Swim To Ant Island

The kids had all eaten dinner and it was lightly raining outside. I was in the middle of grilling some dinner and my second G&T. I had made a proclamation earlier in the week that when anyone wanted to jump in the lake, I would join them.


“Daddy, I want to go for a swim. You want to go?”


Minutes later, she had her suit and life jacket on and was in the water on the way to Ant Island. It was cold, drizzling and getting darkish and there was my little girl swimming into the wind. I jumped in and we were off!

The swim there was no problem. We talked about doing stupid things, like swimming in the cold, and how not everyone does things like this, but how it is important it is to sometimes push yourself to do weird and uncomfortable things. She was like a tiny puppy swimming, but she was determined and persistent. We made it to Ant Island and quickly swam back but about a quarter of the way back she panicked.

It was too cold. She was tired and, “I want to be back.” I talked her down from the ledge and we swam back, with her on my back, shivering and talking all the way back.

Back in the cabin we took a warm bath together, revelling in our shared experience.

It was beautiful.

The rest of the day was great meals, friends enjoying friendships, a fire and smores, a drizzling sunset and a day spent changing between swimsuits and pyjamas. Tomorrow, we are off to Bellingham and back to the world. I will be sad to leave Levitt Lake. Thank you Dan and Angie for having us. This was a memorable and wonderful week in this amazing place.

The Chief

Today was a day. We all got up relatively early and headed to hike/climb The Chief. It was a bit more than we all thought, but all four kids, including Skyelar did an amazing job and the views at the top were well worth it. She started off a bit whiny and tired, but as soon as we hit the rocks, ladders and chains she loved it.


Not much else today. Lunch. Another flight of beers. A swim across the lake. Some cards. Dinner. And a quiet fade into night.


Tomorrow is our last full day here and it will be weird to be back in civilization. The days have been pretty magical. Looking forward to a warm and sunny day with lots of time in the water and on the docks.


Every night, I am too tired and well-spent to worry too much with words or thoughts. The world is crumbling around us again, but I am hoping to stick my head in the ground for a few more days.

Fire-Warmed Room

I was in the lake twice today. The second time early in the evening after the rainstorm as the steam was rising from the water. The water felt abnormally warm, but the cool breeze instantly woke me up. We had been playing cards all afternoon in a fire-warmed room and the change of scenery felt fresh and necessary.


Today was another well-spent day. We took the kids for a morning walk, where they played freely in the woods. They took risks and navigated their own paths through the moss-covered rocks and fallen tree trunks.


Another few naps. Lunch. Dinner.


Skyelar was back on Ant Island, but still did not jump. It is actually too big a jump for her, so we are trying to talk her out of it, but she is determined to kayak out there each day and try to talk herself into it. We’ll see how tomorrow goes.


Speaking of tomorrow, we are hoping to hike The Chief tomorrow. This has been a great week, in a great place in the middle of a great summer. The days fade one into the next and I haven’t combed my hair or ever looked in a mirror for a few weeks.

Full and Bloated

The days are slow but they go so fast. Woke up at ten am today and expect for the short hike around the lake, I only moved from one couch to the other. Read. Nap. Lunch. Nap. Then it was time to jump in the lake.

It is cold, freezing really, but I decided no matter the temperature I will jump into this lake at least once a day. It was glass smooth and dark green. Inviting. After the initial shock, I swam a bit, until we got all the kids in the water too. We jumped off a nearby rock and then back at the cabin preparing dinner.


Feeling full and bloated, I mustered enough energy for a quick canoe tour of the lake then lounging on the couch by a fire. Slow night. Early to bed.


I glanced at some news, but decided to ignore it. I am rarely checking in on line, but to post a few photos and these posts. The world will have to wait. I can’t imagine much good is happening out there.


Here on the lake, we saw a lake otter swim the span of the water. I saw the clouds burn off to reveal the tip of the snow-capped moutons around diner time and we head a woodpecker in the woods. That seems to be more than enough to keep me satisfied.