chapter 530

7/20/2019

Beauty and the Beast

yin and yang

link to tour guide introduction video

It was an exceptionally hot 90 degree July summer day so we decided to do a couple miles on beautiful Lake George. Colleen had the Empire Pass so we chose the free entry to Hearthstone State Park for the launch. We spent a relaxing few hours just meandering up along the coastline to stay out of the main open waters where the heavy high speed boaters travel. There were all sorts of people and water craft out there enjoying this day. In the background is Cramer Point on the left, mountains we've climbed Shelving Rock, Sleeping Beauty and Buck Mt. Long Island center directly behind her and Assembly Point peninsula.

Seemed idyllic, but there are dangers. There can always be some idiot to rain on your parade.

In the back of my mind memories began to resurface about the tragedies that have transpired at this site. It was out in the open waters off Cramer Point (the heavily treed peninsula on the left), where the 8 year old girl lost her life to that drunken sailor high on drugs three years ago. Eight miles up the lake below Shelving Rock is where Log Bay is as I described briefly in our Chapter 441 kayak trip in that part of the lake. That is where the crazy partying used to take place with boats rafted up (since prohibited because of the tragedy).

That is where Alex West had sped down the lake in the dark running over the back of Robert Knaar's antique mahogany boat killing his little granddaughter and kept going hiding out from police that night and getting his parents and friends to lie and cover up for him. He is serving a 5 to 15 year sentence for manslaughter.

Robert Knaar's (Van Zandt) mansion is nestled hidden among those trees under the antenna on this Cramer Point. He had bought this beautiful property of his dreams in 2015 for $7.5 million before the tragedy. It was placed on the real estate market and just sold for $5.5 million. I'm guessing that the tragedy was too much to bear to continue to live there (although it could be something completely unrelated).

This is also the site of one of NY's worst boating accidents, the Ethan Allen cruise ship capsize tragedy that killed 20 senior citizens in 2005. In 2010 a kayaker was killed in a power boat collision incident across the lake behind Long Island (center of picture).

While it is prudent to be mindful of the dangers it did not and should not stop enjoyment of this beautiful location as evidenced by the many recreationalists on our day. A Women's World Dive Day event was taking place as we launched. Future Bucket List (really): Parasail Joe's  and video .

Proceeding up the shoreline this beautiful property is on Cooper Point, the next bay north. It is the Frederick Forest Peabody (Arrow Shirts, Troy) Mansion is also on the market for $15 million . They have boat slips on the back side for a 35 boats.

A wonderful playground is Lake George. Further up into Still Bay with Cannon Point on the left looking north with the Tongue Mt range's multiple peaks. Then again Sliding Rock and Sleeping Beauty in the far distance.

Cramer Point is heavily treed just on the left of this picture. A guy with a pedal electric pontoon bike navigating thru a flock of geese. Buck Mt behind Long Island.

I cannot get over the beauty of Lake George but there is a taint. It feels personal. It's like hiking into a beautiful wild forest then you come across a bunch of garbage that some jerks have thrown away carelessly thoughtlessly. Lucky nature is so overwhelming and healing.

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