Winter sports mecca

Except for dead batteries in the camera and dead replacement batteries in my pocket, our trip to Gamblin aka Gamble Lake yesterday turned out to be great outing. We also discovered that the pretty little lake at Glengary appears to be its own unique mecca for winter sports.

We went snow shoeing, following the designated trail through part of the woods and then setting off along the lake shore.

Later, we came back out onto the lake and made our way toward the island. Bill estimated that we traveled 2-plus miles, not as many as last week's uphill climb to the Grouse Creek clearcut, but still a good workout.

I stumbled after catching the tips of my snowshoes on crusty snow a couple of times. In fact, the photo with the cattails below was taken from the ground. I decided if I had to lie there, I'd get a good angle.

During the time we spent in the area, which has been set aside and maintained by the Nature Conservancy and the Bureau of Land Management, we saw a bicycler pedaling his way around the lake, we met up with folks doing some ice fishing, we saw kids playing hockey, we saw hikers and even a lady leading a horse along the road near the shoreline.

Gamblin Lake is a pristine spot not too far from Martin Bay at Glengary near the end of the Sagle Road. From the lake, one can see part of Dr. Forrest Bird's farm, inventing facility and air museum. Dr. Bird, inventor of the Bird respirator, et. al., received national recognition from Pres. George W. Bush at a White House ceremony a few weeks ago.

The area is breath-taking, and yesterday's scene (if only my batteries would have lasted) reminded me of something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Very nostalgic with the ice fishing huts and a perfect setting for cold-weather recreation.