A Hydro-field cuts through my neighborhood,
Somehow that always just made me feel good,
I can put a spare bulb in my hand, And light up my yard – Bare Naked Ladies

Saturday I had a quick paddle on Lake Columbia with another local kayaker. We had not really met before so there is always that funny space where you try to find a comfort zone with a stranger, but all in all I think we had a good time of it. Although I’m glad the power-plant is near by and keeps the winter water warm, I ecstatic that I no longer need it to get my fix. See you next year LC!

Sunday it was up early for a quick 2 hr drive south-east to Milwaukee for a day paddle with JB. Now, it was going to be 65 F here at home (our first really comfortable day of spring) and maybe 54 F on the lake in Milwaukee. So it had crossed my mind to stay here and go hiking, but in the end the siren song of the urban shore drew me to the beach. John and I met as we had last time, (in February) near a place called Bradford Beach. For strangers to Milwaukee this is an easy to find destination. You just drive on the interstate until you can go no further. It literally comes to an end at a stoplight along the shore. You turn left and drive past an art museum (why are they always on the water??), past a yacht club (of course), and within a couple miles you find the park. Easy peasy!

Before we had unloaded the boats we met a couple from Michigan who were over exploring the town. Everything in Milwaukee is in a “Ward” just like a hospital so the conversation was all about finding a “ward 3″ which is here, and “ward 4″ which is over there. . . . When I think of “ward” I’m looking for “Walley and the Beav” As it happened, the couple we had met were members of the West Michigan Kayakers group and I hope to see them again at the symposium. One of the great things about sea kayaking is how the web of paddlers is constantly making new connections and everyone seems to be just one connection away from everyone else. That’s very cool.

After a year or so we launched out into the freshwater sea. (It takes me about a year to get geared out.) We paddled south a bit then straight out to a monstrous green bell buoy which was about 3 miles off the coast and about 5.5 miles from our launch. We had a relaxing 2 ft roll out of the north east and an irritating south-west wind just strong enough to mix up the lake surface a bit. As we approached the buoy and the wind turned south-easterly we discussed a silhouette that started out as a kayak, then changed to a fishing boat, then to a canoe as we approached. In the end it was a big brand-new green guide boat. These are sort of like canoes only wider, with oars and whicker chairs. Now if you own one, don’t email me and say it’s nothing like a canoe. C’mon, a kayak is like a canoe with a top on it depending who you ask. I have been getting this feeling guide boat folks are a little sensitive about their watercraft. In my story it looked just like a canoe until we got up close enough to see the owner’s hair blowing in the wind. We had made it within maybe 10 yards of the buoy but as we chatted with the GB, we slowly drifted south east until we were some 75 yards or so from the green bell. Being caught up in a conversation about drysuits and VHS which were notably absent from the guide boat, I was being pulled away from our initial goal.

I’m sure John was at least a little disturbed that I wanted to paddle back out to the buoy instead of turning back, but I needed to “touch” a place I hadn’t touched before. Yes, maybe I’m a bit “touched” as well. So be it! When my oldest kids were little I used to have them stop as we walked through town to touch a tree, a rock, a leaf, or some other object. I wanted them to stop in the middle of the mundane and make a connection, just for a moment with something more meaningful. You often miss a big beautiful timeless oak if it’s growing between a sidewalk and a road. I wanted them to be able to see it hidden in an urban camouflage and think of it there 250 years ago in open oak savannah.

So. . . it’s “STOP, LOOK, TOUCH. Ok, let’s go. . . “

The point is I do this myself all the time. Often when I hike I want to take a moment to make some minor little connection with a rock-face that has stood long before any of us was a “chocolate bar in our father’s back pocket” and will stand long after we’re all ash. In this moment I touch eternity. Then I lift my fingers from the stone, turn away and turn to ash. Life is fleeting. On a much more basic plane touching a big green bell tied 3 miles off shore is still a magnet for me. However, when you are in a bit of a rolling sea you will be content to paddle around at a safe distance! Wow are those things big!

As we paddled back I noticed I was having momentary lapses of vertigo. I think I must not have eaten enough. I would set my focus on the compass and regain my equilibrium but it’s still a pretty funky feeling. Like you could just fall right over. My two big, fattening, frosted, kwikie-mart donuts seem to NOT have been the best pre-paddle snack! I’ve got to watch that next time. I think I will dose up on a little Dramamine next time as well.

So now it’s back to another work week. Maybe later today I’ll paddle. Maybe I’ll go hiking. Then again, who knows what I might do!

- dm

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