Summer where did it go? If it wasn't raining, the heat made it to uncomfortable to be outside this year in New York. Our camping trips were few. We did get out to do a few short day hikes but they were fairly unremarkable. We tried to find and buy a home which yet again wound up in huge failure. Prices and taxes here in New York are awful! Still stuck in a small apartment and going crazy with wanderlust we decided to go do something in the Adirondacks. My husband loves to go kayaking which has been limited in the past few years due to our son's refusal to go or be out in a boat for any length of time but now he is showing some interest. So where to go, what to do because the Adirondacks are vast? I remembered my husband telling me about a friend who had told him how great Lake Henderson was up in the high peaks. So I suggested we give that a try. Oh, what an adventure it was! We used the portage carts for the second time ever. My boat came off twice leaving my husband in quite a tirade of cussing, but eventually we figured it out. The lake was beautiful and surrounded by mountains. It was not flat calm but nor was it overly rough. Our son wanted to ride with Daddy but there wasn't enough room for him, so he rode with me. My cockpit is is larger but I don't know what we will do next year if he grows much more. I let him have the paddle to try. He can't paddle straight but he can make the boat move. Once my husband was on the lake I made our son surrender the paddle and headed out out further down the lake. We exited the cove and the water was a little rougher. It appeared that the lake had several coves so I turned to the right to explore. Oh my, the further I paddled the rougher it got. I wanted to turn around but was too scared to try for fear of the waves rolling us over if I got sideways. The water was breaking over the bow and my son was laughing about getting a little wet. I had wanted him to keep dry since he'd had not quite gotten over a cold. The lake was deceptive. When the wind calmed I took a few photos and turned around. My husband was having a blast. The waves kept raising us up and down and trying to spin us around. "Mama I'm getting wet." The wind had picked up and although we were heading in the same direction I still had to dig and paddle for all I was worth. An osprey flew above us and I did manage to spot a loon! My 400mm lens was in the kayak with us but I did not dare stop paddling to attempt any photo besides nothing would have turned out with the waves tossing us about. Eventually I managed to get back to the start of that "arm." There was a small protected area formed by some rocks jutting out into the lake my husband and I paddled in and wedged ourselves between the rocks to get a rest. It was a pretty spot and I took a few shots. The photos looked amazing on the back of the camera but once uploaded I was not impressed, but here they are. Once recovered we paddled straight across. My arm and hips were killing me. Our son wanted out of the boat. I spied a very small beach on the other side and landed. . My husband paddled up behind us but stayed in his kayak. Our son explored a little then threw rocks and sticks into the water while I did some yoga and stretches up on a smooth flat rock. Feeling better I agreed to continue paddling further down the longer stretch of the lake. It did not take long for me to realize my mistake. The patch of water where all of the arms come together was rising a foot over the boat. I dug hard and once across it was not much easier going. I stuck closer to shore and found a slightly calmer spot to rest. I took a few photos and waited to get my husband's attention to let him know we had had enough. The paddle back was scary. My son got soaked. I prayed out loud. Crossing back over that midway way junction where all the arms come together took everything I had. There was no stopping it was constant dig. I looked around at one point praying my husband was still upright. Praise God he was! Then I finally broke into the calm cove/ arm that we had started in. I let my son have the paddle and did some photography and even threw on the big lens to play with one of the mountains peaking under a cloud. I have no idea which one it is. It was a hard paddle. I don't like rough water. My husband was amazed I stayed out for as long as I did and was thankful! He had a blast! My son although scared at times had fun too! I think his favorite part was riding in Daddy's boat while on the portage wheels back to the car. He had gotten completely drenched so I immediately changed to into dry clothes when we got back to the car.
Lake Henderson is beautiful and I would love to return (on a much calmer day)! Below is my favorite photo of the day! |
Julie MetottNature Photographer, wife, mother, lover of outdoor adventure! Archives
November 2022
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