Saturday, June 02, 2007

Morning Paddle

Image free from morguefile.com
I don't take my camera with me kayaking so I have to borrow some shots from the net


Saturday morning! Calm smooth clear quiet waters. A kayak. A paddle. Me.

It was a perfect morning for kayaking. The waters on both sides of Hayne's Point were glassy. Hubby dropped me off on the marshy side. Today I chose to opt for less exercise & more tranquility. I found it! It was bliss.

I paddled slowly, mostly just floated, and observed the life along the reeds & grasslands of Hayne's Point Provincial Park.

The sounds were enchanting. The call of a redwinged black bird, my favourite of all. Different types of ducks quacking around their nests. Gulls squawking on the shore. Big yellow sucker fish flopping & tousling in the shallows, making the reeds go wild.

The water was clearer than I've ever seen it. I could see every stone, ever single thing sitting on the bottom. When I quit paddling I would watch for the fish. Sometimes they would spot me first and I would only know they were there by the cloud of mud swirling beneathe me. Sometimes they'd swim along right beside me & then notice me and panic. More clouds of mud everywhere. And even one big silly fish bonked the bottom of my boat and I laughed.

No clouds. No breeze.

I heard some sort of water bird making all sorts of noise in the reeds. I paddle by. Hmm, do birds & big fish fight? I don't know. I paddle around the bend where the water gets deep fast. I don't like it there. It drops off like a cliff into blackness & seaweed. I hate paddling through seaweed. I go back to the shallows & hear another racket in the reeds. I see two masked eyes looking at me. The biggest raccoon I've ever seen. Probably stealing eggs or baby birds. I don't like raccoons at all. Luckily, I appear bigger to him and he gallops off through the reeds, leaving the bird nests alone, at least for a little while.

I paddle. I float. I talk to God. I think deep thoughts. I think nothing at all. I paddle some more.

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for taking us along with you. I'm so happy that God has provided this for you--just suited for you...a lake and a Kayak.

    "Quading" is going to be a bit different. Roaring engines, dirt flying, bumps...hang on! But you're going to love that too!

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  2. I am so happy to know there are giant racoons at H.P. Park - besides our demented squirrel friend... I too, am looking forward to a good paddle with you, my friend. God has provided another way we can share our friendship together, no? Have a wonderful weekend, my Becks. Safe weekend journey - and if you see Mom, say a nice hi from me too! Hi to L!

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  3. What a wonderful way to do nothing and yet be doing everything that matters.

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  4. Hey Becky, I felt like I was right there with you. What a beautiful morning... there's something about the tranquility of floating on the water that reaches the deep places of our soul. It brings us closer to our Maker...

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  5. That looks so peaceful. Makes want to come vacation there. Wonderful post.

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  6. I felt like I was there too; how peaceful. I love birds; shore birds, song birds, all of them.

    Thank you again for your Proverbs posts. htey have been wonderful daily devotions.

    Vanessa

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  7. Anonymous11:17 PM

    Ah sis, you make me long for the relaxing times of life, just have to stop all the work work work stuff and take some marvelous time to just enjoy, thanks for a little escape time with you, love you Mom

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