Surprise!
An earlier than usual trip report. AND Your Correspondent had a bracing half hour of trying to keep up with Diane N. and so for once was not dead last in the TOWN string of kayaks on Wednesday.
It was a short string, though; we kept our fingers crossed for errant TOWNies and friends, but the traffic is ferocious AND it was a Blues on the Green evening, so only four of us were able to enjoy the perfect evening’s paddle. We had cool temps on the water, and a fresh breeze as we looked from Redbud Island toward the traffic crowded together on the Mopac bridge.
Peg G, with her pair of binoculars gave us a bird update; a black vulture was flying overhead, and she had seen three great blue herons. We saw a duck and a mama duck (a ‘pen?’) with five little fuzzy heads following her, larger turtles than usual sunning on a rock, and a pink Mimosa tree in bloom that made the bend where the Emmett Shelton Bridge crosses the Lake look like a Japanese painting. Water was being released from the Tom Miller Dam, and the conversations, as we skimmed along turned to the sobering Climate Change discussion of the TOWN meeting the night before.
TOWN’s Lady Bird Lake paddles are perfect for beginners and anyone who needs a break, yet there is another kayak world that Gail P-C and her husband belonged to for many years, the descriptions of destinations and different kayaks, portages, and white water adventures lasted as far as the Rowing Dock. Our remaining minutes were filled in watching the kayak-polo going on under the MoPac bridge. If anyone is interested in participating, it is only necessary to show! up at the right time, Diane N. says that there IS a woman who is playing, helmets and lifejackets are provided. Gail and I suggested bringing goggles and a mouth guard.
Although supper at Maudie’s was more raucous than usual, we enjoyed each other’s company, and talked about Next Time. That will be June 13, enough time to get a new dry-bag.
Be sure to mark you calendar and join us.