Author: Bob Benz

sunrise1.jpg

Originally uploaded by Suffering the Benz

I paddled downstream to a large cove on Monday morning, where I caught this sunrise bursting across the lake. It was another amazing paddle that started under a full moon and concluded with the rising sun at my back as I headed back to Duck Cove.a
I finally broke down and ordered a “real” Kayak from a company in Wisconsin that makes boats that are supposed to be great for big people. I have my fingers crossed. I talked to them on the phone for a while, read all the online reviews and decided to go ahead and pull the trigger. I’m hoping to get it in time to do a lot of paddling before it gets cold. My goal is to be confident enough in it to paddle all winter, but I’ll need to get a lot of paddling in before the water gets cold if I’m going to be able to pull that off …

cove_sunrise.jpg

Originally uploaded by Suffering the Benz

Another beautiful sunrise this morning while I was paddling. Went downstream this time, past the osprey nest and into the cove this photo was taken from. Sadly, the entire, wooded shoreline is littered with for sale signs, so I guess once the economy picks up this will become some sort of subdivision. But for now, it’s a great place to paddle amid the smell of pine trees and the shouting of waterfowl.
As I was heading out this morning, I paddled toward a mother duck and her ducklings. She cut away from the youngsters and started flopping and thrashing in the water, trying to convince me she was injured so I’d follow her rather than her little ones. She kept the act up for a hundred yards or so before she finally took off and flew a wide circle back to the ducklings, who were safely in the middle of the lake by that time.

The weather remains amazingly temperate for this time of year, with the lows dipping into the low 60s at night. We have all the windows open in the house. Hard to believe we were sweating through hundred degree days at this time last year.