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I took about a 6 mile paddle this morning from Moss Bay in Kirkland to Fairweather Bay in Medina. On my previous paddles I paddled in and around Yarrow Bay and Cozy Cove. I must remark on the magnificent homes, the landscaping and their personal pontoon planes and giant Yachts. What a wonderful and luxurious life they must be living. It is the opulent life styles of the rich and famous, to be sure. But more than that is the skill set I am building as a novice Sea Kayaker. At first I was so afraid to venture out. All one's life we watch others on the TV having fun and wild exciting times. We, or at least myself, never think the day will come when we live like the adventurous do on the TV. Today I have experienced some of that excitement. I paddled slowly as I left Moss Bay to loosen up my muscles and also warm them up inside. As I crossed the center of Lake Washington and entered choppy waters I, for some unknown reason, was exhilarated. I turned into Fairweather Bay and slowly encaged in my sightseeing tour. Slowly I hugged the perimeter near the docks, boat houses and Yachts and airplanes. At the very interior was an exquisite home facing the Bay made of glass. How I wish I had the view they have. I don't need a 20,000 sq. ft. home. A simple 1,000 sq. footer on Lake Washington would be a dream. Ah to wake up - see and smell the lake and drop the kayak in for a paddle everyday would be Heaven to me. Then I turned around to head back. You know, as I paddle out the wind is to my back, as it goes North to South in the a.m., so I get a little push. But when I turned around, on the Lake, the on coming waves were a blast. I paddled swift as I could in a sprint out of the Bay and into the middle of the Lake. The criss-crossing Yachts had whipped up some 6' to 8' swells. With my Sea Kayak, 17' Prijon Kodiak, I charged ahead full speed. It was easy and exciting to chop, chop, chop, into the waves and the swells - wow - you situate yourself perpendicular to the swell and ride the water like a roller coaster. It is an intoxicating natural high. Just person and the sea - so close to the water, white caps coming down on one's self as one paddles. I felt alive, very much alive. I closed my eyes and set the paddle on the deck and just enjoyed the closeness of the water and the rise and fall - which has no effect of sea sickness when you are at ground level. I drew in deep breaths of the fresh air, eyes scanning the glorious cloud movements and gazing at the fog in the distance.
Click the
above map to enlarge, the click in the map to further enlarge
the image. I have marked with numbers the various bays and coves
I paddled into and around so far as of 5/20/2008. This can give
you a bit of information about lake Washington. No morning was ever better. Alive, in the Northwest, solo on the water. My heart pounded with love for the earth, the water, the air, and compassion for man. For a moment I was drunk on life and never wanted to come down. Alas I had
to go into my shop and work. How wonderful and lucky I am to use
my tiny kayak for such a big thrill. Oh, how I wish to live on
Lake Washington. Perhaps a miracle will help me end up living on
her shores, one day. |
