I never expected it to happen to me. A year or so later I was on a canoe trip in the Adirondack Mountains region. I love those clear glacial lakes and refreshing cool or cold water. Of course I had my wonderful Leupold compact binoculars with me everywhere I went. I was a beginning birder at the time and I looked for new lifelist birds everywhere I traveled.
Our group hiked several peaks in the Adirondacks. I learned techniques for proper binoculars care from other group members. I always carried them inside my vest protected from drippy paddles or swinging branches. I never let go of the straps and enjoyed listening to comparisons as group members discussed their own binoculars and features.
I was amazed that Leupold Binoculars were favorites not only due to quality but also because they are MADE IN AMERICA. I knew it made a difference to many people who would never buy a “foreign car”. But binoculars? Wow. What a revelation that was.
I loved the late night moonlight canoe trips and sunset solo swims. I was delighted to swim out beyond the ropes and gaze at the swallows dipping and zipping and eating mosquitoes. Even dragonflies were busy. Then I swam back to shore just a bit chilled and went to a campfire. I was out of my mind with delight. I loved the late night moonlight canoe trips and sunset solo swims. Pre-breakfast walks to the red raspberry patch yielded exquisite breakfast treats. Loons called in the distance every evening but I could not see them in the dim twilight. A friend promised to take me out to see their nest the next day.
Then we went canoeing in a swamp at a higher altitude. That day I learned how essential it is to have waterproof binoculars. Three of us were assigned to each canoe. I got placed in the center because they needed a better balance and I did not complain.
We were only about 20 yards from shore when the person behind me moved somehow and his weight caused the canoe to wobble. Each of us responded by wobbling in our own direction and within seconds we were capsized. Fortunately we were in relatively shallow water so when our feet found bottom we could all stand up and use our paddles as hiking sticks to help us get back to shore.
Being the shortest one in the group I was in water up over my waist when I surfaced. We were all shivering in the summer sun by the time we got out of the cold mountain water. Aware of the risks of hypothermia, we three returned to camp for dry gear.
Back at camp, unloading our gear. I remembered my Leupold Binoculars inside my vest. Dripping wet for the past 20-25 minutes or so. I was stunned and grateful to discover they were not damaged or even fogged up. All Leupold binoculars are waterproofed and fog proofed and the interiors are purged with nitrogen. That is one more measure of their quality. I am so grateful. That evening the waterproof properties of my binoculars and the physics of weight distribution in canoes were the primary topics for discussion and humor.
Tags: Vacations