Canoedling

 We learned that the church had a bunch of canoes that were available to check out.  So... we did.  The day for canoeing approached.  The weather was cooperative.  The lake wasn't crowded.  The road leading to the beach area... was less than pleasant... potholes and boulders and narrow turns... we were pleased to arrive at the beach!

The masked canoers... a menacing looking crew.  So much so, that the few people on the beach left after we arrived.  (We did come during the early evening while most others spend the day at the beach and tend to leave around evening.)

Thankfully, everyone left, so we unmasked and enjoyed a few hours of leisure time at the lake. 

We split up into logical groups.  Duncan and Derek manned their canoe.  Channa, Jim and Whittaker took the next, Patrick Emerson and I in the last.  

We all had our own unique adventures. Duncan and Derek were overly adventurous.  They saw the narrow area at the FAR side of the lake that led to another section of secluded lake.  They immediately and quickly began paddling that way.  Patrick and I spent a little time teaching Emerson to paddle in sync with my paddle.  Once we realized that Duncan and Derek were planning to cross the entire lake, we paddled like mad to catch up to them and change their plans..  Instead we convinced them to paddle around the lake near the shore.  For a first canoeing we didn't want to get to the middle of the lake and find ourselves exhausted and having to paddle against the wind to return.  The wind once we left the seclusion of the little bay was difficult to paddle against.  

We went around the first point and found ourselves in another bay.  Duncan and Derek discovered a rock sticking out of the water (mini island?) and paddled over to check it out.  Emerson announced that he needed to potty.  We spotted an outhouse in the campgrounds near the shore so we paddled to shore.  Patrick discovered that our boat had a small leak.  Thankfully he out weighed Emerson and I so the water stayed in his end.  

We began to wonder what had become of the third canoe.  We thought they would have followed us.  However as they paddled out of the gentle bay, they also discovered the strong winds.  It blew the hat right off of Jim's head.  Whittaker cried out.  "That's Duncan's favourite hat!"  Their adventure included the rescue of the hat before it sunk to the bottom of the lake.  Jim said that had it continued to sink despite their efforts to get it with the paddles he had been willing to jump overboard and go after it!  (Just a hat... and not necessarily a favourite just because Whittaker deemed it so!) They paddled about for a bit and then returned to shore.  Jim snoozed in the grass and Whittaker explored the water's edge until we all returned

After our potty break we returned to the beach (against the wind).  Grateful we hadn't adventured much further we beached the canoes.  The boys joined Whittaker in some swimming and exploring.

Little boys tried to keep up with big boys as they explored the rock formations and the pools of water.

After 'relaxing', the big boys had enough energy to venture out again.  This time they had a plan.  Duncan boasted that he knew how to right a capsized canoe.  We suggested not capsizing.  Instead they decided to practice climbing back into the canoe from in the water.  

They practiced a few times near the shore then headed out a bit deeper to try it again.

Meanwhile, the little boys convinced Channa to explore with them.  Apparently the rock formation created a small shallow pool of water they were referring to as the 'hot tub'.  

Channa and I were keeping an eye on the big adventure boys

Soon we were all captivated by the adventure boys.  They had paddled out deeper and jumped in.  Duncan then climbed back in.  The wind we referred to earlier was still blowing and they were being blown further and further away. So Derek, now in the water was getting further and further from the canoe.  Duncan paddled closer and Derek once again held on.  The attempts to climb in were exhausting for us on the shore to watch... and must have been more so for Derek.  Duncan hopped out again to try to hold the canoe steadier for him.  This went on for another 15 minutes.  Duncan hopping in and out and trying different options... and then... SUCCESS.  Both boys were in the canoe. 

The canoe that was now much further out.  They had to paddle back against the wind.  

Adventure boys slept well that night.

A canoe day at the lake was delightful.  We will certainly go again.  We will also find a better road.