Costly Discovery of Carelessness

July 27 – August 2, 2026                                     Most Recent Posts:
Moose River Campground   Pizza Disappointment & Shocking Motorhome
St. Johnsbury, Vermon6                               Enjoying My Weekly Routine

Really big disappointment on Monday when I got to Neal Pond and took the kayak completely off the car.  I got it down to the water and began to load it up when I discovered my beloved Aqua Bound paddle was not in the trunk with my other gear.  Evidentially I had left it at Lake Parker on Friday.  It is now Monday.  I called the Parker Pond association, the state game warden for the area and drove the hour back up there but of course it wasn’t there.  Not after 3 days.   I’m so irritated at myself for my carelessness.  I have to buy a new paddle or I can’t kayak anymore this summer.  But at this point I cannot afford to replace my Aqua Bound which is a fabulous  $259 paddle.  And worth every penny if I had that many extra pennies right now.  So I had Amazon send me quickly  a cheaper paddle $41 and am using that.  But on this day, I had to put the kayak right back on the car.  No paddling.  Bummed doesn’t even begin to cover it.   Someone got a very nice paddle for free.  High price for carelessness.

I drowned my sorrow at Moose Look Diner for lunch with my retired library friend Adele.  So distracted I took no pictures.

It wasn’t raining that evening  so the band concert was on and I went.  This time drowning my sorrows in ice cream.

People in line for ice cream

Sponsored tonight by Community Bank.

Hershey’s makes delicious ice cream.  This flavor is great!

On Tuesday I went up to the Danville Train Depot and hiked the rail trail a total of 4 miles.

 

When I got back I went inside the station which has tourist information and is restored.  It’s really lovely.  The wood is beautiful.

I particularly liked the old stove and thought the old suitcases were a nice touch.

There was even a manikin station master at his desk.

That night I went to the Catamount Arts  Theater in Saint Johnsbury to see a screening of Martin Eden/

Notice the room behind the ticket window and foyer.

It’s an art gallery that has a different exhibit each month.  

Many of the pieces were made from discarded books.  They were really interesting looking at them up close but I had a hard time getting decent pictures of them with my phone.

These are the two shown above

This was one of the most intricate artistic paper cutting/folding I’ve ever seen but none of the close ups came out well enough except the one of the book below the folded exhibit.

Film Director  Jay Craven introduced his film "Jack London's Martin Eden". He also led a post-screening question and answer session.

The book Martin Eden, from which the film was taken, is a semi-autobiographic reflection of Jack London’s own life experiences.  Published in 1909 when London was 33 years old and had already achieved international acclaim with The Call of the Wild, Sea Wolf and White Fang.

On Thursday  I went to Neal Pond  to try out my new $40 paddle.  It proved to be OK but felt heavier than I am used to

One of the houses along the shore was for sale so I looked it up later.  3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2475 sq. ft on 1.46 acres for $824,900  Compared to the much larger and in my opinion more beautiful  house I showed in town, it’s clear it must be all about location.  IF they can get that price.   Here’s the link for photos. if you’d like to see the inside.

I normally would not have come out on a day with this kind of wind predicted but I wanted to try out the paddle so I could send it back if I really didn’t like it.  Look at the grasses bending.

I took a short video to show the wind and how strong the current was.  You can Watch it here

This is probably the least expensive housing on the lake shore.

This was the most fun thing.

You can see my favorite house on the far shore.

Doesn’t it look really interesting?

On Friday, I took a trip to Littleton New Hampshire where I had previously discovered a wonderful toy store, The Little Village Toy and Book Shop.  I went to look for presents for my grandson Colin’s birthday.

I spent quite a bit of time in here looking around.  It’s a wonderful store.

Moose seem to be a highlighted topic.

Shelves of Legos.

The downtown area of Littleton is decorated with flags and beautiful hanging flower baskets on every light post.   The store across the street boasts it has the world’s longest candy counter.   I did not go inside and check it out to avoid the pull of the sweets since I already have my sweets for the day planned.

