Autumn has arrived with cooler than usual temperatures. This, for a paddler in the Midwest, is not the best news. I waited until noon for the temperature to rise but by the time I put in at Lake Jacomo, the mercury had only creeped to forty degrees. Heavy rains the day before had left a lingering shawl of gray clouds stretched over the sky. The lake was empty of boats, but scattered groups of geese and other waterfowl bobbed over small waves. I paddled north into a moderate breeze, trusting the weather report that it would top at 13 mph. The rich offering of fall color on the hills and shore, the energy in the air, and the smell of the water made braving autumn's first chill worth while.
Whitetail Deer.
The deer in the above photo stopped to watch me just long enough for me to get a camera shot. After deciding discretion was the better part of valor, they bounded off into the woods, their white tails raised in alarm. Sights like this are the rewards of braving less than perfect weather conditions.
North Liggett Cove was empty--no boats or shore fishermen. Only a few of the smaller coves offered shelter from the rising wind. In one cove I found the last lost fishing bobber of summer.
Bobber hooked to the lake floor, awaiting rescue.
By the time I had circled the cove, I found a 15 to 20 mph wind sweeping down the lake. So much for the forecast!
The waves were starting to white cap a bit as I headed across to the marina, a few of them washing over my bow, their broadside swells rocking the kayak in a corkscrew motion. It was fun, but it was also getting cold. Halloween's race, the Kaw-lloween sponsored by Rivermiles on the Kansas (Kaw) River, will likely be colder still. Is it too late to back out?
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