Kayaking on the Creek

It was a nice day in April, perhaps the nicest day of this almost middle-aged year.  I played some tennis and generally enjoyed the sun beating down on the remaining clumps of snow.

Yesterday I witnessed a new thing for me.  The Prairie Princess and I went to have a walk by the falls to see how the ice was melting and perhaps to see if Prairie Restorations was still cutting down buck thorn and other assorted invasive species of trees.  While we were standing around talking to one of the Prairie Restoration fire tenders, two guys in wet suits came up along the banks of the creek with their kayaks and made signs like they were going to get into the raging waters with their kayaks just below the falls.  So we watched and I took a few photos to show my loyal readers.

The first guy buttoned up his wet suit and started down the creek, past the pile of burning tree parts from the invasive trees.

And then the other kayaker in the orange craft left shore and sped down under the bridge I was standing on, beginning the journey to the swollen Mississippi, about a half mile down the creek.  Notice that the ice is still hanging from the cliff next to the falls. The water was, and is, still quite chilly.

As far as I know, both sportsmen made the trip successfully.  I didn't see them again the rest of my time in the park, and we walked all the way to the spot where the big river was backed up into the creek, where we couldn't walk any further on dry land.

The creek, seen below, is full of water and over its banks all the way to the Mississippi.  It was a nice day and there were a lot of walking citizens taking in the breezes.  There is still a noticeable lack of green vegetation, just a few brave sedges.

It's been birthday week in the TT residence.  Unky Herb's was the 5th, and the Prairie Princess' will be on Sunday.   As seen and mentioned elsewhere on the inner tubes, PP is moving halfway to Holland and taking her Bianchi with her.  She'll be working, saving the prairie somewhere south of Madison.