“You remember Uncle Joe.” – Bob Seger

Every few months on a random Saturday, I get up early (for me), make some coffee, and drive about 15 minutes to Lake Fayetteville. I park by the Botanical Gardens, throw my tripod and scope over my shoulder and make the easy 10 minute walk to the Mulhollan Blind, a staple there since 2016. The blind was built in tribute to Paige Mulhollan, a local avid birder who passed away in 2012. I never met Paige, but I met his son Kelly, albeit briefly, one Saturday earlier this year when he stopped by obviously guiding a small group of birders around Lake Fayetteville.

I usually set up my scope, get my binoculars out, open my Merlin app on my phone and spend a few hours watching the bird activity around and on the water. There are people who stop by the blind and chat for a few minutes – photographers, other birders, and just nosy people walking along the nature path. There are kayakers paddling and fishermen fishing on the lake. I’ve spotted various hawks and bald eagles and kingfishers and blue herons along with all types of ducks and geese. The surrounding woods house all types of woodpeckers and warblers and everyday backyard birds like chickadees and cardinals and Blue Jays.

The blind is a quiet haven of thoughts and observations. It almost feels like a modern day invisibility cloak looking through the small cutout windows and watching. There is a voyeuristic feeling as the kayakers and fishermen carry on. Occasionally they’ll point to the blind probably wondering if or who is in there viewing the world around them in complete obscurity.

This particular beautiful morning in October, I got out of my vehicle and made the familiar walk to the blind only and at one point realized I had walked too far along the trail. I had come to an unfamiliar split in the path and a wooden walkway that I had never been on. I thought how strange it was that I missed the blind. I chalked it up to being deep in thought and turned around. I came upon the path where the Mulhollan Blind stood only when I arrived there was no blind and as I stood there looking, my only thought was “what the (insert loud hawk scream)?”

The blind was gone and this was all that was left.

A quick Google search informed me that the fire department had been called to a late night fire at the blind in late August. Whether it was arson or an “accident,” there is little doubt that someone was there shortly before it started given it was the only area of fire destruction. Kelly Mulhollan was quoted in that same article as saying that they hope to rebuild the blind.

Me too, Kelly. Me too.

Who wants to play those eights and aces?
Who wants a raise, who needs a stake?
Who wants to take that long-shot gamble
And head out for Fire Lake?

This blind marked the first of many’s for me. First time to use my Vortex scope. First of many waterfowl I’d never studied nor even paid attention to before. First of closeups of a bald eagle, a pileated woodpecker, and a snowy egret. I’m sure there were many firsts there for other avid birders, photographers, or walkers that just liked to stop in for a few minutes and look around.

Many firsts indeed, but maybe not a round of firsts like Bob Seger sings of in “Fire Lake,” his 1980 hit about taking risks. One of his self-proclaimed personal lyrical favorites, Seger’s song hit #6 on the charts upon its’ release as his first single in 1980 from his “Against the Wind” album which features the title track (a #5 hit) and “You’ll Accomp’ny Me” (a #14 hit). The album spent many weeks on the top albums charts peaking at #2. Never seen Bob live, but I’ve always loved Bob’s voice and admired his talent.

This is “Fire Lake”…

Thanks for reading.

sincerely,

the80’s