Listen up, y’all, let me tell ya ’bout this place, this Little Carnelian Lake, yeah, that’s what they call it. It ain’t no big fancy thing, but it’s somethin’ special, ya know?
First off, findin’ the darn place ain’t easy. No big signs or nothin’. You gotta go north of Stillwater, in that Washington County place. It’s like they hidin’ it on purpose! They say it’s near the Twin Cities, but shoot, everything’s “near” somethin’ if you think about it hard enough. This Little Carnelian Lake, it’s small, real small. But don’t let that fool ya, good things come in small packages, like them little candies my grandbaby loves.
Now, ’bout gettin’ on the water. Don’t go thinkin’ you gonna drive your big boat right up to it. Nope. No public boat ramp or nothin’. If you wanna get your little boat or that kayak thingy on the water, you gotta walk it down a path. Can you believe that? Walk! Like we ain’t got enough walkin’ to do already. But I guess it keeps the riff-raff out, ya know? The ones with the loud motors and the beer bellies.
- No big boats allowed!
- Walk your canoe or kayak down a path.
- Keeps the lake quiet, which ain’t so bad.
They got this little park there, Stillwater Township Park, on the southwest side, I think. It ain’t much, but it’s somethin’. A little beach for the kids to splash around, and that’s pretty much it. Don’t expect no fancy bathrooms or nothin’. It’s just a place to sit and watch the water, maybe have a picnic if you brought some sandwiches. Just watch out for them ants, they’re everywhere!
Now, the water, that’s the real surprise. They say it’s clear, real clear. Clearer than most lakes around here. I don’t know why, maybe it’s magic, maybe it’s just clean, who knows? But you can see right down to the bottom, or so they say. I ain’t been swimmin’ in years, my old bones can’t take it. But the youngsters, they love it. They say you can even see the fish swimmin’ around.
And speaking of fish, they got them Northern Pike in there. Big ones, too, so I hear. Now, I ain’t a fishin’ woman myself, but the fellas, they love it. They sit out there all day, waitin’ for a bite. Patience is a virtue, they say, but I ain’t got none of that. I’d rather be home, watchin’ my stories on the TV.
Folks keep talkin’ about this Carnelian Bay place, too. Say it’s not far, and there’s all sorts of things to do. Hikin’, bikin’, all that outdoor stuff. Me? I’d rather stay put. But if you’re the adventurous type, maybe you’d like it. Just be careful out there, y’all. This world ain’t always safe. If you go foolin’ around in that whitewater, make sure you know what you’re doin’, or you might get yourself hurt. That ain’t no good for nobody.
I heard some folks talkin’ ’bout it on that Facebook thing, too. They got pictures and stuff. Seems like folks like to go there and take pictures. Makes sense, I guess. It is a pretty little lake, even if it ain’t nothin’ fancy. It’s peaceful, ya know? Quiet. And sometimes, that’s all you need.
So, there you have it. Little Carnelian Lake. It ain’t the biggest or the fanciest, but it’s got its own charm. A little bit of quiet, a little bit of clear water, a little bit of fishin’, and a whole lot of peace. If you’re lookin’ for somethin’ like that, then maybe you should go check it out. Just remember to bring your walkin’ shoes, and maybe some bug spray, too. Them skeeters can be fierce!
And don’t go blabbin’ to everyone ’bout it, ya hear? We don’t want the whole world comin’ and ruin’n it. Some things are best kept secret, like my grandma’s apple pie recipe. This lake, it’s kinda like that. A little hidden treasure, right here in our own backyard. So go enjoy it, but be respectful, ya know? Leave it the way you found it, so others can enjoy it too.
That’s all I got to say ’bout it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go make myself some supper. All this talkin’ makes a body hungry!