To the lake!

[Compatriot Block]

So after I post this I'm going to be packing my clothes, make a breakfast and start the 4 hour drive to THE LAKE. Every family, at least in Saskatchewan, has picked their one traditional holiday location. My family goes to Loon Lake and they're already there.

So as I pack my stuff and look forward to some swimming and card games I figured I might as well ask you guys about your experiences with camping out by lakes. Mine have always been pleasant and it is the best part of the summer in my opinion. Didn't get to go camping last year but this year I have money for gas.

[HEADING=2]Now then, the questions for discussion:[/HEADING]

What's your family's lake of choice?

What's your favorite memory of the lake?

What's the worst?

And, if your family isn't a lake/tenting/RV kind of family, how do you spend your vacations?

Well, I'm off to catch the last bit of summer here before the rains of autumn begin.

Cheers Escapist!

Huh, I actually only live about 45 minutes away from Loon Lake. Weird.

Anyways, our family likes a lake called Priest Lake.

I like swimming in it during the summer, when the water is only slightly bone-chilling at first.

I hate swimming in it at any other time, when it's like swimming inside a giant ice cube.

 

[King of Asgaard]

I live on the island of Malta, which is the size of a small lake, so it's no surprise that we don't have any lakes.
I've actually never been to any lake.

 

[A Weakgeek]

Wow, this thread is so weird for me as a finn. Finland has a bazzillion lakes, infact its called the land of the lakes.

Spoiler: As can plainly be seen here

That said, we visit about 3 lakes and 1 river regularly each summer (atleast weekly). One of our relatives owns a cottage on each, we rarely stay the night, since they are quite close to home.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Huh, I actually only live about 45 minutes away from Loon Lake. Weird.

Small world. o.o

Anyway, drove there. Met my family in St. Walberg because the campsite was full until 12. Visited my grandparents who are in the carehome there. Went and set up camp at noon. Card games with family, drinking, good times.

Wake up and go Kayaking. Read a bit after eating lunch. Go swimming, come back and play cards. Say my goodbyes and go visit more family before driving home.

A good, if too short, trip. It's too bad I work tomorrow morning, otherwise I'd still be there.

 

[LongAndShort]

I'm more of a river man myself. Went to a school camp when I was a kid to Lake Macquarie, and let's just say I was unimpressed.

Most of my camping trips these days involve swimming and alcohol, and meat cooked over a roaring fire. Often at the same time. Didn't go this year (because it's been fucking freezing), but might give it another go when summer eventually starts again. Maybe around Christmas/New Year.

 

[Images]

Good times...good times. Not many places you get to see a rare prehistoric beast these days.


I mean, when's the last time you saw Bill Pullman?

 

[Bealzibob]

My family doesn't take vacations. We just close all the windows and open all the doors in the house and run all the air-conditioners and then play wow for 2 days straight whenever a expansion comes out. Or at least we did back when wow was any good and we still played.

Now we just mope around until our parents ping off to Europe without us.

 

[FalloutJack]

{1} Raccoon Lake, not too far a drive from here.

{2} Several. We've gone there for fishing, you see, and one day a whole bunch of our lines were bit by eager fish at once and I quipped "We're under attack!". Funny day.

{3} I wasn't actually there for that one. I was up early, not sure if I wanted to go fishing with my dad and sister. I looked at the doppler radar and it was thick storm clouds as far as its range could go. I wisely stayed home while those two were drenched and almost thrown to the lake's dam by the current of overflowing water. (No gas motors allowed on that lake, you see, so the dinky little electric one was overpowered, and so too was the anchor.) Fortunately, they had some assistance from the shore.

{4} I've done a LITTLE camping. I just prefer going to where there's family and a place to stay.

 

[twistedmic]

When I was growing up, we never went to 'the lake', mostly because we lived very close to 'the beach'. About ten minutes or so away from the bay and half an hour (give or take due to traffic) from the ocean.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Aye aye, Admiral Cruller! (Man, I play too many games).

