Resisting the Inevitable?

There comes a time each year when my special spot transforms from a pleasant, quiet get-away to a rigid, at times noisy, cold and nearly lifeless area. I am referring to the transition from fall to winter on the Wapsipinicon River.

Knowing my days of paddling for the year are nearly done, I ventured out on the water today. As I left our shoreline I paddled in what seemed like a giant smoothie until I hit open water. From there I paddled upstream until I reached ice at least 1/2-thick and almost too much to break through. What began as a quiet outing became a noisy adventure as I pounded my paddle blades through the ice to break a path. That happens when a person is there as water changes from a liquid to a solid.

Unless we are fortunate to have a warm spell, my days of paddling are nearly done for 2022. Sometime in December I will need to paddle below a dam or where water water is moving too fast to freeze so I can continue my years-long passion of paddling every month.

I guess I will be spending more time doing cold-weather hikes or ice fishing. Oh boy…another winter in Iowa.