Kayaking is harder than canoeing.

Last Thursday Jake's division of the Business School (OMS) had an evening get-together during which they rented kayaks or canoes for all of us. We were supposed to do the same river trip that Jake and I did in the canoe and we were really looking forward to trying it in the kayak. Unfortunately, after 2 days of downpour (we had TWO nights of the crazy lightening), the river was too swollen for us to enter at the launch point. Instead, we took the kayaks out to the pond area at Gallup Park and the OMS group decided to paddle upstream.

Swollen River

Having never been in a kayak, the experience was somewhat terrifying and very difficult.

We were paddling against the current, and though it was slow, our kayak kept turning to the side (so that it was floating perpendicular to the river). It was pretty ridiculous. Even when we later went downstream, the kayak wanted to turn to the side. Needless to say, we were really glad we tried out the kayak on the shorter trip instead of taking it out for the 4-hour river tour.

Because of the uncooperative kayak, and my subsequent fear of falling into the river, it was difficult to take a picture of the two of us in action. Here are our best attempts.

The river in the park by our house also swelled from the crazy rain (I think they said we had a total of 13 inches fall over 24 hours). We went expecting it to be full, but were shocked at what we found. There is usually an island in the middle of the river and the water snakes around it in a U-shape.

What we found was a lake.

The water rose so high that it flooded it's lower banks and the trees went for a swim.

The poor ducks had to swim among them and were probably pretty confused about the disappearance of their sunning island.

In other news, I successfully baked a round of fluffy-er Gluten Free bread. I was pleased to see it actually rose since I've had trouble with that in the past. It turned out pretty tasty and crusty, which was good too. And, yes, it does look like a giant hamburger bun, but I assure you, it is not.

Finally, everyone needs a dose of "cute" to finish off a Wednesday. I got up to get some water and when I returned someone had stolen my chair.

There was too much cute to make him get off, so I ended up sitting on the floor.

Hope everyone is having a good week. A big hug to fellow Keysters as we make this unpleasant transition. Don't be a stranger.