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| Kayak | 8.00 Miles |
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| | Kayak | 8.00 Miles | 4 Hrs 30 Mns | | 2.67 mph |
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| partners | | 1st and last time I was in a Kayak was 19 years ago. It was a cold, foggy day on Lake Superior and you really didn't want to go swimming, seriously! 
Brian has a spare and told me months ago that we should do this, this summer. Today seemed like the perfect day. And it was. Got on the Water about 10:00 from Acacia, and paddled across to the Channel. I figured out by this time, that the last person to use this Kayak was waaayyy taller than I was, so once we got across the Main body of the Lake, we pulled over to some rocks so I could get out and adjust the foot pegs. Of course, graceful me was having a hard time getting out there and just as I finally managed it, a boat wake hit and I ended up swamping the whole boat....  Sooo, starting off the trip really well with a T-Rescue manuever to empty the 100 gallons of water..... 
Finally back in, foot pegs adjusted and away we went again. Beautiful way to see Canyon Lake. Very little wind and not alot of Boat Traffic today. We took a small break under a very nice, shaded alcove on the Water and then continued on. Paddled all the way back in a small inlet hoping to see some Wildlife and enjoyed the little side trip immensely. Tons of Dragonflies and saw quite a few Bluegill at the very back. Lots of birds in the area as well.
Took about an hour break in there, with some swimming time and then headed back out and down the Lake some more. Saw this really cool Cave and Brian and I were both commenting on possibly exploring it some day. We were almost past it and I was still checking it out, when I saw something white just to the left of it. Woo Hoo! Bald Eagle! Sitting on a Rock Ledge not more than 20 feet from the Cave Entrance, about 150 feet up from the Water. Amazingly, that bird never moved anything more than it's head, considering how much farting around I was doing below him, trying to get the camera out of the Dry Bag, turning on the Digital Zoom, trying to pull the boat over so I wasn't quite in so much motion.... I told Brian that if for some reason the Bird was still there on the way back, I was gonna get out and try a couple of more shots. Poor Brian, even in a Boat he had to stop and wait for me to get pictures!!!
We continued paddling and arrived at the Point Campground and took a small break for swimming, more pictures, and a snack. The wind started coming up a bit and we knew that the paddle back would be a little tougher, so after we rested and cooled off, we took off, back the way we came.
That Eagle had never moved!!! Another, slightly more graceful exit out of the Kayak and up the slippery rock to try for a better shot. I have a feeling that there was a nest up there, but I don't think the bird was on it. I could see something to it's right that looked like it could be, but it was too high to know for sure. It was a nice sized ledge. After a fairly graceful entry (I was slowly learning), back into the Boat, it was back to paddling. The Breeze stiffened up at times, but it wasn't too bad. Took another breather in the shaded alcove and then paddled back out and across to the car.
Great Trip, Brian! Nice upper body workout that I'm sure I'll really feel tomorrow.... Never got hot, water temp was Perfect!!! Not too windy, not fighting too many boat wakes, good company, and a Bald Eagle....What more could you possibly ask for on a Tuesday???  Well, maybe a Bighorn, but they must have been feeling unsocial today. Gotta save something cool for next time anyway!!! Thanks for driving and loaning me the Boat, Brian. Definitely will do this again...  |
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| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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