We try to paddle Paul Lake  each year in the spring and fall when there are few, if any, boats on the lake.  On this last mid-October day the winds were calm for a quiet outing on the cooler waters of the lake.   The lakeshore had receded quite dramatically with the whole lake surface down 3 – 4 feet.    The cartop boat launch area  was deserted, making it easy to unload and prep the boat for a workout paddling down the lake and back.

When there was no wind, the colorful leaves rand darker trees reflected in the lake as I paddled down and around Gibraltar Rock.

The paddle down to the western end of the lake and back is 7 km.    With the sun lower in the sky, the south shoreline gets no sun so a return by the same shoreline is a good bet on a cool, sunny day.

There were a few ducks and geese on the lake and I spotted a muskrat swimming near a marshy area twice.

On the return paddle, silver waves rolled down the lake toward the kayak.

It is rare to see another boat on the lakes or the river by mid-October.    Since it is colder, I wear a spray skit, a good paddling jacket, neoprene boots, and good paddling gloves.   I work at keeping my feet dry on the launch (that’s not easy) and I have a change of shoes ready at the truck when I am done.   We will paddle into November waiting for milder days with no wind, before storing the kayak for the winter months.