#SundayPaddle: Orchard Lake

It was Saturday, May 1st that we would paddle Orchard Lake on this partly sunny, 60 degree-ish day.  Another new place for me to knock off the paddling bucket list!  It was easy to find off Pontiac Trail and Orchard Lake, but if you’re coming from the west, there is no left turn, so you have to turn around if that is your route.  Hey, that looks like my truck, in the background!

I met up with my dear paddling partners, Christy and Mary Ann!  We put in at a small, grassy area right next to the boat ramp. In the center of the background of this photo is Apple Island, which we would be paddling around today.

I walked over to the bathrooms to see if they were yet open (nope!) and found this historical marker. Wow! According to history, Chief Pontiac once lived on the island we were headed to, over 300 years ago.

Back at the launch, we loaded up and pushed off!

The water was pretty choppy, and Christy demonstrated some paddling techniques.

It was windy on our way out to Apple Island but that would be nothing compared to the return trip!  We decided to paddle to the right which would get us on the other side of the island quicker and out of the wind.

We made it, and it was very nice to be out of that wind and just float for a bit. I need to work on my selfie technique.

Paddling around the other side of the island, we found this neat looking root system of a fallen tree which was pretty much flat like a wall.

We thought it would be a cool backdrop for a photo!

Apple Island is owned by the West Bloomfield School District, and there are several posted No Trespassing signs, which is a bummer, but understandable.

We gathered and floated together, talked and ate lunch. Soon, I broke out the paracord I carried in my dry bag and we tied our boats together through the rope handles so we could stay together and not float apart. This was my favorite, most relaxing part of the day, just floating and partaking in fun conversation. I can’t WAIT to come back in the summer so we can play around in the water, it’s very nice and sandy in this section, only a few feet deep where we were and crystal clear.

The pirates we saw were friendly, they never came for us or our booty!

After a while, we had to make our way back into the wind, and it had picked up considerably.

I WISH my GoPro was working to capture what we were about to go through. Crazy wind out of the west as a storm passed by in the distance. Waves about a foot high at times, and there were whitecaps all around. I tried to time my paddling with the waves, but could not avoid hitting them head on, at times, and water poured over the bow of my boat. By the time we were halfway across, I was sitting in almost three inches of water in my sit on top kayak. I pulled the two front scupper plugs and was relieved when the water drained out but I was still soaked.

I kept paddling (PRAYING to God out loud to please make the wind stop just for a while!) and kept looking back on Christy and Mary Ann. I was afraid to stop paddling as the wind would push us back even further..

We made it back and I was never so glad to see my car. Well, yes I was. The day I kayaked in the winter and thought my feet were frostbitten.  Shore, sweet shore.  I tipped my boat on its side to dump the last of the water, which I’d oddly gotten used to the temperature of.

The towel I’d brought along to cover my bare feet was now completely drenched as were my shorts. A great look!

No ice cream for this girl, which is our traditional stop after a good paddle.. Brrrr.  I started my truck and turned on the heat as I loaded up my boat and it was so nice to hop into the warm coziness after we said our goodbyes. I can’t wait to return this summer, though, and play in the water!