Starting my telework day early, I had already done almost done all my required hours by 1230, when I'd planned to go to Frances Richmond Middle School for two hours of Prouty Cleanup Volunteering (1300 to 1500). We got a lot of work done and the organizers gave me some snacks for our upcoming Trail Magic event in Hanover on July 20. After the volunteering event was over, I returned to my condo and did a little more teleworking. At 1600, I departed for Grafton Pond (via King Road in Etna, Enfield and some back roads (entered by Potato Road and arrived at the boat launch by 1630). Thankfully, the weather finally cooperated long enough for me to join the White River Junction VA Medical Center Adaptive Sports Team and New England Healing Sports for a Monday Evening Paddle! Despite a bit of smoky haze, the conditions on the water were perfect and we did an almost complete circuit. I was assigned a “Dagger” kayak (I was told later it is always “slow”) - it looked like a big brother to “Tequila Sunrise”. With the great conditions, I made the best of things… We saw a huge number of loons! I very much enjoyed being in the company of veterans under paddle power - even though I’m a volunteer, I believe I get the same amount of benefit from the exercise and camaraderie as everyone else... After getting done (1830), I used a dirt road to reach NH-4A and then headed west. I stopped to use my borrowed Nikon camera at the La Salette Shrine in Enfield. For the first time, I climbed the hill that had statues for the Apparition of Our Lady and the Stations of the Cross. With the new telephoto lens Bob had recently lent me, I got some great photos of insects, flowers and artwork. After arriving at my condo (1915), I did some more teleworking (pop up "emergency" work) before finally knocking off for the day at 2000. It was nice to have been able to do so much today - volunteering, paddling and photography!
