Greetings from the wild! I thought I lived in a remote place, surrounded by wild animals (other then my children), but I had no clue just what real wilderness living was like until now.
This bear was actually spotted in my neighborhood the day I left for New Hampshire! Photo credit: Melissa P.
Out here on Lake Winnipesaukee, we are surrounded by so many animals, insects and water fowl, that I feel like we’re camping. I’ve had several strange encounters with deer and the over population of chipmunks dart around like they’re hopped up on crack, with more energy and less direction then the twins have! There are daddy-long-leg spiders (and every other kind of spider) absolutely everywhere, ducks that will eat out of your hand and gorgeous cranes that seem to fly so close you can touch them.
Some wildlife “firsts” since I’ve been here:
I saw a spider trap, wrap and eat an insect
I had to wait to back out my truck because a turtle was directly behind it
An otter ran across our little beach with a dead baby duck hanging out of it’s mouth
Where the f**k am I???
The boys are in heaven and I’m a little frightened…but getting used it. Luckily the boys did not see the otter’s meal or they would have cried for days. They feed “the duck family” off of the dock each morning and have named several of them.
Here’s a little more of my life on the lake so far:
RUNNING: I need only one word to describe the running around here: hilly! My very first run out I was chased by a deer. I’m not even joking. This thing was following me and staring me down! My plan, should it really attack me, was to slide underneath a car and dial 911. I have no clue why the deer hate me so much but, I see at least one every time I run and, so far, they all have hate in their eyes. #ImNotTryingToRaceYou
The end of a steamy morning run. Just happy I made it back alive!
CYCLING: I had an amazing ride around Squam Lake! I honestly didn’t have much of an idea of where I was going but I ended up cycling over 30 miles and most of it was magnificent! I really loved the idea of just exploring on my bike and seeing what I would come across. I was not disappointed…but I was completely spent by the time I got back to the house. Did I mention the hills?
All dead ends lead to water and views around here. Love it!
SWIMMING: We can also file this one in the “amazing” category. My husband kayaks next to me as I swim and then does a bit of a workout himself.
I can basically swim anytime I want and then I found this:
Lap lanes on the lake!?
I didn’t think it was possible for someone’s eyes to light up though text but that’s exactly what happened when I sent this picture to my coach. #SheGetsMe
FUEL: Is there anything else to eat at the lake but s’mores?
Someone is a little excited to be roasting marshmallows.
THINGS I LOVE: Watching my kids have such an amazing time and learning and doing and trying so many different things. They didn’t hesitate to do a ropes course and kayaking is basically Miles’ favorite thing to do.
Of course my other favorite thing is meeting up with friends (this one also happens to be a blogger) and go for a great run. We chatted the entire time while Sarah pushed little Liam in the stroller and I just didn’t want it to end…especially when we had coffee and savory turkey, avocado and bacon filled crepes afterward.
Blog friends are the best and saying good-bye wasn’t even that bad since we’ll be together again in Maine for Rise.Run.Retreat!
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: Can the fine people of New Hampshire please decide how they want to spell Moultonborough (Moultonboro, Moutonborough) and Wolfeboro (Wolfboro, Wolfeborough) so I can do a proper Yelp search? I’ve seen these town names spelled all of these various ways on signs though out both towns. #NotHelpful
Also, if you could establish an Uber service while I’m here, that would be greatly appreciated.
MUSIC: I have yet to use my iPod. For starters, I’m too afraid of the wildlife around here so I have my ears wide open when running. Second, I love hearing the sounds of the animals, the water, boats, kids laughing and anything else that may be going on around me. The only time I seem to be listening to music is when I’m sitting on the dock, relaxing with a tasty beverage.
This does not suck.
READING: I have already devoured two books, both of which I absolutely loved: Mean Streak by Sandra Brown and Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey And, get this, I’m reading actual books that I have to turn real pages on and use a book mark! Can you imagine? #LowTechVacation
The good news is that if I drop it in the water it won’t cost $300 to replace it.
RANDOM QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Oh yeah. My dad shot one right off the back porch.” – local country store owner when we asked if there were a lot of bears around these parts.
I think I need to start running with a bow strapped to my back!
What wild animal encounters have you had?
Have you gone on summer vacation yet? Tell me about it!
This Thursday, I’m co-hosting TBT with Brittany from My Own Balance! Pick a previously posted blog and bring it back to life for some new love this Thursday, July 23rd and link up! Here are the rules so play nicely:
1. The purpose of this link-up is to revive some of our old blog posts that we think merit a second look for our old readers and to introduce our new readers to some great old content.
2. Find an old post you like and re-publish it on your blog using the Thursday Throwback title and badge.
3. Come on over to the link-up and add your link!
4. Please check out the links of three other linkers and show them a little love via a comment or social media share.
Wow that looks absolutely gorgeous. I always enjoy going to my in laws cabin and just getting away from everything. Sometimes you just need that stress free life. I’m glad you are enjoying yourself out there.
That throwback thursday post idea sounds cool. I’m going to look around and see what I have!
