Robin's Outdoors

Upper Sysladobsis Lake, or Upper Dobsis (dob-see) as it’s commonly known, is the lake I grew up on. My maternal grandparents built the camp I grew up going to, then sold it outside the family. <insert grumble here>  My mother’s grandfather, my Great Grampa John Veazie, built his camp a half mile away. I’ve been there every summer of my life. My parents bought it about 25 years ago, and it’s the camp we own now.

Upper Sysladobsis (Dobsis) Lake in Penonbscot County, Maine.

Lombard Lake empties into Upper Dobsis to the right of Pyramid Rock. We’ve spent a lot of time sitting in a boat at the inlet, waiting for a bite. We usually catch bass but an occasional white perch swims by. Perch fishing is an occasion! Back when Mum and my aunt and uncle were alive we’d hook our boats bow to stern in a big circle at the inlet from Pug Lake. My cousins and great uncle were part of the fun too. We fished in the middle. Being a family of practical jokers and smart asses (which is much more fun than dumb asses), you never know what might happen. Mimi once three a three ounce sinker into our aluminum boat, startling very jumpy Steve. When he recovered from the near heart attack he swiftly cut her line and kept the sinker. I don’t think we ever established the reason for having a sinker that big. Stinking fish guts showed up under truck hoods, under campers and behind camps. Lots of fun and (mis)adventure happens on our lake. Nana and Grampy, Grampa John and Grammie Rita, Mum, Aunt Betty and Uncle Bobby have passed on but they’re still alive and well in our memories of camp.

Anyway! I’ve sidetracked myself.

We took the kayaks to camp with us on July 4. I hoped Donna, my step-mom, would go for a ride. Kayaking was on her bucket list and she said during a previous trip to camp that she’d go next time. It was next time. Steve assured her he didn’t want to get wet on a cool, damp day any more than she did and promised to not flip it on purpose. She climbed in and away we went. I took my Vapor and they went in the tandem Loon. The trip to Pyramid Rock on the far side of the lake is .85 miles.

Donna enjoyed herself so much that she’s thinking about buying a kayak. I hope she does and will join us when we paddle nearby lakes and ponds.  Jenn watched us get in and out decided she wouldn’t be able to do it with a bad knee. She’d changed her mind by the time we got back and gave it a try. She was in and out much easier than expected and loved it.

The island in the upper portion of Upper Dobsis.

We paddled part of East Musquash this week but I’ll save that for another time. I’d like to have photos and something more than “we paddled part of East Musquash this week” to write.