blackie parlin

Three days before our June 1st wedding, Joan and I went for a romantic ride in the family Chris Craft.  Returning home in the early evening, the craft conked out in the middle of the wide stretch of lake between Huletts and Sabbath Day.

 

At that time (1958) in the month of May virtually no boats were on the lake.  The lake temperature was still in the 50’s, too cold to swim and pull the boat.  I knelt awkwardly on the bow and paddled as best I could with one oar.  The nearest shore was the rocky cliff of Deer Leap.

 

By the time we reached the shore, darkness was approaching.  We anchored the boat.  I swam to shore in my underwear.  Joan threw my pants which landed in the lake.  Soaked and cold, I set off along the rocky shore to get help.

 

The shore at Deer Leap consists of the huge rocks which have broken off from the cliff.  I was able to climb up and over most of the boulders, but in spots I had to get into the water to swim around an obstacle.  At one point, while climbing up and around one of the bigger boulders, I came face to face with a porcupine.  Contrary to popular myth, porcupines do not thrust their quills.  As I gulped and tried to still my terrified heart, the beast calmly strolled away ahead of me.

 

The rocky shoreline of Deer Leap is probably one eighth of a mile before reaching the foot of Tongue Mountain.  By the time I reached the first house it was quite dark.  I was lucky not to have slipped and fallen on the rocks.

 

I made a phone call to Camilla and Harold who were staying in the ‘Big House.’  They called Ed Rowe, the man who founded the marina now known as Snug Harbor.  It was about 10:00 when Ed picked me up in his boat and we went south to where Joan was anchored.  Ed expressed awe that I had managed to traverse the shoreline.

 

Joan gave every sign of confident self-assurance but subsequently admitted to being very scared anchored alone in a deserted part of the lake in enveloping darkness.

 

When Ed pulled us and our craft to the marina, I said, “If this Chris Craft motor starts, I will feel like a damn fool.”  In fact, the boat’s motor had had a serious breakdown.

 

I want to acknowledge what a wonderful man Ed Rowe was.  I’m not sure that in today’s world one would get such a late night rescue.

 

When I got Joan safely home to Glens Falls at about 1:00 a.m., Omi was still up awaiting our return.  In her last commanding maternal dictum she said to Joan, “No more adventures.  You are going to stay safely home now until your wedding.”

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View of Deer Leap from water.​

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