Reflections on the Sixth Week of Summer

Wednesday, kayak dealer Todd called from Kirtland, Ohio to say the Malibu Two had arrived. I gave him our address and directions. On a second call, he admitted he hadn't used them and was lost. Spence and I found Todd at the intersection of Pine and County Line–in a car with a kayak, enclosed in cardboard and plastic, on the roof. We led him to Wells Wood, gave him a cold lemonade, and helped unwrap the sit-on-top, green kayak. He showed us how to adjust the canvas seats and swayed as he paddled the air. Friday, Spence and I launched the kayak on Lake Wilhelm. I tried to mimic Todd's movements–hold arms straight, dip blades without splashing, and twist the torso to pull with the abdomen. In a lagoon carpeted with inch thick algae, we checked for turtles. One sunned and stretched its legs. Green muck clung to the paddles and piled mattress-thick around the kayak. I disregarded Todd's instructions, shook the paddle free, and speared the clumped barrier to cut a path out of the mire. As we zigzagged between snags in the upper lake, birds monitored our progress–osprey scolded, a great blue heron flapped off, cormorants scuttered across the surface, and geese swiveled their heads to follow our movements. After a six mile paddle, Spence said, “Do you want to go out again Sunday?” But Sunday brought a better treat. Our son arrived at 6:00 a.m. for a surprise visit.