It would be great if you could link up on Thursday! It’s so fun and makes for an easy day of blogging 🙂
Wow to your vacation spot and definitely looks absolutely amazing. Seriously, I have a little less then 3 weeks left to ur vacation here now and I just can’t wait now 🙂
I’m so excited for you!! The anticipation can be so much fun especially with your little ones 🙂
Wow this looks like lakefront paradise! Funny I’ve been watching lakefront bargain deals on HGTV and dreaming about waking up with that water and treetops view! Maybe not the bear but very cute from afar lol. Being chased by a deer during a run sounds crazy! Where I used to ride, there were lots of deer but they would run away from us, not towards us. Yikes! I think it’s so freaking cook that your boys are getting this experience, I’d want the same and what kids wouldn’t like this stuff? If my kids don’t then I’ll wander what seed they spawned from – both my husband and myself have Goonie blood in our veins. Adventure all the way. Love the update, have a blast and watch out for fairy tale animals running towards you!
OMG I totally watch that too! And yes, all the deer in Connecticut run away too! Crazy NH deer.
Can I just tell you how jealous I am of your vacation right now?! I’m also seriously impressed by your drive! I’m definitely inspired to stay just as active during my vacation in a few weeks now haha. Awesome blog =)
Thanks Courtney! It’s easy to be motivated around here because I want to run and bike to every view and the water is so clear that you just have to swim 🙂
Have a great vacation…
I love Maine in the summer. We may do a short vacation in Vermont in August. And so many lawlz at #ImNotTryingToRaceYou 😀
So glad I could give you some LOLZ 🙂 Vermont is beautiful any time of year so you’re sure to have a great time if you go!
We haven’t gone on vacation yet and while we have been going in Sept/Oct we are most likely going to push it into Feb/March this year….we haven’t really figured it out yet though :). It will be nice to visit FL in Feb when it is freezing here.
We are taking our kids to a teen camp next week where my husband and I are councilors…I am tired just thinking about it!!!!
Next month we are all going to a family camp in Northern WI for a week and it reminds me a lot of where you are! Last time we went 2 runners saw a bear on their runs. Last time we went I got sick and was not able to run so I am looking forward to nice trail runs when we go!!!
I LOVE how you said if you drop the book in the water it won’t cost $300….SO funny and totally something I would do!
I can seriously hardly believe July is almost over!!! Someone stop summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG there’s a boy’s camp right near us on the lake and I’m having so much fun just watching them. The boys totally want to go to the camp next summer and we’re seriously considering it! Camp life is so fun and I really hope you get to run. Don’t forget the bug spray!!! xoxoxo
No kidding…it is SO fun and SO exhausting!!!!! I’m getting old..behahaha!!!!!
They have water skiing, tubing, archery, zip lines, midnight games of ghost in the graveyard and crafts….it is also where my daughter swam a mile across a lake and won an award :).
Bug spray is a definite must. I also have a MAJOR fear of ticks and poison anything!!!!!! I kinda want to see a bear 🙂
I sincerely hope you do not…unless you’re inside a moving car!! 🙂 Have a great time.
I’m such a chicken that if I saw anything other than a squirrel while out on my run, the rest of my runs would just be running back and forth right in front of the cabin! Sounds like you are having a great time. I still read books with actual pages…I have yet to read one on a kindle or phone or any electronic advice.
Wow – good for you not buying an e-book reader. There are definitely pros and cons but I have to say that I love the feel of a real book!
I’m slowly getting used to all the wildlife around here but it’s insane!!
I love it!! You didn’t mention the relentless Mosquitos or black flies. They are the worst wildlife! Hahaha. I’m so glad you are enjoying all the beauty of NH!
OMG Angela I had to cut a run short the other morning because they were attacking me!! I was waving my hat around my head for the last mile. So, so awful. That was the last time I went out for a run without some serious bug spray!!!!
I’ll be emailing you in hopes that we can make some meeting plans!
I don’t think I’ve been to a place without an Uber…? In all seriousness it looks like you are having an amazing time!!! The lake is gorgeous and I’m so happy that your family is enjoying themselves. To me, when everyone is having fun, I can relax the most!
Also, I’m so excited for Thursday! Thank you so much for co-hosting!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
HAHAHA – Yes! Where is my ride home??
Looking forward to Thursday as well. It’s the perfect link-up for vacation!
You mean you didn’t know? The deer was simply using you as a running partner for its tri-training. Sheesh!
DUH! Thank you Josie.
At least you haven’t seen any snakes! Getting chased by a deer is scary – those things can be determined and mean when they want to! It looks like you’re having fun – the lake is so beautiful!
Um, I guess I left that out but the boys did see a snake. I’m serious, ALL the animals are here!!
You are having so much fun up there! I’m from up there and I don’t think I’ve ever done half as much as you have done!! Something about being on vacation would make it different for me I think. I don’t view going home as being on vacation though, lol. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much wildlife when i’m there and we are about a mile from Lake W!
It’s definitely not the same when you’re home. I’m sure there is plenty I haven’t done in CT! And, just be happy you haven’t seen half the wildlife I have. It’s very unsettling.
