Guess What I Did? A New Adventure

Guess What I Did?  Yep! I finally "sailed" to the other side of the pond!

With all this wonderful rain we've been having, our pond has filled up to a depth that finally made it possible to even try and explore its depths!

There I go.  Yes, you will  notice that there is a rope tied to my kayak. That was because we weren't too sure how deep it was further out, and we decided for the first trial run to attach a rope so I could be pulled back to shore if I got stuck (or too scared to paddle! LOL).

Of course, those of you who have followed me here for a while know that I have been wanting to get on that little island in the middle of our pond ever since we moved here last summer. I tried to walk across to it when the pond was almost dry, (you can read more about that adventure HERE), but quickly discovered that looks could be deceiving. The "dry" bottom of the pond was really muck, and I quickly had to retreat from that idea!

 Alas, when I paddled my son's kayak to the island, I could not figure out a way to land it there and be able to get out of the kayak on my own...it took three people to get me out on the flat shore, so I knew there was no way I could graciously climb out of that kayak by myself and climb up the hill on the island. It would have been a disaster that would only be funny to those watching from afar!

 So I quickly abandoned that idea and paddled back to shore to untie the rope (and get my camera) so that I could go ahead and paddle around the island to see what was on the other side.

So these pictures are what I saw as I paddled around the other side of the island:

This was the grassy marshy area where the Canadian Geese had their nest earlier this spring, which apparently did not develop any goslings as they abandoned their nest and flew away one day. Then the Sand Hill Crane couple started spending their nights here, but when the pond dried up so badly, they too flew away and haven't been back.

Now the water lilies are blooming profusely all over the pond. They are so pretty, I had to balance myself in the kayak, trying not to lose my hold on the paddle while I attempted to take pictures...

This is a lovely picture of my foot. Not sure how this picture got taken. I think it was during my balancing act.

Finally reaching the far side of the island. It's not really very large...certainly not big enough for Gilligan and his crew, but just a pretty peaceful little cove where the fish can swim and the birds and land...

I debated about going all the way around the island, and decided not to because I wasn't too sure how deep the water was on the other side.

So I turned around and headed back toward home.

 Another view of the cove before I left.

 "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, 

through which God speaks to us every hour,

if we will only tune in."

George Washington Carver

(a quote I found in a favorite little book, "Beside Still Waters")

 "My heart is awed within me when I think of the great miracle that still goes on,

In silence, round me--the perpetual work of Thy creation, finished, yet renewed Forever.

Written on Thy works I read the lesson of Thy own eternity."

William Cullen Bryant

This is my favorite water lily picture of the day:

And then when I got back to shore, my son decided to take his turn in the kayak:

 He also just went to the other side of the island and then turned around and came back to shore.

And when he came back to shore, my sweet daughter in law decided to show us how it's really supposed to be done. She is a more experienced kayaker than we are.

Look at her go!

She was paddling so strong she left quite a wake behind her little craft...

 And Lo! and Behold! She made it all the way around the island!!!!

 Here she comes! Our great explorer of the day!!!

Yay for Rose! She proved it could be done!!! I'm so proud of her!!

 And thus ended our wonderful little kayaking adventure for the day!  Then we went and picked up some BBQ for lunch and had a wonderful day.

Later in the day I saw this lovely Little Blue Heron fishing in the pond:

So now we can add him to our list of different species of herons and water birds visiting Still Waters Pond.

Never a dull moment here on Still Waters Pond!

Just a thought from God's Word:

"You are my hiding place;

You will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance."

Psalm 32:7

I hope you enjoyed this little journey around "Still Waters Pond"!  Now that I know I can do it, I hope to get out there more frequently, as long as the water stays high enough to make it!  Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings on us!!!