The day after our mini-vacation was Mothers Day. Brad asked if I wanted to go kayaking at Mirror Lake. It is our go to place and everything about the location fits us just right. He did not have to ask me twice!! I am always usually game for an adventure. Spending more quiet time together by/on the water would be perfect. The kids joined us for supper later on.
Last Spring we were kayak-less and had never experienced Mirror Lake in the Spring. The quietest time to be on the water any time of year is in the morning. Before yakity kayak yakers arrive.
A couple kayakers were paddling the distant stream. Causing nesting parents to have a fit. The honkers were LOUD! We decided not to kayak any further and add to the poor parents stress.
We usually spot an eagle hunting the larger open water areas. We stopped paddling and watched an adult baldy fly closer and land on a tree. He took off again and circled above. If you watch the video you will see what (almost) happened. Yikes!
(48 secs)
We both enjoy paddling calm waterways best, with visual interest. It is very relaxing, thought provoking and puts everything into perspective.
As long as we are talking about floating our troubles away, our second kayak outing happened last weekend on Fathers Day. When we headed out, it was very lightly misting and cool. The majority of the time we had the water blissfully to ourselves.
It is hard to show height. The DNR website says the tall rocky layered banks are "50 feet tall cliffs".
(22 secs)
We were surprised how low the lake was on this outing. Already. We've had a good amount of rain at home. Perhaps this area didn't get much.
There was nothing to do but laugh when we paddled out of the narrows, into the open. The water was SO thick with vegetation our kayaks did not move. We sat there for a while, taking in the view.
One by one the visitors arrived. They landed all over everything, including us. Not a fan of bugs in my hair. My hat solved that.

not a dragonfly
When I got home I looked up what I thought were dragonflies. My friend Google says they are Eastern Forktail damselfly. Friendly little fellas.

sooo many hitchhikers!
We counted the damselfly's and laughed the whole way back to shore. We went from double digit hitchhikers, to two, to none. The winged wonders flew off when they were ready.
The other entertaining sight on this outing were the zig zagging water bugs. They were white, not the long legged scooting water bugs.
water bugs (10 secs)
Each kayak outing is a different experience. Even at the same waterway. It is ever changing and so interesting observing how nature changes!!
5 comments:
I've visited this park once in the winter and enjoyed climbing the cliffs and looking down across the lake. The ice formations in some of those areas are amazing.
Looks like a fantastic trip.
Sooo peaceful. Just heavenly. The eagle was fascinating to watch. Great job on the videos. I was right there with you. Such a lovely way to spend time together, stress free! Brilliant.
Loved the eagle video, looks like it got told off! Good job on tracking for the video. I prefer to be on shore, not on the water, but something as peaceful as Mirror Lake would be a great place to kayak or canoe. You sure got some sublime moments!
Wow what a great outing!
Lovely adventures. After our busy week last week you don’t know how tempting that looks! Kayaking is so natural and quiet and allows you to blend into nature a bit. We don’t kayak, but we do paddle board, or at least we did a couple of years ago. It was a whole different world.
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