GM #haiku

A storm with no rain

40 kilometer winds

Dunked me in the lake

#findmywife

I've recently become very found of fresh water fresh fish! And I'm starting to learn the skill and my lake.

Teddy Dog and I now have a game every night. He runs along shore while I troll with a line in the canoe.

I consider myself a strong paddler. I can manage a canoe while trolling, keeping Teddy under control, sometimes with a beer and always able to keep the canoe straight.

Last night my hubris taught me a lesson.

The winds picked up while I was out trying for a second fish for my fry up.

As I sent out a cast my canoe rotated with the wind 45 degrees and by the time I got my line in, the canoe had drifted overtop of where my cast dipped in.

Could've been 50 or 60 km wind bursts because that short moment drifted me a hundred feet or so.

I got my rod tucked away and decided to give one large wide stroke with the paddle to right my direction.

It got me nowhere, I was still drifting sideways faster than I could correct coarse. Another wide stroke, nothing.

I dipped my paddle deep, with all my might, leaned into the motion and in one powerful stroke the side of the canoe was under water.

My first reaction was to go with it. So I jumped in. My reaction came as instinct. I know from messing around in the past that the less water you take on the better.

I sacrificed myself to keep the canoe afloat. I had all my fishing gear and new phone on board.

As I went to grab the side of canoe to hold on I noticed my shoe floating away.

I quickly grabbed it and tossed it in. Then kicked off my second and tossed it in. Then my paddle was floating away. Holding onto to the side I swam to the paddle and tossed it in.

At this point I was now completely aware of what I was doing and became less instinctual.

The canoe had taken on 3 inches or so of water and I seen my phone sitting in the puddle. I picked it out and put it on the seat.

I'm now thinking to myself;

- I'm glad Teddy wasn't in the canoe! I'm really glad he wasn't!

- shit my new phone almost lost! With all my pictures and data!

- I should carry less of my fishing gear in the canoe.

- I really should wear my water shoes more often.

- its actually not that bad swimming in clothes, but I'm holding onto to a canoe!

- shit. I dont even have a life jacket.

All those thoughts at once basically. And now I'm just treading water kicking against the wind direction. I seemed to mostly be staying in one spot.

That gust of wind must have been the last of mother natures fury for the night as the waters seemed to start to calm.

Choices now... Do I swim to shore or jump back into the canoe?

Its not an easy skill getting back into a canoe. Especially with so much water already in the vessel.

I can't remember the last time I'd practiced reboarding. And if I attempt and fail, I risk sinking the canoe and all its contents in this very deep lake.

But if I swim to shore I will be barefoot and the rocks at shore are sharp and I don't want a deep cut late at night so far from town.

So in one swift motion I kicked my legs with all my might lifting me a foot and a half out of the water while holding the far side and rolled myself in.

I was pretty pleased with myself not taking on any more water except for my drippings.

Reboarding on my first attempt was pretty satisfying.

Now sitting in the middle of the canoe. Where I should've been in the first place during such winds! I paddled myself back to shore. Teddy was very happy to see me.

What could've turned in to a nightmare ended up being one of the funniest and most enjoyable experiences I've had alone in a long time.

Its funny how caution can seemingly disappear when the only consequence is yourself.

Lessons learned!