Subtle Beauty

So, Kansas doesn't have any snowcapped mountain peaks, or ocean beaches, or national forests. That doesn't mean that Kansas does not have any beauty, though. The beauty of Kansas does not reach out and shake you. It is more subtle. For instance, gentle rolling hillsides of wildflowers gracing the Flint Hills. Miles and miles of ocean waves of golden wheat blowing in the relentless Kansas wind. Some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. The subtle beauty of Kansas can even be found in the huge 30,000 and 40,000 feet high thunderheads maneuvering around on the Great Plains. No laser light show can match the electrical display of a Kansas thunderstorm. I am a kayaker and I have often wished I could be closer to some of the more exciting rivers and lakes and oceans. However, I have discovered the subtle beauty of paddling Hillsdale Lake (20 minutes away), the Kaw river, Melvern, Pomona, the Marais De Cynge (about 100 yards from my front door), Cross Timbers and others. The other day, I took a 20 minute drive to Miami County State Lake near Fontana, Ks. and spent a pleasant hour on the lake. I have included a picture to show the subtle beauty of this small wooded lake 20 minutes away from my front door. Beauty can probably be found very close to where you live.

One State Closer to the Goal

I have set a goal to paddle every state before my life is over. I have paddled Kansas, Missouri, Oklahma, Colorado, and now I can add Idaho to the list. We rented a canoe and tandem kayak from North Beach Rentals on the upper part of Payette Lake. Eric, Michelle, Dathan and Tate were in the canoe, while Kaitlin and I were in the tandem kayak. We paddled north up the Payette River that feeds into the lake. We paddled an hour and 1/2 until the current became too strong to go further. The scenery was beautiful. When we returned the owner of North Beach Rentals showed us an image on her cell phone that someone up the river had just e-mailed her. A female moose was standing in the river. Sure wished we had seen that! The next morning I rented a kayak from Gravity Sports on Payette Lake. I paddled 2 1/2 miles across the lake in the teardrop section of the lake and then 3 miles north to the cliffs of the Ponderosa state park. Finally, I paddled back about 3 miles to the put in. I routinely saw depths of 90 some feet and 100 some feet. I think I went across the deepest part of the lake at 395 feet, because at one point my Humminbird depthfinder went to 0' and showed no bottom. My unit only goes to 120 feet. What a great couple of days on the water. I believe everyone should set goals in their lives and do their best to keep them.