Paddling with a Side of Strawberries and Cream

Greg P., Scott M., Karen A., John H. and Tim U.: well deserved reglycogenation after the paddle.

Seven of us set out in glorious weather at the south side of Lake Calhoun at ..ahem..9.30am to find Calhoun already choppy with some occasional hints of white caps. Blimey! I had forgotten how much muscle it takes to keep my creeker going straight in windy conditions, let alone going anywhere at all! Thinking that it's only going to pick up I formed a plan B in my head to duff back over Calhoun on the way back in John and Wendy's boat. They kept a close eye on the shore line while us kayakers bee lined it to  Lake of the Isles.

Through Cedar Lake we headed for Brownie finding heards of sunbathing turtles EVERYWHERE. Now my point-turn kayak was quite useful not to collide with turtles spotted on lily pads just in time.

The red thing in the front is my boat. Apparently I have overnight become the worlds best turtle stalker. Does look a little huffy though the right one, don't you think?

 Scott M. and Karen A.

 Here with Tim U.

 Lovely! It looks so dreamy because it is filled with water.

 John and daughter Wendy H.

 Greg P. trying to make me believe that turtles make weird grunting sounds.

 Public art.

Ok back through Cedar and Isles we entered a seriously menacing Lake Calhoun that made me start to think of my fellow kayakers as my personal safety boaters. The first couple of waves that completely washed over the full length of my deck to break on my chest and  blind me with spray made me wish I still had a safety whistle on my pfd and that I was closer to shore. My trusty spray skirt turned into my best friend for the next  half hour and the paddle into a lot of fun actually :-) Did get a good work out by the time we had reached the other shore.

 Kayak buffet to celebrate my birthday: Pecan pie, strawberries and cream plus some little crunchy clusters.

Thanks so much for coming out to paddle and  making this a really fun morning!!!

Turns out you can still have a lot of fun, even when you can't leave town for the weekend. Let's do this again, maybe at Lebanon Hills next time :-)