Bonus blog: The Wagon Train Lake adventure

Some of you will remember Dexter, my little 2012 Honda Fit.  He's been my rolling toy box ever since I drove him off the dealer's lot, as a "reward" for finishing my second half marathon.  

Dexter was one of the stars of my kayak outing today.  He's small, but he's plucky.  I mentioned in the day 6 blog that there is road construction between home and the lake.  Today's paddle was on that same lake.  Day 6: A hike in a state park

Dexter has driven me to oh, so many events.  He has bumped across fields next to lakes, parked on soggy, even snowy spots, smaller than the SUV's he was mostly parked beside.  He's carried Brenda to Wisconsin for her Olympic distance triathlon.  He's carried Sophia to several such events.  He even carried Uma the mountain bike up to Wisconsin on a spectator whim of mine.

I think I have the "best" route to the lake worked out... only about 3 miles of country gravel roads, and a good view of the progress of the "South bypass" construction.  About a 20 minute ride mostly South of me.

We arrived a trifle early for the 10 a.m. scheduled paddle.  Chatted a bit with a mom and her two kids in the parking area while applying sunscreen and bug spray.  The dad of the proprietor was on duty loading folks up at this lake.  Kyle was up at another lake, having supported the sunrise paddle.

Got into my "ride" for the day, and floated out into the lake.  I quickly observed the direction of the current, recognized that it would be left arm heavy on the way out and right arm heavy on the way back.

This is one of the lakes where I once practiced open water swimming for triathlon, but of course with the kayak launch being on a different side of the lake.  I paddled past the swimming beach and out into the center of the water, enjoying the ripples of wakes of a handful of boats out for fishing.

It was lovely, with a bit of a breeze, which also brought the occasional minor "wave", but nothing strenuous.  

At one point, as I neared the shore on the other side, a yellow swallowtail butterfly flitted across my bow and on toward the cottonwoods on shore.  It was flying far faster than I was paddling.

Not my photo, downloaded from free site.

I went out about a mile, according to my Garmin (which is still not uploading, by the way) in 26 minutes, turned about and explored more on the far side of the lake before finding the mom and her two children (boy and girl) again.  They were still on the first side of the lake, and I think the kids had kind of poohed out by then.

This is about where the butterfly appeared, but I was pretty much done taking photos by then, ready to just paddle and enjoy.

Proof from the Garmin of the lake route, that won't upload!  It does track time and distance though, so even though it's not connecting and uploading, it is still doing SOME service!

I was back on shore after only about an hour session. They were selling in two hour segments, but my body didn't want any more than that hour. Didn't matter... worth it.

I stopped at the swim beach to have my packed snack before heading home again, over the gravel roads.  Good little Dexter got me home in one piece and totally at peace, too... to a nice shower and a quiet afternoon.

Here's hoping your Holiday weekend is going as well as mine!