Paddling Together

September 6, 2007

Day Eighteen

Captain Kidd

After morning chores, yoga, breakfast, meditation, and an entry in this journal, I felt replete with the completion of my solitary enterprises. Niles, Patti, and Jim were sitting on the beach fifty feet from my perch on the gravel. I strolled across the gravel, sprawled beside them, and continued our conversation of yesterday afternoon.

But after a few minutes I was ready to get onto the water. We agreed to meet at the beach in ten, prepared to launch to one several possible destinations: Crystal Cove, Captain Kidd’s Island, or the arch in Amygdaloid. I’d never been to Captain Kidd’s Island; never been willing to risk the short exposed paddle with children.

Jim, Patti, and Niles humored me. We crossed Amygdaloid Channel. Wind was out of the west, providing a thrilling bounce as waves broke on the the shoals in the gap between Captain Kidd and Amygdaloid. We rounded to paddle the exposed route along the northwest side of Kidd.

Each boat found its sweet spot in the clapotis off the cliffs. After riding the waves, we slipped onto the silent water of the harbor wedged into Captain Kidd's northeast tip. We made our boats fast and set about to explore the wooden structures, pumps, generators, and folk art of the family that has inhabited this island since before Isle Royale became a park. Niles refastened a screen that had come loose. We hiked a narrow trail along the ridge to the white wooden bench at the lookout.