Seagull eggs and chicks as well as cormorant chicks and eggs.
My brother and I went back to Milk River Ridge and checked out the nesting island. Look what we found: Seagull eggs and chicks as well as cormorant chicks and eggs.
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Went with my brother to Cameron Lake for an evening paddle. It was spectacular! The water was crystal clear and there was hardly a breath of wind. Go to the Cameron Lake page to see more details on the lake and to see a video of the paddle.
I made another trip to St. Mary Reservoir (Lake) today since the forecast was for wind; I wanted to test my kayak and skills on rough water. Here is the result. It was a lot of fun - wished the waves were even bigger. Went out to St. Mary Reservoir and paddled around for a couple of hours. This is a large reservoir created by a dam. I would like to come back and do a more extensive paddle here. I wouldn't mind coming here when the wind comes up and white caps make for challenging water - just see how the kayak fairs in such circumstances. I also practiced my roll. See the video below: I went with a group of venturers from my church and canoed/kayaked across Upper Kananaskis Lake to Point Camp ground. It is a 5 KM paddle from the east boat launch to the camp on the west end of the lake. The wind came up so it was a bit of work out to get to the west end of the lake where the camp is. This is a beautiful lake and the water is cold. The camp is probably 100 M up from the shore and the individual sites are spread out, which are large enough for 4 people The sleeping pads are 3.6 M square (12 ft) with fire pits and picnic tables, there is a wood supply with bear bins for food and an outhouse. Aside: a kayaker drowned in this lake about 3 weeks ago, people on the shore heard someone yelling and then saw a man stand up in his kayak and start waving and then saw him fall into the lake. That is the last they saw him alive. It is my conjecture that he lost his paddle and panicked. He had a pfd but didn't have it on. Once in the icy water he was not able to get back in the kayak and after 10 minutes his muscles locked up because of the cold it was all over. I wonder if alcohol was a factor. It makes me think people should be certified and take a course before allowed on the water. Nicholas Sheran Lake I often slip over to Nicholas Sheran lake to practice kayak skills and get a work out. It is about 5 minutes from my home so it is convenient. It is only 0.5 Km long but there is a loop and you can paddle in endless circles. It is a pleasant workout. Henderson Lake I went on Saturday for a short paddle around Henderson Lake with my brother. He has a Necky Alias - probably 15.6 ft kayak with a rudder. I will post video the next time I go.
I did the Milk River Ridge Reservoir. I didn't get there till noon - so sort of a late start. I went about 10 km in 3 hours against a head wind. Had I quit at 10 km it would have been perfect distance but I thought I would have a tail wind coming back. However, then the wind quit and gradually came out of the southeast - yes you guessed it as a cross wind and eventually as a head wind coming back. A bit much for a first outing but it felt good at the end. I found the skeg depth was the key to paddling a straight line into the wind or with a cross wind - this was achieved by subtle adjusts till just the right amount of skeg kept the line. I found that if the ship was weather cocking then a bit more skeg was needed. Without the skeg it would be very difficult to hold a straight line. Today I took Mizu Uma - Water Horse (Tempest 170) for its maiden voyage on Nicholas Sharon Lake, yes the kayak has a name, . The boat preformed well. It was a bit windy and the ship tended to weather cock (surprised how much it weather cocked), less so with the skeg down but still had to compensate with the paddle. It was about as stable as I thought it would be. I was reluctant to test the edge but I was able to turn the ship with sweeping strokes - so not a problem. I will test the edging out soon. I am still having problems with the it falling off the roof rack - it slips off to one side and then just goes. I have some ideas about a solution but before I take it out again, I have to solve this issue. |
InterestsLives in Southern Alberta, loves life, family, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, archery, videography, photography, multicopters, hazelnuts, far too many things, etc. Archives
March 2016
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