Of These Mountains

By Kendall R. Rumsey

Growing up, one of my favorite family activities was when my dad would ask, “do y’all want to ride around the lakes?” Mama and I would always chime in with an enthusiastic

These family drives usually happened on Sunday afternoons after Church. We would pile into the car; sometimes my brothers would join us, but usually it was just us three. During these drives we would talk; Daddy would tell us about the new houses being built and who would be moving in. It was on one of these drives that my parents told me a story that blew my mind. They knew how much I loved the lake, its peaceful sunrises, the excitement of boats bouncing in the wake and the serenity of fishing in a cove; lake life was in my blood. On this particular day as we rode along, daddy nonchalantly said “Ken, did you know we almost moved to the lake once?” “Ummm, no I didn’t and, why didn’t we?” I responded in shock at his comment. With a sly grin, he responded “your mama didn’t want to.” At this point Mama chimed in and stated without any apology. “There was no way I was going to move to the lake and drive three boys in and out of town every time you needed to be at an activity.” Daddy said, “and now you know why we don’t live on the lake.” Jokingly I told my mama, I wouldn’t be able to forgive her for that decision. She let me know quickly that she didn’t need my forgiveness. Driving around the lake, was a bonding time for our family. I enjoyed the moments we had there. Sometimes we would pack a picnic or just happen to stop in at friends’ lake homes as they were enjoying the day’s activities. Our drives would usually last well into the evening. One of our favorite stops was our “in-town” neighbors, the Rogers. They also had a lake home that was built within a multifamily compound. Upon arrival, I would make my way to the lake to swim with my friends. The day would usually culminate in a cook-out and boat ride. I learned to waterski behind the Rogers’ boat. Shaky at first but then as my confidence grew I was able to cross wakes, eventually ending up on a slalom and spraying big waters as I sped across ice cold Burton.

We had other friends on the lakes that we would visit. One of my favorite spots was a tiny old cabin, set within a cove that was owned for generations by our friends the Pyshers. Dale and Jane were some of my favorite people. Dale with a sly sense of humor and Jane with mom-like hugs and snacks, their house didn’t feature a boat, but instead, waste level waters that fish swam in just off the shore. I would sneak out onto the rickety old dock and hang over, touching fish as they swam by. On many occasions, I would wade into the waters, carefully placing each foot so as not to fall on the algae covered rock. During these times, I would laugh with joy as the small fish would swim around me and nibble on my toes. I am reminded of a late-night adventure at the Pysher’s when the night skies lit up as a full lunar eclipse passed over Burton. I was spending the night at their lake cabin and Jane let me stay up late into the night to watch the skies change. I was only 10 or 11, but I remember that night and look back on it with excitement. As I grew older, I began to branch out on my own and spend weeks on end with friends on Lake Rabun.

My brother had a college roommate who had a brother my age. His family had a large cabin on Rabun and they would invite me to come spend time with them during the summer. There were six of us all about the same age and we would spend our early teen years on the dock laughing, swimming in the icecold waters and riding up and down the lake for hours on end. We all became very proficient skiers during those summers. My favorite time to ski, was early morning. During early morning adventures, we would ski in blue jeans as the waters were so cold.

Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Georgia. He is owner of the lifestyle brand Of These Mountains and author of the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.ofthesemountains.com www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

The early morning outings before the multiple boats were cranked for the day would be highlighted by waters as smooth as glass. Sliding along the smooth wake in those early morning runs was the perfect time to practice our skills and stretch the limits of our ability. I loved those days on the lake and the adventures I had with my friends during those teen years. Today, as I look back on my lake days, I am grateful for the kindness of friends who would open their doors to me and allow my lake life adventures to become memories that will last a lifetime.

I think back on the long rides, the picnics, boat rides and laughs shared on docks and remember them with fondness.

For those of us who were fortunate enough to grow up in the mountains of Georgia, living life to the fullest in the Cabins and Coves of Burton and Rabun, the memories that we created and the friendships developed there will never be forgotten. Today, especially at this time of year, I often think back on those days of a youth filled with abandon and smile to myself knowing that those days helped shape my life. It isn’t out of the ordinary that I get into my car on a Sunday afternoon and “ride around the lake,” in appreciation for the life that those waters created for me.