Kayaking

Station Maine went kayaking yesterday.  Nothing involving major planning.  We just got into our respective kayaks and paddled Rockland’s South End.  It was a way to be social while maintaining social distance.  it wasn’t an eventful trip, but learning piled on top of learning.

We started heading south.  The wind was blowing from the south and we figured it would be easier to come downwind at he end of the trip when we’re tired.  We made it to Seal Ledge and found out that’s where the ducks go to rest at low tide.  Dozens of them.  We didn’t dare get too close because the osprey nest was full of chicks and a very protective mother who did not look kindly on us.  We watched the sky turn from brilliant blue to a thousand shades of white, blue, and grey.  Fluffy white against angry straight purple making all of us wish we could paint.  But could any painting be as beautiful as what we were experiencing.  Thunder bumpers were rolling in.  We saw the rain pouring in straight lines from the clouds to the far islands.  

We watched the wind change.  The directly due south wind clocked around within minutes to west.  We felt more than heard the rumble in the sky that signaled us to head for home.  We hit the shore and stowed the kayaks before the rain hit.  We were very pleased with ourselves.

There was more learning here than I am able to describe.  I suppose some book or web site could explain to us the territorial habits of nesting osprey or the pressure patterns that formed a thunder sky and changed the wind.  But this was more than knowing.  We learned from primary sources in a way that we will never forget.  We learned because we lived it.