All “Clark Lakers” have their favorite memories, thoughts, people and moments about Clark Lake. Reflecting on a few of mine, it was harder than I imagined. Not for a lack of ideas, but rather, how to select just a few. Here are some that come to mind.
Putting the dock in, playing on the shore, watching the beautiful sunsets,
Another stunning Clark Lake sunset
finding a family of snails with your toes, fish beds, fish eggs, picking (and sampling) apples at the Avis Orchard, boat rides, a crisp fall day, swimming in the deep, laying on the dock, big family breakfasts, the SPIRIT TRAIL (Thanks Tom Collins!), skinny dipping, going fishing, the dam (and swimming under the tunnel),
Clarence Ligibel (Becky’s Grandpa) returns from fishing with a fine looking pike
catching frogs, the polka-dot fairy, the turtle patch, wonderful friends, watching the sun make diamonds on the water, black raspberries, trees that have been here for hundreds of years, the cove, band nights at the Beach Bar, bonfires, Raft-O-Rama (53 years and going strong!), listening to the lake make ice, the pristine waters in early spring, minnow cages, family, going barefoot, damming up the spring, fireworks, canoe rides with Birdie when I was too young to paddle on my own, eating Adams’ corn (the BEST ever), standing on the shore anxiously awaiting Grandpa Ligibel’s return from his morning fishing trip, SUMMER!,
Love the Raft-O-Rama!
watching a big storm roll in, walking along the dirt road, the noise made by the expanding barrels on the swim raft, never ending stars, finding fragments of skeet in the water, the horse barn, late night times on the lake, fish fries, being able to see 20+ feet down into the water, walking on the ice, the Clark Lake Run, S’mores, power slides, music at The Pointe floating across the water, sailboat races, the Cascades and a trip to Louden Jackson, luminaries on the 4th of July, getting measured at Rollo and Virginia’s, swimming over a cold spring, catching fire flies, playing kick-the-can and ghostie-ghostie, cook-outs, the wonderful one-of-a-kind smell of the water on a hot summer day, sunrise!, spectacular fall colors, Eagle Point, clams (could they they be coming back?), Pleasant View, the drop-off, paddle boarding, the first dip of the year…
We all have our favorites. Each of us, our thoughts, memories and bonds that tie us to one another all fit together to create the amazing puzzle that we know and love as our very own paradise…Clark Lake!!