We did have a moose in our backyard once. My 90 year old nana was visiting and she ran out of the house with her camera. It was quite a site. She had polio so on leg was shorter than the other and she had a limp. So imagine that running out to see a HUGE moose in the back yard, lol!
HAHAHAHA!!! Someone should have videoed THAT! OMG :-))
Haha I love you! I grew up in North Attleboro, MA ( or N. Attleboro, North Attleborough, or NA). 🙂
I don’t think deer are carnivores but you may be changing their minds:) every time I see the food chain first hand I do get a little sad. Running one day over a bridge I saw a snake swimming that was quite large in the middle . It kind of made me sad that little rabbit foo foo could be in there. Why can’t they all be herbivores and eat grass!!!
I may work on that:)
That otter with the lifeless baby duck made me what to cry. It seriously was so sad but yes, it’s the great circle of life 🙂
OMG North Attleboro??…or however you spell it, is very close to my real home!
This sounds like such the ideal trip! I really think nothing beats an old-fashioned lake trip (which is why we do that in the Adks most yrs). The lake swimming, the time for kids to live like this–you’ve got it made! And the training isn’t too shabby either. It sounds just like how I roll when we’re in the Adks, complete with all those hills.
As to wildlife encounters–I always see wild turkeys on my runs there and have also seen a coyote. Here, Tori and I just had a similar deer encounter to yours. She stupidly chased an adult and two babies and the next thing I knew, the adult was chasing her. It disappeared for a minute, I put her on her leash, but then when I looked up, there it was. We took a step, it took a step. It went on like this for a while until it thankfully ran off. Did you know deer hurt/kill loads of people each year?!
So glad you are enjoying the time away.
OMG really??? I did NOT know that but I can completely understand how it happens. I can’t believe you had a similar encounter. It’s pretty scary.
Otherwise I am loving life here – it’s everything you said and more. I’m so glad we have so much time here.
Be careful out there and I will too!
I grew up in WV, so I learned to make the deer warning sound. It’s their snort…you kind of make a loud “FFFFOOOOHHHH” sound, all air. We would roll down our windows and make the sound when they were hanging out in the middle of the road and we needed to get by them. They would bolt.
Alternatively, the sound could be a challenge to a big buck and he could take it as an invitation to fight. Get a pepper spray wristie!
YIKES!!!! I have my pepper spray so I’ll be taking it with me from now on. Thanks for the tip!!
This looks like the perfect vacation! We were in Wyoming a couple of years ago and I was scheduled to run a 10K. That morning they had a bear sighting! They recommended bear spray or the option of not running. Later that changed and they said everything was fine. I really wanted to run and I did, but I was clapping my hands and singing the whole time. Such a stunning place to run BTW.
I can’t believe the bear in your neighborhood!!
So fun that you got to run with Sarah! Blogging friends are the best 🙂
Enjoy, enjoy – the smores look so good!
We are headed to the lake soon for our vacation and I can’t wait!!!
PS: I never knew deer were dangerous to humans…!
Bears are scary and I can totally picture you running and singing and clapping – OMG!!!
Sarah and I were chatting about you in the best way possible. Were your ears ringing? 🙂
this reminds me of a dear friend where every time she’d tell me her child’s school was on lockdown (!) it was for BEARS not a “bad guy”
Ive never seen ANY ANY bear close up….let alone close enough fer a lockdown.
sign me:
CITY CARLA
I think I will need to spend at least week in NY or Boston once I get home! That is nuts about the lockdown and I’m not sure which reason is scarier!?
A snake slithered by me while I was weeding yesterday…enough proof for me that I should not do any yard work.
Glad you are having a great time, and I love that you are reading old school style. I love my e-reader, but there really is nothing like a real book!
So true! And yes, you can add snakes to the list as the boys found one by the rock wall and screamed like they were being killed. Gotta love it.
So happy that the boys are adjusting so well and having such a great time at #lakelife! I didn’t really have a doubt! Uh having a deer chase you bro? No thanks. Shooting bears off backporches?! DOUBLE no thanks!! Glad you are keeping up your fitness though, it looks like a beautiful place to spend a few weeks. 🙂
It absolutely is but these animal encounter actually have me wishing for a treadmill!!! 🙂
Allie! I just can’t with that picture of the bear!!! I think it’s so funny that you went on to write about all the wildlife #lakelife stuff and the whole time I was reading I was thinking, “THERE WAS A BEAR IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD.” #thingsyoudontseeinbrooklyn
You guys look like you’re having a wonderful time! I’m linking up with Britt tomorrow – s happy you’re jumping in on it too, it’s such a great idea for a link up!
Oh and so fun you and Sarah got to meet! When are you coming on a wilderness tour to Park Slope?
xoxo
OMG seriously. I kind of put it out of my mind since we’ve been gone but that is so scary…and I went for a run that morning!!
So glad you linked up!! It’s really such a great idea Britt had.
I would love to tour the “wilderness” of Park Slope! I’m in serious need of city life right now!!
I have never even heard of deer chasing people… crazy! But the change of scenery and beauty outdoors sounds perfect. I’m looking forward to getting away to the beach next weekend and having some low key (low tech) days. Stay safe!
Have a great time and enjoy being unplugged! 🙂