Last weekend my wife and I were able to take our last kayak trip of the season. We purchased our kayaks very late in the season, so this was probably only our fourth trip.

It's very peaceful, and we don't have to worry about gasoline costs or mechanical issues. We can just plop into the water wherever we want, and paddle around to our hearts' content.

I've gotten to see beavers up close, plenty of flopping fish, herons and geese and ducks, other people's lakeside back yards, and other pleasant scenery.

We usually bring a sandwich bag of summer sausage and cheese when we want a snack, and we beach our kayaks onto a shore somewhere to pray our daily rosary. We got plenty of sun this summer.

Next spring I want to start catching some fish.

So long, lake life!