Enjoying the beautiful sunset, lake

Viewpoints

July 25, 2010

Ike Adams CNHI The Richmond Register Sun Jul 25, 2010, 02:00 PM EDT

RICHMOND — Before last Sunday, it had been over seven years since I’d last been on beautiful Woods Creek Lake in Laurel County. And even on that trip, we didn’t get there until dark and left before dawn. I remember the moon being full, but my friend, Chris Hale, and I still were more concerned about navigation than having time to appreciate the beauty of the lake as we meandered for a mile or so below the boat dock. We also were more interested in catching a mess of trout than in sight-seeing.

I do recall that the trout cooperated nicely and we both caught limits, but that the fog rolled and we spent well over an hour finding our way back to the dock. I also remember many nights when a fishing buddy and I would be much farther down the lake and the fog would roll in. We learned the hard way that the sensible thing to do was keep a couple of army blankets or sleeping bags in the boat, drop anchor near the shore and simply sleep until the fog lifted.

Loretta and I decided to take advantage of a standing invitation to visit with our friends, Rufus and Phyllis Harrison, who live on the lake. Loretta was far more interested in getting loaded a hardwood porch swing that Rufus had built for her than actually getting on the water, but I knew that she was going to be thrilled when we got her on the Harrison’s nice pontoon.

And so the four of us climbed aboard and headed down the lake just before sunset. The boat runs so quietly — more like big mosquito buzzing than a boat motor — that we could carry on normal conversation as we lounged there on the deck while Capt. Rufus cruised us right along. We eased around the first couple of curves in the lake and Loretta was already snapping pictures almost as fast as her camera would run and occasionally saying, “Wow.” In the meantime, I jabbered on about places where I used to fill live wells with fat bluegill.

When we got around the bend where the lake suddenly opens up from narrow to big and wide, I heard Loretta gasp and barely whisper, “Oh my God.” The broad expanse of water in front of us was flat as glass and the reflection from the clouds and sunset made it look like the biggest stained glass window in the world. And that’s about when I decided to shut up and pull out my Nikon to join my wife in documenting the incredible vista.

By the time we reached the dam and Rufus swung to boat around to head back up the lake, the sunset was beginning to peak behind us. Nobody was talking. We simply were soaking up the pastoral view. We got back to the Harrisons’ private dock at dusk when there was barely enough light to see how to tie up the boat. The timing of our cruise could not possibly have been better.

On our way back home to Paint Lick, Loretta and I gushed to one another that this trip was the best time we’ve had together with great friends in many years. Loretta is ready to sell out here and look for a home on Woods Creek Lake, complete with a pontoon identical to the Harrisons’.

By the way, the platform porch swing Rufus made for Loretta works somewhat similar to an old fashioned glider except that it truly is a swing, suspended on chains. It’s one of the most unique things I’ve ever seen and also one of the most comfortable. Simply put, it’s a genuine work of art. But Rufus also builds regular porch swings as in the kind that suspend from the ceiling. His shop is there on Filter Plant Road off Hwy. 25 in northern Laurel County.

I don’t have his phone number handy because we communicate by e-mail. But he’s listed in the Laurel County phone book. His email is rufusharrison@aol.com. Loretta is ready to go back and get another one of the platform jobs as soon as she gets this one painted. In fact, she bought enough paint tonight to more than finish two.

When we go back to get the next one, we plan to get there in time to use fishing rods instead of cameras.

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