More Kayaking

Last night I told the kids that whoever got up at 6 o'clock with me on Sunday morning could go fishing and kayaking at (or about) sunrise. I was kind of hoping for a solo trip up the creek, but Kenzie and Alex made it out of bed in time. After we made a quick trip to the bait shop for worms, we headed to the creek. I let them have the first turn. It was an absolutely perfect morning. I got to relax with my fishing rod while they paddled around the creek.

When it was my turn on the kayak, I just drifted around and fished. I must have been pretty quiet because I drifted right up to a family of ducks and neither they, nor I, were aware of each other until they eventually got spooked and decided to leave the area. Momma was definitely keeping an eye on me as she kept herself between her babies and my boat.

I am really going to miss Summer when we have to put these boats away due to cold weather.

A Day At "The Shore"

My dad owns a small, vacant, waterfront lot that he inherited from his father. It's been in the family since my grandfather was a young man. I grew up launching our rowboat, fishing, picinc-ing, camping, etc. on that property. You can't build a house there; it won't perk and there's no drinking water available as far as I know. The neighbors who live there have been there so long, the current building/zoning laws don't apply to their existing properties, but they can't add anything, and the area is getting a bit rundown. It doesn't have a beach; just a stony boat landing that ends where the gooey, mucky, muddy creek bed begins. At high tide, you might have 4 or 5 feet of water on top of the several feet muck (in other words, don't try to swim too far; you might wind up stuck in the mud). It doesn't sound like paradise to many people, but it sure was to me. I spent every possible weekend down at The Shore up until I left for college, and have visited it only a few time since.

Yesterday, finally having a day with no sports, recitals, youth group activities, or unavoidable chores to attend to, our whole family spent the day at The Shore, with Grandmom and Pop (afforementioned owner of said property). The temperature was upper 70's. Humidity was gone. The breeze was just enough to keep the bugs away, but not enough to disturb the water in the creek.

The whole family had a blast. Grandmom set up the picnic area and got the fire going before we even arrived. Pop got the kayak and the rowboat (the same one I grew up in) ready. We kayaked, rowed, fished, and ate hot dogs. No one could even find time or reason to argue (excpet once when Tyler thought he got hit in the head too hard by an oar; he wasn't, but he was offended anyway). He are some pictures of our (almost) perfect day.

Here's Alex in the kayak.	And Kenzie.
And Tyler.	Even Vicki.
Pop, Bekah, and Connor getting rowed by Alex.	Pop, Bekah, and Connor getting rowed by Alex.
The 17 inch Large Mouth Bass that made my day!