First Kayak of 2018

Wildflowers and Sierras from Slick Rock boat launch 
at Kaweah Lake

Having heard that Lake Kaweah was filling up from the recent Pineapple Express rains, we loaded our inflatable kayaks into the van last night and made the 45-minute drive into the foothills early this morning. Spring is wondrous in the Central Valley: views of layer upon layer of the Sierras, with snow glistening on the highest slopes and peaks; a cool breeze heavy with the scent of orange blossoms from the surrounding groves; wildflowers, blue skies, bird song.

A. Visalia (home). B. Lake Kaweah. C. Slick Rock Boat Launch. D. Several companies offer various levels of rafting trips from roughly Pumpking Hollow Bridge near the entrance to Sequoia National

Park to Lake Kaweah.  

We paddled for an hour and a half or so, exploring channels, wending through tree tops, scaring up mallards and coots, watching a magnificent great blue heron sail across the lake on huge wings, legs stretched out behind.

          For me, it was especially gratifying, as I now paddle confidently and strongly. It's been five years since my cervical spine fusion, a surgery with complications, including a few hours of paralysis. In the last six months, I have regained substantially more muscle strength and endurance. My life no longer feels on hold. 
        And being with Doug is always an adventure. I'm so glad to be able to paddle with him again regularly.

Marilyn finishing getting the kayaks ready at Slick Rock Boat Launch while Doug parks the van.

Heading out from the boat launch. We're very short on snow this year, California's summer water supply, but there are a few snow-capped peaks like those through the V.

Exploring among treetops, seeing what channels are open. As the lake fills, more and more areas will be available for kayaking--until water is released for farming, and the upper reaches of the lake become the Kaweah River again.

When we get to the rapids, we paddle against them when the water is deep enough. It's always a bit of an adrenalin rush pushing forward into the current and then maneuvering the kayak around 180 degrees--then you relax and let the current carry you downstream.

We got a little bit of a ride from the rapids today.

More exploring! Note the handle of a raft oar that Doug picked up out of the water. When the river is high enough, rafts set off about 10 miles upstream near Three Rivers.

Just absorbing it all.

Doug's lake treasures for the day: 2 pieces of redwood for the yard--looks like a shark with the head in front and tail behind, a rafting oar, a fishing bobber to add to his collection. Marilyn's finds were a child's plastic bucket, a baby rattle, and a nerf football--all in all a very successful outing!