Things that you old hands may have forgotten are things that my wife and I, being newly besotted by kayaking, are just now marvelling at for the first time. This Thanksgiving past found us suddenly without obligations to extended families. Without thinking any further than "Free Time! Let's Paddle!", we set off to nearby Lake Folsom and put in. The experience was breathtakingly beautiful in a way we hadn't anticipated. Many Northern California lakes are devoid of traffic during the winter months anyway. After all -- it was a frigid 52 degrees that day (*laff*). But this was not just any crisp winter day -- this was Thanksgiving day! On this day we shared the lake with a total of 3 fishing boats that we could see. Adding to the lack of boat wakes and engine noises, the morning fog was holding steady till well past noon with no breeze to dispell it. We had never experienced anything like that. The lake was literally mirror-smooth. The kayaks cut through the water with hardly a ripple. Even the tiny splash and drip of the paddles was audible from several hundred yards distance. In times to come, we may find ourselves also enjoying a brisk ocean paddle in gusty conditions. We may even find ourselves with a set of play boats riding a standing wave. But there is no doubt in my mind that we will always appreciate the beauty of a still, quiet lake mated to the timeless elegance of a sea kayak. And "hello" to all of you paddlewise people. I've been lurking the discussions for some time now. It's about time I said "hello". Sincerely Jeffrey Hayes mini trip report available at: http://www.jdhayes.dhs.org/thanksgiving_2000.htm mirror water pict available at: http://www.jdhayes.dhs.org/CarolOnTheWater.jpg *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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