May 27, 2002

Western Leg

9.5 miles

After not being able to paddle for a month, to paddle two days in a row is a real treat for me. I knew the base beach would be officially opening today, so I got there early and started paddling about 9:00.

I headed NW against a breeze towards the western side of the lake. I wanted to try and cover a decent portion of the western side of the lake today. It was a mile and a half crossing to the far side to the fishing village I visited when snow was still on the ground.

The fishing village was completely different than the last time I was here. Before, the water was lined with boats pointing out from shore, waiting for their skippers to take them out. Today, the boats were out, and the shore was lined with little white trucks waiting for the skippers to return with the day's catch. I regret not having my camera with me today, as I think the contrasting pictures would have been cool. I will make a special trip back when my camera is repaired just for such a picture.

I paddled northward along the shore until I came to another fishing village. This is the third such village I knew about on the lake, and I wondered how such a small lake could support such pressure. This village actually had docks, although it was smaller than the first. The captains were in their boats not far from shore so I paddled out to see what they were doing.

Most boats had two people, a man and a woman, probably husband and wife. The man was standing in the water when it was shallow enough, scooping up the bottom with what looked like a milk crate. He would jiggle it a bit then hand it to the woman, who refined the contents even more by leaning over the boat and swishing the crate around. Eventually there would be a bit of small freshwater shellfish left inside.

If the water was too deep to stand in, the crate was affixed to a long pole and the pole was used to manipulate the crate in the water while the man stood in the front of the boat. This looked heavy because he would jiggle the contents for quite awhile before bringing the crate aboard.

Paddling again north I came to yet another fishing village, again smaller than the previous two. I didn't get in close to inspect this one as the wind had changed directions 180 degrees. Yes, I would battle a head wind again.

As I headed back to the base beach, the wind continued to pick up. The 4.5 mile trip back seemed to take forever, and I was quite tired as I neared the shore. Here it is the end of May and I'm feeling a bit self-conscious about still wearing a dry suit. People are setting out in canoes with nothing more than shorts - and I'm covered head to toe in a dry suit. Another week or two and I should be in my wet suit.

A band was getting ready to play, and people are arriving as I eat my lunch. I pack up and head for home, feeling every one of the 23 miles I put in this weekend.

Woody