I too this entrance to the River District and river walk.

The building to the left of the covered bridge is the Mill Street Kitchen a restaurant where I wish I had eaten lunch.

The covered bridge over the Ammonoosuc River is a Paddleford Truss bridge 8’ wide 368 feet long.  It connects the Riverwalk trail with downtown Littleton.

View from the bridge looking down river.

The View looking up river.  I think I’ll try to eat at this restaurant next time I come to Littleton.

I came 0ut on the river’s far side and started down the river walk.

At the end there is a suspension bridge to take you back over to the town.

The Curran Suspension bridge has an interesting history.

The river reminds me of the Moose, wider here than at the campground but fairly shallow and filled with rocks for the water to wash over.

I’d never seen this before.  When I asked someone coming across the bridge he said they are “love locks”.  People write or engrave names, initials, special dates, or short messages on padlocks and lock them onto the bridge's mesh railings.

I later read that the key is typically thrown into the Ammonoosuc River below to symbolize an unbreakable bond, lasting love, or a permanent memory made in this White Mountain town.   Have you ever seen this before?

Now back on the town side I walked to the Littleton Diner, which opened in 1930.  Their moto is Live Free and Dine.   A cute take off on the state moto.

Inside it looks totally authentic.

They have an extensive menu of diner food.   I had the meatloaf special with mashed potatoes, gravy and mixed vegetables.  Nothing to write home about.  If I return I’ll have to try something else.

Time for dessert.  So I walked back through this darling alley to my car in the lot behind the main street.

I noticed this quote in the window of the shop along the alley and later learned that I had missed one of the big Littleton attractions, the statue of Pollyanna outside the Littleton Library.   I am actually amazed that I didn’t seek out the library.  I nearly always go to the libraries in towns I visit.  Next time for sure.   But I really like the quote.

I don’t think this piano at the top of the great stairs is visible in my picture above but the sign on its top invites you to sit down and play.   Littleton is such an interesting town.

5 miles from Littleton is the town of Bethlehem New Hampshire which is home to Super Secret Ice Cream.   Use the link and choose Our Story to read its very interesting creation story. It had been recommended to me as the best around  by folks at Moose River who know I love ice cream.

I was glad to find that the patio had emptied out by the time I got my ice cream despite the long line inside.

Wish I’d asked if they do this every year.  Clever way to get folks interested in ice cream in March in New Hampshire

It is small batch ice cream made in house from local ingredients with unique flavors such as the two I had.   Burtt’s Black Forest “made with sour cherries form Burtt's Orchard in Cabot, VT and chocolate amaretto cake made with local flour from Maine Grains”   And  of course one of my favorites on top, Toasted coconut.   

Saturday as usual was Farmer’s Market and steps around the town.   Today’s house on Main Street is Idlewood 1874 according to the sign in the huge front yard.  This shot is zoomed in to try to mitigate the sun which I wasn’t very able to do.

Main Street Park complete with fountain and a ring of flowers.

My favorite Little Free Library stuffed with books.

Sunday was the 29th Anniversary of Moose River Campground celebrated with a giant cake.  Usually these sheet things are so-so but this one was delicious.  It had moist cake and whipped cream icing.

Mary and Gary Lunderville do a great job of making everyone feel welcome and no doubt have for the past 29 years.

Sunday evening I went back to the wonderful  Catamount Arts to see the documentary Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World. 

She is my very favorite poet.  I own all of her books and begin every one of my yoga practices with a poem from one of them.  This month the poems are coming from Why I Wake Early. 

And speaking of books, the ones I finished this week were:

48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister

The Rediscovery of North America Barry Lopez

Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher:  The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward S. Curtis

Clues was a very interesting and a tad scary murder mystery.  Rediscovery was a short reassessment of Columbus’ legacy by one of my favorite writers and Short Nights was a fascinating look just as the title says of the truly epic life and fantastic photographs of Edward Curtis at the turn of the 20th Century.

Let me know in the comments what did you do and read the last week of July?