I’m hoping we might still get out together in the kayaks once or twice this year — Paul will probably get out at least 20 times on his own, but I’m a good-weather kayaker who doesn’t have as much energy as he does.
Living in the city now, it’s not as easy to get out in the kayaks as it was when we could drag them into the water 30 metres or so from our front door. Last week, though, Paul drove to the marina (a 5-minute drive; he usually cycles there) and loaded the kayaks onto the car so we could head out to Buntzen Lake (about 45 minutes by car) the next morning. I took some photos (and this little video which you might find very calming — welcome if your September has started to speed up as well)
Since then, I’ve been thinking a bit about paddling, past and present, and looking back through kayaking posts over 15 years of blogging. I’ve collected a few links here for those who might be interested, but today’s photos are all from last week’s paddle.
As well, the photos below tell a little story about Fall, which seems appropriate since we’re at Autumn Equinox today. A story about a Fall-en leaf, at least. A very big leaf, fallen from a Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum; below our border, sometimes known as the Oregon maple). Presumably, it grew somewhere on these slopes, and demonstrably, it’s good at floating. I spotted it from some distance away and instantly knew the image — the dry leaf, its “fingers” curling upward, cuplike, bronze against the dark surface it floated on, surrounded by reflections of trees, hills, and sky, just enough ripple to make those reflections dynamic — would make a good photo.
But I needed to get closer. And when I was closer, I needed to have my phone in my hand, ready to focus and snap on an image. Phone in my hand instead of my paddle.
As you might imagine, I got closer . . . then was past the leaf before the phone was ready. So manoeuvres were made to slow, to turn, to reverse . . . and those manoeuvres set up little currents that moved the leaf . . . and so then the intrepid kayaker would make more manoeuvres . . .
Until she gave up. Paddled on. Held on to her own private photo-image, left the captured one behind as only a wish. . . .
Except her partner had noticed what she was doing and insisted on waiting, even helping. Which was sweet, but also annoying, because the intrepid kayaker had almost let go of the wanting, . . She wasn’t sure she cared to test her kayaking skills and patience any longer. “If at first you don’t succeed . . . ” was not an appealing mantra, at that moment. It would have been a small Fail, negligible . . .
But she shrugged. Went back to that leaf. When she got close enough, he was near enough to hold her vessel steady, and she snapped and snapped (Nope, not at him, today. 😉
And some photos ended up being too obviously taken without attention to the shoreline. Look away if you have a tendency to seasickness . . .
But eventually . . .
an image I’m very pleased with . . .
Now those links, should you have time and curiosity to accompany me on some earlier paddles:
Here’s a post from 2010: no photos; just a reflective description of an evening paddle in still waters around a small island in the Salish Sea.
One from 2014, with photos that are making me oh, so nostalgic for my island life. . . .
And in this more recent post (from 2019) I’m thinking back to island paddling and comparing it with the urban paddling we’d switched to.
In this one, also from 2019, I’m ‘fessing up to the fretting and fears that have been known to precede our watery adventures. Mine, not his.
And more recently, in Spring 2021, I “kept it real” by showing you what the camera rarely catches, the truth that this Couple who sometimes Kayaks Together also occasionally squabbles about their respective approaches to activity and adventure. It’s possible that one of us prefers adventures to be less adventurous.
That’s it for this Fall morning — sunny but crisp-ish here, just the way I like it! Perfect for the corduroy I’ve been pulling out of drawers (and possibly out of shopping bags as well 😉 Not quite ready for the warmer sweaters, but close enough that I’ve got to hurry up on the last sleeve of the Cardi V-Neck sweater I’m keen to snuggle up in by October frost. . .
What about you, this Fall (or Spring! Hello, New Zealand!) morning? Comments welcome, as always!
xo,
f
The link to your video seems to be missing.
We are also hoping to get out in our kayak another time or two this fall. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. I love your leaf story! It reminded me of trying to capture photos of a feather floating on the water while kayaking. I never did get an image that I was truly happy with!
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Thanks for letting me know, Elaine! I’ve added that link.
