Who’s ready for some Adirondack paddling?!  MEEEEEEEEEE.  Y’all know I can’t resist an afternoon on the water – especially via my kayak – and after many days of quarantining at my parents’ house (with my laptop, of course) I was desperately in need of some fresh air and fun.  We were cautious and mindful of the New York State travel advisory, but my parents’ camp is very private, and we were the only ones there, so we figured it still counted as quarantining.  The moment we got there, Nugget started begging me to take him out in the kayak.  You don’t have to ask me twice!  Steve hauled my old Perception kayak (I got it when I was fifteen!) and my parents’ Old Town down to the beach, and my mom dug up the duffing seat out of cobwebs.  I don’t think it had been used in years – since I used to paddle my cousins around.

Skipper Nugget was READY to go.  We let him decide where to paddle, and he said he wanted to paddle across the lake.  That’s 37 miles, so probably not doable in a day.  (Definitely not doable in a recreational kayak with a densely-packed duffer.)  But some additional questioning revealed that he actually wanted to paddle across the bay (whew) to Bass Island.  That, we can do.

We set off across the deepest part of the bay, carefully avoiding motorboats and waterskiers.  Nugget insisted he was having a good time, but later confessed to being scared at first.  Poor little dude!  Once he got into the rhythm, he definitely shook off any fear and started to really have fun.

Approaching the island…

Dad landed first and pulled us ashore.  Nugget immediately hopped out of the boat and set off on a hike into the brush (note: this is a very small island) while Steve and I followed behind him shouting things like “WATCH OUT FOR POISON IVY” (me) and “THERE IS GOOSE POOP LITERALLY EVERYWHERE” (Steve).

Don’t care, Mommy-Daddy!  Explooooooooooooooore!

We hiked through most of the wooded part of the island (it really is small, you guys) and came out on the beach on the other side, then walked around the point and back to our boats.  Where to next, Nugget?

Around the island, Mommy!

Whatever you say, Henry Hudson.

After our circumnavigation of Bass Island (which took less then ten minutes #keepingitreal) Nugget directed us to paddle along the shoreline.  We obediently turned our bows into the bay and paddled the length of the shore.  Nugget shyly waved to some people who were having a party on a pontoon boat, but they didn’t notice his sweet little greeting.  Their loss.

Much better: Nugget directed us into a smaller bay that off-shoots my parents’ bay.  We paddled around in the calm and quiet waters for a bit, and were treated to a fantastic view of a great blue heron – a huge one.  So cool.  After it noticed us and took off flying across the bay, Nugget dictated that it was time to return home, so return home we did.  With sore arms and cores, and big smiles.

Returned with plenty of time left for more swimming and mountain views.  Can’t beat it.

The state of the world being what it is, I don’t know if we will make it back to the lake again this season.  So it felt good to get there once.  Next year, I hope to make up for our relative absence this summer by being up there a lot more – and in some different seasons.  I want Steve and the kids to see the “ring of fire” on Labor Day (when everyone lights bonfires on their beaches and the whole lake glows) and experience the magic of a chilly autumn paddle while the mountains are ablaze with color.  There’s absolutely nothing like it.

Where are you escaping this summer?