August 12-22, 2017
For a variety of reasons, family members did not join us at the Waldheim this year. As we love this place, early in the year we decided to go anyway in August and Kelly reserved the Dream cottage for us for the August 12-19 week. Cassie again was our fantastic waitress. After some communications with Lexi and Linnaea who were hiking the Long Trail in Vermont, we agreed to meet them at the Canadian border. The timing was such that we stayed on at the Waldheim for three extra days and for those we stayed in a room on the second floor of the main house, which is adjacent to the Dining Hall.
The Waldheim continues its tradition of being an old-fashioned relaxing resort.
Main dock and boat house:
Main house:
New this year are a water treatment plant near the boat ramp
and a new railing and several light posts in front of the main house:
As is usual, a lot of time was spent eating, sleeping, swimming, relaxing and reading. As the weather was cool and very calm we also did some canoeing.
There were many loons on the lake:
and several Canadian Geese:
We paddled past this sailboat which was going nowhere:
A new type of watercraft was this bicycle powered catamaran:
On Wednesday was the usual excursion via pontoon boat and a 3/4 mile hike to Russian Lake. An important activity was slicing all of the potatoes:
It was very calm and we and many others swam to the island.
Jenni is swimming back:
This week there were many young people in the group. 
We also took a number of walks/hikes. First we walked to the end of the extended Martin Road. At the very end, a new house is under construction for Kristen Martin, who is talking to Jenni here:
The construction of this house is unique; it is built from “Lego” blocks. Next is a picture of one of the blocks. The blocks are stacked up, appropriate rebar is installed and then concrete is poured into them. In a sense the blocks are forms. However, the foam is left in place as insulation after the concrete is poured.
For more info see:
Of course we made our usual ascent of Bald Mountain with views over Fourth Lake:
Another day, we climbed up the short but very eroded and muddy trail to Rocky Mountain. The trail-head is between Eagle Bay and Inlet.
Here there were nice views over Fourth Lake:
Yet, another short climb from a trail-head on the Martin Road was to Billy’s Bald, a rocky ledge with views over Big Moose Lake.
Cassie told us that the staff sometimes overnights at the shelter on Billy’s Bald.
There were a number of special activities that week. Of interest to many who gathered on the gravel area outside of the Dining Hall after lunch was the solar eclipse on the 21st. A few had special glasses which were passed around and Roger had two glass slides which had been covered with soot.
Leeann brought out from the kitchen a colander which was very useful.
Other special activities were organized by the guests and especially the many young people:
A swimming event was accompanied by kayaks and paddleboards:
The race to the finish:
One afternoon there was a story reading accompanied by live music.
