Sunnyside State Park to Shaw Bay Paddle

It started out crystal clear and calm today. We got on the water about 10AM. Lake Pend Oreille was really smooth. We headed from the state park out on Sunnyside Road to Fisherman's Island, and looped around there. Also took a dip here. Don was birding. We saw a bald eagle, lots of spotted sandpipers, black-capped chickadees, and I forget what else. Then we continued on into the islands in Shaw Bay. Took another dip and had a snack there, before heading back out to the state park. We really didn't notice the wind until we were heading back out of Shaw Bay. Then, once we got around the end of the penninsula, the wind really picked up, straight head-on. So the last mile was really choppy and windy. It was hard to paddle there. But it was also fun. All in all, a great paddle. I'm so glad Don was able to come with me today. I've decided it's much more fun to paddle with someone. I think I'll be able to do just little exercise runs up Sand Creek by myself, knowing it's just for exercise, but for the fun, adventurous paddles, it's nice to share the experience with someone.

Here's the map of our paddle:

Memorial Field to Rocky Point

Don figured a way to secure our kayaks in the back of his pickup, so that it can hold one kayak or both of them. Here's the set-up for when I go for a paddle by myself.

So today I left from the Memorial Field boat launch and headed west on the Pend Oreille River to Rocky Point, which is just a little way past Chuck Slough.

The wind was in my face on the way out, which made it pretty hard to paddle, but it was pushing at my back on the way home, so all-in-all, it was a great paddle.  Also, I like it when the water is a little choppy, too.  It was fun, and challenging at the same time.  I was only one the water for about two hours, but if felt a lot longer with that wind.

Here's a pick of the narrow "beach" just beyond Chuck Slough that I was able to get out, stretch and take a swim before continuing on.

And then below that I put the map of today's paddle.  I'm enjoying using MapoMeter.com to chart my paddles.  It's fun to see how far I go each day.

Clark Fork River Delta Paddle w/Debby P.

Another great paddle today!  Debby came with me to the Clark Fork River Delta.  And what I found out today is that the delta covers a very large area!

This is a fantastic place to paddle, and I really want to go back here, soon!  

While Debby and I were playing out on the river, Don was finishing up his efficient and effective kayak storage system.  It really turned out sooooo great.  Thank you, Don!

Here's the map of our paddle today:

Sand Creek Paddle with Linda

Such a great paddle today with Linda N. Started at Sandpoint City Beach, and paddled up Sand Creek to the Schweitzer Cutoff Bridge. Beautiful day in Sandpoint's outback!

Paddle July 4, 2015

Yesterday's Paddle

Kayaking Dover Bay

I got the stitches out of my hand (from the carpal tunnel surgery) on Thursday. Doc said I was good to go kayaking.  So on Friday after work, we paddled starting at the Sand Creek kayak launch around City Beach and a couple miles toward Hope.

Birding via kayak!

Snack time on the Pend Oreille River.

Today, we put in at the Dover Bay boat launch and paddled around there for a few hours.  Beautiful day.  I wish the warm weather would last a little longer.  I'm not ready to put the kayak away yet, since we really just started, and then I couldn't go for two weeks.

Don wants to kayak when it's colder, anyway.  We want to see some migrating birds from water level!

Taking the Kayak Plunge

After a few lessons and a lot of research, we took the kayak plunge.  Lots of fun so far.