I Found My Groove...Baby I Found My Groove

Why did it take me so long to experience Stone Lagoon? I have no clue but it was stunningly beautiful. Nineteen of us showed for a planned outing of Explore North Coast, mostly members but a few checking out the group joined in a paddle that held no threats or weather concerns, welcomed vessels of all sorts and promised to have perfect weather - especially for a mid-winter morning.

After working our way through the reeds and attempting to explore the creek on the south side, we headed to a boat-in campground for lunch. Never having been there, I didn't recognize the level of the lagoon was high...until we tied off to a picnic table that was sitting in the water, when it normally sits well above.
After a rather extravagant potluck, hauled in on a raft towed behind a member's kayak, Marna Powell led us on a tour of the six campsites and several spruce trees of awesome proportions.

It turned out that I DID remember how to paddle but had forgotten the finer points of my forward stroke until we were heading in but, muscle memory will kick in once I get out there and paddle on a regular basis. This trip reminded why I love still water and had me wondering why I hadn't done Stone Lagoon sooner.

BONG HITS FOR BREAKFAAST

Back out on Big Lagoon this morning for a little S & M.....while that might catch Kristabel's attention, it is just a class on Strokes and Maneuvers taught by Marna at Kayak Zaks. Learned a little more and am getting more secure on the water. Secure enough, in fact, to take a picture or two. Nothing special....just good that I'm getting comfortable enough to pop open the Pelican box I use to keep the camera dry. I even got a shot of the cormorants I mentioned after last week's paddle.

From the business side, I know it's better for Marna if everyone shows for classes but three cancellations on her way in meant great instruction ratio for the two of us remaining. After a quick overview on shore, three of us headed out on the water to learn different methods of turning and maneuvering. The more I'm out, the more comfortable I am so I took Marna up on the offer to use the kayak after the lesson was over to practice some of the moves we learned. Water toys to toss in the water and practice drawing myself sideways to retrieve it. It wasn't a sunny morning but plenty nice out there.

As we bobbed along on the Lagoon, watching Marna then trying the moves on our own, I catch a whiff coming from the camping area nearby. Nope, not bacon or french toast. Yeah, who doesn't like a bowl-load with their bowl of Cheerios. Good morning campers! Now I've got Kulica's version of "Bong Hits for Breakfast" in my head (of course I can't find a link to that song).

GONE FISHIN '

My last post got me thinking about fishing with my dad. First off, the guy on the jetty was wearing a ball cap; my dad had this straw affair, with hooks stuck in the band. That was HIS fishing hat. I dug out this picture which always makes me smile. It is my big sister, Carol and I at the wharf with Dad right about 1964. I'm not sure who took the picture. It may have been Mom since I'm about seven in the picture which would make Katie five and probably too young to take the shot. Maybe we asked a stranger to take the photo... Check out our string of ENORMOUS perch. And check out the fins on that car -- our 59 Fairlane NOT a 500. Even as a kid I knew the difference.

Goin' fishing with Dad meant I got to wear a ponytail. Mom didn't like the way the rubber bands tore at my hair and they didn't make the wrapped ones then. So, this was a big-girl operation of grand proportions in my mind. The picture also brings to mind a day on the wharf when we realized Dad's knotting skills were not what he thought them to be. He took Mom's red rubber bucket to the pier, tied a rope to it and lowered it into the murky depths to collect water for the legion of fish we would surely catch. I still remember hauling up the rope.....with no bucket. Dad was SO in trouble for losing that bucket.