Marble Lake Moonlight Kayaking
So wait, there's more to my wonderful day at Mazinaw Lake (see my last entry).
After Greg and I finished our kayaking day at the rock, he had to leave and drive home. I wanted him to stay the extra night but he's really not into being out in nature like I am...I think it made him uncomfortable even though the cabin was basically a small house with a living room and separate bedrooms and a nice little bathroom. Still too rustic for Greg though.
So we said goodbye and he drove off around 5 in the evening, leaving me alone at the cabin at Marble Lake. I was fine with this though, as the little lake there looked almost as gorgeous as Mazinaw had, and it was a perfectly warm, still Autumn evening.
First, I called the one little restaurant there on Marble Lake...just up the road from the cabins (very convenient since it's the only restaurant for miles as well). I ordered a turkey sandwich on rye, dry (my favorite sandwich to take on the kayak). They offered fries with that, but I don't eat fries and I told them so. I also said "I'm taking my kayak out on the lake tonight so I couldn't bring fries anyway". Well, the lady who ran the place apparently thought that was an awesome idea and she said she'd think of an alternative. When I got there, I had a turkey sandwich wrapped in wax paper and another little bundle wrapped in paper as well. "It's a surprise! Don't open it until you're out on the lake!"
Then I packed my kayak for safety on the water. Moonlight kayak trips are awesome but you have to be prepared. I have a waterproof flashlight for the bow, a red strobe that I clip to the bungees on the stern, and a very nerdy-looking headlight for my cap. Plus I wear my vest and I bring an extra sweatshirt in a dry-bag in case it gets chilly. Marble Lake is really safe for night kayaking though; it's too shallow in too many places for motorized boats, so my worst fear of being run over was not an issue.
I loaded my dinner into the kayak and was about to launch (really...the cabin was right on a beach, right next to a nice clean sandy launch...perfect!!) when I realized I'd probably never find my way back to the cabin in the dark. The lake was 5 K long and nothing but cabins all around...it all looked pretty much the same.
But I'm a clever monkey. I tied a white scarf to a branch on the beach and used it to secure yet another flashlight (I have dozens of 'em in my car) onto it, so I could see it on the water. I left the cabin porch light on too for extra measure, and then I headed out.
The lake was like glass. Slightly tannic like most of the lakes up in that part of Ontario, so there wasn't a thick growth of waterweeds like I have at home on the clear Niagara. Makes paddling much easier. The shore fell away pretty quickly. The Koiyak glides like a swan over still waters so I was halfway across the little lake in no time.
Out in the middle of the lake was a tiny little island...just a small forested bunch of rocks really. I'd been wondering what was out there, so that was the first place I headed. What I found was a cabin! Who would believe? The whole island wasn't much bigger than half a football field and yet, someone put a cabin on it, with a tiny boat dock (obviously it was only accessible by boat). So I took a picture.
It was boarded up and empty, but really really cute.
I went all around the little island and ate my dinner in the lee of it. My "surprise" from the nice lady at the restaurant; a warm sliced apple wrapped in waxed paper, with sugar and cinnamon in the cored center. It tasted like an apple pie without the crust. She even included a note that said "stay safe and have fun!". I love Canadians!
By the time I was done, the sun had set completely.
Did you know there's a name for that bright glow in the sky just after the sun goes below the horizon? It's called "civil twilight". I love that kind of light on the water. It turns everything silvery.
So then, I just went around the entire edge of the lake, keeping the shore in sight. It was Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, so many families were at their cabins getting ready for the holiday. It was a little lonely being out on the water, looking at the bright cabins with cheerful fires burning and children laughing and running around catching fireflies or whatever kids like to do when they are out in the woods. But at the same time, it's really neat to be gliding along alone in the Koiyak, safe in my boat, just feeling strong and getting warm from the work of paddling. I can go for miles and miles once I get warmed up and in the zone.
The light leaves the sky in a hurry, in the mountains (especially on a cloudless night with no clouds to reflect any existing light), but the moon was full and came up like a tiny sun...
...lighting the lake up almost like daylight. It was wonderful, still, and so warm that I didn't even need my sweatshirt. Big fish (trout I guess!) were jumping out of the water after evening bugs...they were the only things out there besides me, breaking the stillness.
I stayed out there until the stars came out. Finding my way back was easy, thanks to the lights I left on for guidance. There's a wonderful feeling I get when I return from a night on the water. I feel like an intrepid adventurer. Anyone can kayak in the daytime; only a few of us are brave enough to go out at night, too. ;)
The neighbors in the cabin closest to mine were impressed too...they bombarded me with questions and offered me a beer while I showed them my pictures on my camera. We all couldn't believe there was a tiny cabin out there on that tiny island. I brought over the wood bundle I'd purchased from the camp store and we shared a really big bright fire and talked about how great it was to be enjoying such a rare warm October evening.
Then I took a really nice hot shower and fell asleep pretty much right away in my big empty bed. Usually I have a hard time getting to sleep, but a day of kayaking, all that fresh air, and the knowledge that I was exactly where I wanted to be at that moment...it all worked like a sleeping pill on me and I don't think I even rolled over once all night.
Hard to believe it was only a week ago! The weather has definitely turned. It was almost certainly the last nice, warm weekend of 2011in that part of Ontario. I'm so glad I went when I did, and I have that cabin resort on my iPhone's contact list forever now. No more guessing or hoping; I'll definitely be back there next year.