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February 02, 1984 - Memories Returning Through the Fogr SECOND SECTION The *Uffolh Timeg February 2, 1984 • Memories Returning Through the Fog By PAULSTOUTENBURGH What a range our weather passes through -- from near zero for days to a high in the 40s; from 10 to 12 inches of snow to heavy rain, then fog. Today there are only white blotches of snow scattered across the lawn and into the pasture, while in the foggy woods where the snow cover was more even and drifting did not occur, the brown leaves are masters once again. Fog came in ever so quietly about mid- day. First t slithered across the ice in the bay, wrapping that world in its misty charm. How unreal it looked. Unnoticed, it moved inland and now I can hardly see to the end of the pasture. We've all had our favorite experiences in the fog. Probably the reason we remember them so vividly is because they are not that common. A foggy day is unusual. I can't remember any great impressions of the fog when I was really young, but I do remember one in my teens. When I was first photographing I took a picture with sun coming through the fog and trees silhouetted against it that had an almost biblical look to it. It was one of the early Kodachromes and I can remember that yellow -white fog with those black trees and long shadows creating a setting that settled deep in my mind' Alone in the Fog on the Bay Then there was the time when I was alone in a rowboat in the middle of the .bay. I was stalking a group of loons (large diving ducks) that were talking to themselves. 'In those early years I never had a pair of binoculars and I wanted to get up close enough to see those handsome birds. And besides, it was a youthful challenge. I would imitate their call, a soft yodel, as they talked among themselves. Sure enough, they became curious. I got down in the boat and kept calling. Closer and closer they came. The water was perfectly smooth and calm. When I'd call, they'd answer. I'd call again. Soon they were about 20 feet away. I'd peek over the side. What a thrill it was to see these northern divers with their beady eyes and long pointed bills. Then I must have slipped or an oar rolled or something made a noise and in an instant they were gone. They disappeared below the water. When they came up they were off in the fog like so many ghosts. There were other fog experiences, but I'll limit them to just two more. One was when I was older after returning from the service and had taken up flying. Part of getting your license is a flight by yourself to certain preset destinations. I :_:ti Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh SILHOUETTE IN THE FOG - -Last week during that It was quite a change from winter's cold and snow. unusually mild spell, fog covered most of our island. It's called cross country. What a thrill it was, flying alone without an instructor. You are completely in control of your own destiny. You literally hold your life in your hands. Seeing I was on floats, my destination was down west somewhere near Jamaica Bay. There I was to land, refuel, head for Connecticut and then back to Mattituck. All went well along the south shore until -- yes, you guessed it. I flew into fog. One minute I was in beautiful sun. The next I was enveloped in fog. In those days instruments were meager and my experience even less. I flew up, down, to the left, then to the right. What a completely unknown situation. I tried moving up again, hoping to fly out but no luck. Then I decided to try going down just a bit. Sure enough I dropped out of the fog and into a world that was familiar. The sensation had been unreal for without the instruments I was adrift in an envelope of white. How that experience remains with me. Sailing in a Fog Then there was a time later in my life when my younger son and I went sailing in our small Comet sailboat. Dad was showing Roger how to sail. With a fresh wind blowing out of the southwest, we were heading home wing on wing. The centerboard was up to give us extra speed and we were literally planing along over the waves. Then the fog came in. It seemed as if it dropped right over us, for in minutes we were in a blanket of white, the wind still blowing. This was all right because we were not far from the mouth of the creek, which was dead ahead. We'd keep the sail set and show just how it's done. It was kind of thrilling, moving along without any reference but the water speeding by. Then all of a sudden there was the shore -- right in ALL ISLAND EQUIPMENT POWER Sal" - 6R/e1J[t? - rte/ WEST BABYLON, N. Y. 11704 (516) 643 -2605 Rt. 58, Riverhead 727 -0434 front of us! No time to swing,around! Up we drove almost high and dry!! Sails out, lines flapping, waves following right over the stern and embarrassment smothering me. I did have to laugh though as we both jumped out and pushed the light boat off and moved down the beach 100 feet to the entrance. Now we were in the narrow creek with its familiar shores alongside that guided us the rest of the way in. So it is when fog takes over. Strange, lonely and sometimes scary situations occur, but by and large I think we all welcome the changes our weather brings. ,r „r/G 85 EAST MAIN STREET, RIVERHEAD • 727 -9824 OPEN: Monday - Saturday i:0u AM - 8:00 PM We will be Closed for Vacation Feb. Reopen Mon. Feb. 20th 13th thru 18th SPECIALS MONDAY Sauerbraten w /Dumplings & Red Cabbage $495 TUESDAY Roast Leg of Lamb $430 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Corned Beef & Cabbage $430 FRIDAY Beef Goulash $430 SATURDAY Roast Loin of Pork 1/2 Baked Chicken w /Sauerkraut w /Stuffing $495 $405 All above served with POTATO, VEGETABLE and ROLL or BRE kD Self ProP aver Asphalt Paver, Unequaled in Dependability. / °• Tl �� k b ra.croas TRACTORS ACTO Turf Equipment front of us! No time to swing,around! Up we drove almost high and dry!! Sails out, lines flapping, waves following right over the stern and embarrassment smothering me. I did have to laugh though as we both jumped out and pushed the light boat off and moved down the beach 100 feet to the entrance. Now we were in the narrow creek with its familiar shores alongside that guided us the rest of the way in. So it is when fog takes over. Strange, lonely and sometimes scary situations occur, but by and large I think we all welcome the changes our weather brings. ,r „r/G 85 EAST MAIN STREET, RIVERHEAD • 727 -9824 OPEN: Monday - Saturday i:0u AM - 8:00 PM We will be Closed for Vacation Feb. Reopen Mon. Feb. 20th 13th thru 18th SPECIALS MONDAY Sauerbraten w /Dumplings & Red Cabbage $495 TUESDAY Roast Leg of Lamb $430 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Corned Beef & Cabbage $430 FRIDAY Beef Goulash $430 SATURDAY Roast Loin of Pork 1/2 Baked Chicken w /Sauerkraut w /Stuffing $495 $405 All above served with POTATO, VEGETABLE and ROLL or BRE kD