2007 LABOR DAY WEEKEND CAMPING TRIP
PART 2 - A 12 Mile Run, Some Kayaking, & Shooting Stars
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Sabattis trip photos
12 mile run photos
Ann tends to be a fairly early riser when camping, so around 6 AM she was up and about, and I eventually got up and changed into running gear, planning to get in a 10-13 mile run before things got going for the day (often Saturday involves a canoeing or hiking expedition.) Initially the weather didn't look too promising, but the clouds burned off while I was running and the rest of the day was pretty darn nice (if a bit windy and chilly at times.)
12 Mile Run
I headed off down the road away from the Reservation entrance, eventually leaving private property for state-owned. Compared to some of the places I've run this summer, the dirt road was easy, despite a couple of short hills. After a little over three miles, I hit a posted notice, so I turned around and went back rather than risk antogonizing a private landowner. Ran back through the Reservation and just past the home of the DEC ranger (who is also the off-season caretaker.) Then it was back to camp and some well-earned pancakes (lucky pancakes, really... Ann saved them for me when they made breakfast for the group.)
It was actually quite nice to run someplace totally new, and I saw some beautiful scenery in the process. No cool wildlife sightings, unfortunately... though while I ate my late breakfast we did get to watch three loons out on the lake doing a strange loon water-ballet while talking to one another in strange loon-speak.
Kayaking
During the morning the group borrowed half a dozen kayaks from the Scout Reservation, and a group of us decided to kayak to the spot where the scouts used to swim back when several guys in the group were coming to the Reservation. I've wanted to try kayaking for quite some time, since I enjoyed canoeing the summer I trained to do the Josh Billings Runaground and kayaks have always looked a lot more versatile to me. Of course, the main drawback to my kayaking is my swimming - I swim slightly better than the average brick, possibly well enough to get myself to shore if I wasn't too far out. Ordinarily, I would wear a PFD while out on the water - unfortunately, I didn't bring mine and the guys hadn't grabbed any when they got the kayaks. I took the kayak out for a quick trial near the beach, and found that the one I was using felt pretty stable and that I remembered the basic paddle strokes from canoeing fairly well. So, with a promise to Ann that I would stay fairly close to shore, off we went.
PART 2 - A 12 Mile Run, Some Kayaking, & Shooting Stars
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Sabattis trip photos
12 mile run photos
Ann tends to be a fairly early riser when camping, so around 6 AM she was up and about, and I eventually got up and changed into running gear, planning to get in a 10-13 mile run before things got going for the day (often Saturday involves a canoeing or hiking expedition.) Initially the weather didn't look too promising, but the clouds burned off while I was running and the rest of the day was pretty darn nice (if a bit windy and chilly at times.)
12 Mile Run
I headed off down the road away from the Reservation entrance, eventually leaving private property for state-owned. Compared to some of the places I've run this summer, the dirt road was easy, despite a couple of short hills. After a little over three miles, I hit a posted notice, so I turned around and went back rather than risk antogonizing a private landowner. Ran back through the Reservation and just past the home of the DEC ranger (who is also the off-season caretaker.) Then it was back to camp and some well-earned pancakes (lucky pancakes, really... Ann saved them for me when they made breakfast for the group.)
It was actually quite nice to run someplace totally new, and I saw some beautiful scenery in the process. No cool wildlife sightings, unfortunately... though while I ate my late breakfast we did get to watch three loons out on the lake doing a strange loon water-ballet while talking to one another in strange loon-speak.
Kayaking
During the morning the group borrowed half a dozen kayaks from the Scout Reservation, and a group of us decided to kayak to the spot where the scouts used to swim back when several guys in the group were coming to the Reservation. I've wanted to try kayaking for quite some time, since I enjoyed canoeing the summer I trained to do the Josh Billings Runaground and kayaks have always looked a lot more versatile to me. Of course, the main drawback to my kayaking is my swimming - I swim slightly better than the average brick, possibly well enough to get myself to shore if I wasn't too far out. Ordinarily, I would wear a PFD while out on the water - unfortunately, I didn't bring mine and the guys hadn't grabbed any when they got the kayaks. I took the kayak out for a quick trial near the beach, and found that the one I was using felt pretty stable and that I remembered the basic paddle strokes from canoeing fairly well. So, with a promise to Ann that I would stay fairly close to shore, off we went.
Kayaking was an absolute blast! I was lucky enough to have one of the better boats - both stable and long enough to track well. I managed to move at a pretty good clip (for me, at least) across the water and decided fairly quickly that I want to get a kayak. Much of my training focuses on lower body, and kayaking would be a great way to work my upper body that also happens to be tremendous fun.
Ann joined us in a smaller boat a little while later, while we waited for two of the guys to swap their small kayaks which didn't track well at all for larger ones. I wish I had known she was coming, I would have waited for her. Once everyone was back in the water, we headed back to the campsite. On the way back I cut across the lake and checked out the shore of the penninsula across from our small beach - possibly the only time I'll get to see that area. When we got back, I staggered up to the tents to get my camera and get a photo of Ann. Sitting in a kayak for quite a while not long after my run left me pretty stiff, plus I found that paddling used my legs and lower body a good bit. Still, it was well worth it!
Stars, Stars, and More Stars
After a fairly late dinner, a group of the gals including Ann decided to take a canoe out on the lake to look at the stars. I decided to go out in one of the kayaks, though I mostly stayed a lot closer to the beach than they did (I guess I drifted out a ways once or twice, since at one point I flashed my headlamp for them and Ann called over that she was impressed at where I was.)
The gals paddled all over the place talking and singing (yes, singing) - no surprise, I was quite a bit quieter. The view of the night sky was exquisite - perfectly clear, with no light pollution. I saw half a dozen shooting stars, and got to watch the 3/4 moon rise, first as a big orange light on the horizon and then growing smaller and whiter as it moved higher in the sky. All in all, a pretty nice way to end the day (though I did sit at the fire with Ann for a little while before crawling into bed... anticipating another early morning...)
JMH
