February 3, 2002

Fishing Village

8:00 and I'm still in bed. My muscles are sore for some unknown reason. I don't want to go kayaking this morning. But I drag myself out of bed and put on my polartek wetsuit and then pull on the dry suit over it.

Outside I lash the boat to the car and carry out my gear. In the park the Japanese Military is here, which catches me off guard. They have erected scaffolding and covered parts of it with plywood to shield the contents. Inside I peek at huge mounds of snow and I remember the Misawa snow festival is next weekend. Some sculptures are being built that are 2-3 stories high.

I haven't been making good time, and by the time I get on the water it is 10:00. My goal is just to cross the lake to the far shore that looks about a 1/2 mile away. I get my gear squared away then race my kayak across the snow to the water. At the edge I bust up the small ice shelf to make it safe to walk across to the water.

Sliding into the K1 I head towards the far shore, occasionally looking back to make sure I can identify where I need to go on the return trip. The expected 10 minute trip takes a half hour - the 1/2 mile closer to a mile and a half. Each pull of the paddle strains the muscles in my shoulder. It has been a long while since I've kayaked with any regularity. I tell myself to pull through the pain...it will go away soon enough. Bushes on the far side grow to become large trees, a small hill becomes a steep cliff, and some shoreline clutter becomes a small fishing community.

There must be over 40 small boats with outboard motors here - all pointing out towards the lake. It looks like this small community is prepared to flee at a moments notice.

Pic #1 Pic #2 Pic #3 Pic #4

I settle into the edge of a small marsh and take a few photos. A fishing boat comes in while I'm sitting there. Mounted near the front a giant spool. My guess it is used to bring in his nets. He cuts his engine near shore and takes out a long pole to back himself in to shore - his boat also pointing towards the middle of the lake. Another picture or two and I turn back towards the launch.

I'm loosened up, but I head straight back towards the car. I have things to do and I'm ready to go. Back on shore I take a few more pictures of the boat and 'snow tracks' left from dragging the kayak to the car. On the way out of the park I see some cross country skiers, and as I get close a woman is franticly waving me down. After I get stopped I step out and the woman tells me she has a kayak just like mine. A little more probing though and I find out she really has a Folbot.

She asks if it is ok to paddle on the lake on days like today. I tug at my dry suit and emphasize I'm dressed for it. She says she has no one to paddle with and the guy with her looks at her strange and harrumphs - which she then points to him and says "except him in his recreational boat. I find out she is a school teacher on base and I mention she'll probably see me at the base beach in the spring. Back in the car and I somehow take a wrong turn out of the park. The road turns out to be a shortcut back to the main road.

Note: "any resemblance to persons living or dead, or events that may have occurred, is intended - and wholly because I actually went kayaking"

Woody