Kayak Launch and In Sync

My baby brother has a kayak launch at the end of his dock.

What never seen one? 

They are way cool. There it is off to the right side of the photo.  It is an easy way to launch a kayak.  No one needs to hold the kayak while another person gets in…

Jen and Andy took the large kayak out on the water.  Before they left I asked if I should hold anyones glasses??  Jen is nortorious for losing glasses in the lake.

Not so much in sync with each other.  Someone used their outside voice to communicate.

They got much better.  The launch was a really nice place to get out of the kayak too.

It was a nice evening out on the water, most of the 4th of July celebrants have gone back to work, either that or they ran out of fireworks, last night was reasonably calm.

July 1

I will be glad when the 4th of July is over.  Here in Minnesota people seem to hurry from here to there trying to cram as much summer in as they can before the 4th.  The traffic is horrid… even way back in the boonies.  After the 4th it seems to slow down every week until we get back to normal in August when school starts in other States.

I won’t miss the weekenders who let their dogs run loose. The idiot out on the lake who roars around in his speed boat has returned.  I heard the Loons today..in between speed boat sounds…or maybe they were protesting the speed boats.  The windows are open at night..and I am awakened by the pop pop BOOM of firecrackers and Chance hides in the bathroom.  He needs a Thunder shirt..heck..I need a Thunder shirt too!

Far Guy says we have entered the “Grumpy Old Fart” stage.  Maybe we have.

Far Guy took out his kayak yesterday.

 

A gaggle of Canada Geese were on the lake.

Later we went out for supper and a ride. Chance had to stay home it was too hot to leave him in the car.

Saw a coyote heading out into the bean field across from our driveway.

We went to check the White Lady Slipper.. it was sad.

One week from a bud to chomped off by a browsing tick machine.  We have watched this same Lady Slipper get mowed off the past several years.  We always hope it will escape the deer.  We will still keep our eyes open for the White Lady’s Slippers…they usually bloom just after the Showy Lady’s Slippers.  There is hope that we will see one of them bloom this year but we are not holding our breath:(

Calm Waters

I went kayaking the other night. The water was really warm..like pee..that doesn’t happen very often in Minnesota.  Usually our lakes are cool and refreshing.  I stayed near shore.  I am not an idiot. One of the major rules about kayaking is don’t get too far from shore because you may have to swim back!  I found the kayak to be more tippy than a canoe. The double paddle felt strange so I will probably buy myself a canoe paddle.

I stayed dry..it was peaceful and calm out on the lake..quiet too.. only the squawking of a Great Blue Heron and the sound of Chance splashing in the water interrupted the silence:)

Kayak Lessons Learned

Do not try to do fancy paddling in a backwards motion. 

Your kayak will dump you out in the water slicker than snot on a doorknob. 

You should really watch the video on the Internet half a dozen times. “How to get back into a kayak in the open water.” 

You could try the old canoe trick to get some of the water out, even if it is futile.

You  might just as well give up some days..because your Mother In Law will capture it all on film.

Two kayaks is definitely better than just one.

It promotes togetherness.  I did notice that my daughter likes to use the paddle to lob water at her husband occasionally.

A family photo out on the water..this was my best shot.

Yup lessons learned, the boys were soaking it all in just like little sponges…the next time we go out we will do some practicing close to shore.  We will practice getting in and out of a kayak in the open water.  I have a Boating Safety book for the boys to read..and if they don’t read it by themselves..I will read it aloud to them,  after all once they are out on the pontoon and we have left shore I have them trapped :) 

Chance: On Kayaks

My sister was here for the weekend, she brought Miney and Elvis to visit.   My sister likes to shop..and shop she did. She came back with a kayak…a blue one.  Then all kinds of kayak talk broke out at the supper table, two would be better than one..more people could go.  Fantastic idea!  Far Guy has wanted a kayak all summer.   So Far Guy and Far Side went to town and came home with a Banana Boat..or a yellow kayak.

I got to go for a ride..it was a little tippy.

 

I am not so sure I am a kayak kind of dog?  What do you think?  Far Side says I need a life jacket…or my own tube to float around in. She said maybe I should just watch..

Miney wanted to watch too..I am taller because I put my feet up on the railing…I was almost ready to jump in.

Far guy..come back..

My pal is out there on the high seas all by himself.  I  hope he doesn’t  fall in or anything. ( He did later..and nearly choked to death because he didn’t keep his mouth shut.)   Wanna see the photo? 

 

After he accidently fell in trying to get out of the kayak and onto the pontoon..Far Side suggested he zip up his life jacket..so he did, she mumbled something about  “It makes the body retrieval easier.”  :)