opted not to compete in anything because he didn’t want to get wet again. From the lake, still dripping, I headed over to the blood donation bus because I had signed up to give blood.

We are now at the end of camp campfire. It’s loud and peoply. It’s a traditional campfire with singing and skits. But I quickly got bored, and since I decided I’m too old to sit through something that bores me, I snuck out and went to play basketball. It was quiet and peaceful with all the scouts tucked away in the amphitheater.

I meant to write about G3’s belt earlier in the week, but with the accident, I forgot. Years ago, when my dad was here with my brother, he bought a leather belt with Yawgoog Scout Reservation stamped on it. He hadn’t worn it in years, and when he died it was sitting in a drawer in Mattituck. Since it was Dad’s and scout related, G3 kept it. The day before we left, G3 took it out from where he stored it, and said he wanted to wear it to camp. However, G3 is much thinner than Dad was. Therefore, he asked Kati to add a hole so it would fit. He has worn the belt—as if to have a part of his grandfather with him—all week. Dad would have been happy.

Like every other night, G3 met me down by the water. Tonight, he was upset. One of the older scouts told him that all the older scouts put together a bingo board of all the things they thought he would do wrong or that would be laughable this week. Apparently, they were able to mark off many of the squares. Kids can be mean. If they mean to hurt G3, they succeeded. It seems as if they are angry he was elected Senior Patrol Leader for next year and they want to see him fail. i suppose the week started terribly and is now ending sadly. At least G3 seemed to have enjoyed himself in the middle.