September 2, 2022
Yesterday, after Bismarck, we drove across the street to check out Stockade Lake. We decided that Stockade Lake would be a nice place to kayak. We got onto the lake about 11:30 AM. We just have to have the kayaks back by 2:00PM. The wind was a little stronger today than yesterday. It was just beautiful on the water. The view from the lake looking at the Black Hills. Really cool. The picture shows our approximate route. We went much farther today than yesterday. We paddled away from the ramp for about 45 minutes. I decided that it was time to turn around and go back. However, the wind picked up to about 15 mph. It was very difficult to paddle, at least for me. I’m a big target so there a few gusts of wind where I was paddling and the wind just held me in place. I kept trying to lean back into my seat but there was no support. Then my legs started to cramp. After about halfway back my hips and back were on fire. I wound up hanging my feet over the side of the kayak. I go to about the two-thirds point and I was exhausted and hurting. I even thought about bailing off and trying to float back.
Nancy meanwhile was just paddling along like nothing. I stopped to rest and she came along side of me. I attempted to try and sit back in my seat. The back collapsed to where I was lying down. Nancy refused to help me sit up to finish the trip. Instead she tied my kayak to hers and she proceeded to paddle both of us back to the ramp. I was too tired and sore to deflate the kayaks so we took them back inflated. They would need to clean them anyway.
I am so grateful for the save but I did learn a valuable lesson. Don’t try to do too much, especially with wind and as a beginner. This has not turned me against kayaking. It is great exercise and for the most part I enjoyed the tranquility on the water. It will be a matter of finding the right fit for me. Maybe I’ll try again in Arizona.
After returning the kayaks, I needed lunch and a beer. We went to the Custer Wolf. Lunch was good and the beer really hit the spot. The rest of the day is rest and recovery with a heating pad.
