May 25, 2003

Famous

To the east and south things didn't look as bad. I decided I would head to Fountainhead and if it didn't look promising we would drive out to Mason Neck.

Katie was ready to paddle by the time we arrived at Fountainhead. So I paid the $5 and we drove down to the ramp in a drizzle. She didn't mind the rain.

I wonder where she gets that from?

We dressed up and pulled paddling jackets over our PFDs just as the Game Warden pulled up with his boat. He was fiddling around with his engine as we paddled off. In my overstuffed paddling jacket I looked like a giant grapefruit, and Katie looked like a plump blueberry. Within a half mile the rain had stopped and I was warm, so I shed the jacket. Katie decided to keep hers on, and within another half mile it began to rain again.

We talked about possibly stopping half way out to the dam, but we didn't. We were enjoying a leisurely paddle. Katie made note of every Blue Heron she saw.

As a side note, has anyone ever seen a baby Heron outside the nest? I've seen small herons, but nothing I would term an infant. I mentioned to Katie they must be born full grown.

The hawks we saw put on a great show diving in the water for small fish. Katie stopped us at one point just to listen. "Can you hear how quiet it is?"

I wonder where she gets that from?

We arrived at where the lanes were marked for the rowing shell races. Katie decided she wanted to race and after a measured start we were off. She started out in front and was leading for a good bit, but her arm paddling soon gave way to my over powering back muscles. Several times I mentioned to her on the trip she should be using her back, and that her arms were going to get tired.

Near the end of the lanes there was a low dock for the shells pushed against the shore. We decided to get out on the long dock to eat lunch and stretch our legs. Katie made me feel old by asking me if I thought I would be able to get back in the kayak if I got out.

We talked about what Turkey Ham, a component of our sandwiches, was made from. We decided it was from a mythical beast - part pig and part turkey - a purkey. We speculated on if it could fly (it can't) and what it would look like (something like a pink penguin), what it sounded like (part gobble, part oink) and then we went for a final walk down the length of the dock before getting back in our boats.

We had stopped about a half mile from the dam, and Katie wanted to get closer but I knew she was tired. Katie wanted to see the dam, and I was afraid with the increased security we might cause a little too much concern if we landed and walked around so she could see the other side. The giant blueberry and I headed back toward Fountainhead.

Almost from the start Katie began to talk about how tired her arms were. I reminded her about our earlier conversation about arm paddling. Several times she refused a tow. She was determined to make it back on her own even if it took the rest of the day.

It was a long paddle with us taking a few strokes, gliding, taking a few more and then resting. I was about to tell Katie she was going to have to accept a tow when we spotted eight kayaks rounding the corner up ahead. Katie seemed to catch a small second wind knowing there were other kayakers heading our way.

When they got close I recognized Jesse's boat and paddled over to the group to say hi. As I got near, Tom said "You must be the famous Woody."

I glanced at Katie and she was smiling, trying to conceal a laugh. We said our goodbye's to the group and as we paddled away Katie asked "Why did they say you are famous?"

This provided entertainment for her the rest of the trip back to the park. She enjoyed razzing me ("no, really, why are you famous?"), and I enjoyed answering her questions with "because, as I've told you all your life, Dad's know everything." Her poking fun made her forget how tired she was and in what seemed like moments we rounded the last corner and could see the park. She sprinted the last 100 yards, giving up the last bit of energy she had.

We landed and loaded up the car. It had been a long draining day and we were both happy to sit in the comfort of the car for the ride home.

By my best estimate, Katie paddled 9 miles today. Her longest trip without accepting a tow. My secret plan is to get her in good enough shape that one day she can tow me :)

Woody