My family doesn't go camping much and when they do its mostly to areas that aren't near a lake. I do remember one time when we did ride a boat on a lake and once camping near a lake during the summer when it was probably over 110 degrees and miserable, but that's about it.

 

[Dimitriov]

Lakes! Pffft.

I'll take the ocean any day.

I honestly don't understand how the people in the middle of this continent live! No ocean? I think I'd kill myself!

But yeah, seriously I used to swim in lakes pretty frequently (I grew up living next to a lake that was at least half an hour drive away from the ocean) but I always preferred the river. Went swimming in the Koksilah river every summer growing up. But it's not the same thing here as going to a specific lake to vacation... that's just weird when there's a river, lakes, and you're on an island surrounded by water anyway.


However, most of the times I went camping were next to the ocean, and all kidding aside I can't stand being very far away from the sea for very long.

Spoiler: Ocean views

Spoiler: The Koksilah river

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

My family always went to the sea. Also, is "the lake" seriously that big a thing in america? I kinda thought that was a movie stereotype. Of course, a lot of stereotypes have basis in fact...

This too!

In the UK you are more likely to be nearer a beach than a lake, so they make better holiday locations! Also, your lakes tend to be somewhere near the size of an entire county for us, and we have nothing near that scale!

The only lake I have camped near was when I was an Air Cadet and I spent time at Windermere,

It was good, we spent time hiking in the mountains and kayaking on the lake... we also went gorge walking and climbing. Was a pretty good week!

The only other time I visit lakes are when going Wakeboarding. And those are man made lakes/ old quarries!

 

[MetalMagpie]

My family's traditional holiday destination is Seaview on the Isle of Wight. (Just down the coast from Ryde, for those who know the area.) I have many happy childhood memories fishing for crabs and blennies off Quay Rocks.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Our family's favourite lake?

Spoiler

So much quality kitchenware!
[sub]Apologies for the very British middle class joke[/sub]

I loved that joke! You made me nearly fire tea all over my keyboard!

I live on the island of Malta, which is the size of a small lake, so it's no surprise that we don't have any lakes.
I've actually never been to any lake.

Living in Malta I can't see why you would ever want to go to a lake! I havent been, but I know you live in one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits! Aparrently your country is amazing!

 

[King of Asgaard]

I live on the island of Malta, which is the size of a small lake, so it's no surprise that we don't have any lakes.
I've actually never been to any lake.

Living in Malta I can't see why you would ever want to go to a lake! I havent been, but I know you live in one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits! Aparrently your country is amazing!

That's the weird thing; tourists love it here, yet I, a local, detest it.
Partly it's the schizophrenic temperature changes, partly it's the people, and partly the language.
Maltese is a real pain in the ass to get the hang of. A big chunk of the population can barely speak English at all, and they're all so loud and below the average IQ, it's appalling when I can't have an intelligent conversation because of an arbitrary language barrier.
Then again, we have nice architecture, I suppose.

 

[piinyouri]

After my mother getting scabies from swimming in the town lake when I was a teenager, I've really stopped going to public lakes, or even pools.

 

[Baldry]

Never been to a lake...I feel like I'm missing out

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Never been to a lake...I feel like I'm missing out

I think you are anyway. Swimming, camp cooking, card games, the stars... Some people will say the city is always superior but I can't think of a better way to spend your vacation. I challenge you to go to a lake next time you can take a vacation! Preferably with friends.

 

[Baldry]

Never been to a lake...I feel like I'm missing out

I think you are anyway. Swimming, camp cooking, card games, the stars... Some people will say the city is always superior but I can't think of a better way to spend your vacation. I challenge you to go to a lake next time you can take a vacation! Preferably with friends.

FINE JUST RUB IT IN! WITH YOUR GOOD SUGGESTIONS AND WHAT NOT.