I hope you manage to get out again — you’ll be moving quickly through Fall to Winter, I know, where you are. . . . thanks also for sharing your imaginary photo — I can see you fumbling with your phone/camera, that beautiful feather just out of focus on the water . . . 😉
Your post brings back a great memory of kayaking on the Douro River for a week (!) pre-pandemic. We are frequent travelers but not normally kayakers and it was one of our best trips ever.
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Oh, that would have been a wonderful experience! Such a different perspective from a kayak!
J’aime beaucoup la dernière image…si tranquille.
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Merci!
Beautiful photos-so meditative!
How sweet of Paul!
It is beautiful to have those memories and photos of your island life- the possibility to live in so many wonderful places is divine….as you’ve ended your 2010 post…It’s a wonderful life!
I was thinking just today (as, after my recent mobile phone problems, I now have to use a new one- which was a couple of months waiting in my desk. I make so many typos,it is insane) how I would like this song as a ring tone!
I have dear memories of kayaking on the lake in the middle of Mljet island. And,naturally,Jarun lake 🙂
Dottoressa
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That would really make me smile, to hear a ring tone like that!
I would love to get to more of your beautiful islands — and Mljet sounds especially magical (even more so in a kayak on a lake!)
We once visited the Lake of Lotus Blossoms in north east Thailand to travel around the lake in a canoe . I’d seen the photos of a mass of pink blossoms filling the lake & was so looking forward to the wonderful sight . We arrived to find the canoes replaced by motorised long boats & there wasn’t a flower in sight . Apparently they had switched from canoes to accommodate more visitors & the flowers had been cleared as they clogged the engines . The boatman didn’t seem to understand our disappointment. Not our most successful boat trip 😁
That final photo is lovely – worth enlarging & hanging in your home .
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That would have been a terrible disappointment to me! Is that the same lake as is sometimes or also called Red Lotus Lake — it looks as if they might have restored the blooms now, and I hope they’ve switched back to canoes.
Yes , I think that was it . Perhaps they’ve seen the error of their ways . Too late for me though !
I so enjoy peeking into the great Canadian outdoors with you Frances. I’m not a kayaker and not much of an outdoorswoman, but I greatly appreciate the photos you share of natural beauty. The final leaf photo is stunning. If I crinkle my eyes a little, the leaf looks like a swan!
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Thanks, Maria — I’m pleased you enjoyed the post. And if it gives us swans, I’m all for eye-crinkling 😉
Beautiful photos! So serene…Thanks for sharing.
Morning Greetings from a sunny, crisp Western Australia
Cerena
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Good morning back to Western Australia! Fun to observe our mutual sunny crip weather as we head into opposite seasons.
This post did bring back a favorite memory. Two summers ago while vacationing on Chincoteague island my family wanted to do a kayak trip, from Chincoteague across the channel to Assateague island. Well into my seventies, and having kayaked only once before I was reluctant but my son assured me that we could share a Kayak, I was admittedly anxious. the morning was overcast with bouts of rain. This was probably a blessing as it had been hot and sunny for the preceding week. We paddled across the channel, along the coast of Assateague. I began to find the stroke as we went on. Two hours later, our guide took a photo. Of you look closely you can see one of the famous wild ponies on the distance. And the big smile on my face. That Christmas, I was gifted the picture, now framed. It now sits on a table in my living room.
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Oh Darby! I love this anecdote — aren’t you glad you were coaxed into that kayak? What a magical experience that would have been, sharing the kayak with your son in a place you love so well — and then to have one of your beloved wild ponies in the photo!
Worth the work:). Beautiful image.
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Thanks, Lisa!
This is a wonderful fall post. The video was so serene and the song an appropriate accompaniment.
The photo of the leaf catching the sun is stunning. I enjoyed the story of trying to capture it. I could see you trying and passing and trying and the movement of the leaf.
What a beautiful place to kayak!
I’ve been out walking every day and enjoying fall’s gradual arrival.
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Thanks Dottie! I’m glad you enjoyed it — it is a great spot for kayaking, much different than the skirting-the-coast saltwater paddling I’ve mostly done.
Isn’t it good to get out walking — this might be the best season for it, at least on our coast.