Lake riding

With all that, on a gray and misty Saturday morning, I went for a paddle on Lake Quinault. I took the SUP out from the Falls Creek campground near the village, and set a course for the middle of the lake. I was surprised, having never paddled here before, how quickly I was able to get across the lake. I didn’t go all the way to the north shore, but I could have, and rather quickly. From my vantage point near the center, I could see the whole lake.

It was derby day on the lake and the fishhooks were flying, especially along the shore. I worked my way back to my starting point by paddling toward the southwestern corner of the lake, then back along the waterfront, just out of casting range. I saw one good-sized trout being taken on board a Bayliner, but that was the only catch I witnessed. Fathers and sons lined the more easily accessed points, and we exchanged smiles and waves as I passed before they went back to their task and I went back to mine.

I wasn’t out there long, a couple hours, tops. After I got back and dressed, I drove up to the Quinault Store for breakfast. I don’t remember the old owners, but the establishment is under new management now and I did notice an improvement. There’s a small cafe in the back with good food and smiling service, which set me up well for the rest of the day. It was, after all, barely 9:00 AM.