Silver Lake Nature Center

The morning of May 1, 2010, felt warm in comparison to the last few cold and blustery days.  The sun was barely up as Roger, a volunteer guide for Silver Lake Nature Center, and I loaded our boats on the kayak trailer at 6:30 am.  We met 8 very excited participants in the parking lot of Silver Lake Park for what would turn out to be a gorgeously warm day on the water.  Once pleasantries were exchanged and all the kayaks were loaded and secured, we started the 2 hour drive to Oswego Lake in Wharton State Forrest.

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

When we arrived, the sun was shining, there was no wind to be found and the lake mirrored the sky and horizon.  After a group photo, we took to the water.  Paddling southeast, we came upon a cove teaming with wildlife.  Ok, so you really couldn't see most of it, but if you listened, WOW!  We heard various birds including the sweet call of the Black and White Warbler, the questioning of the Towhee, the cry of Catbirds.  We also heard Bull Frogs calling and the ever elusive sound of the species of special concern, the Northern Leopard Frog!  And we were on the water less than 15 minutes.

We then headed to the northeast end of the lake which is fed by a creek about 15 feet wide.  At the mouth of the creek we saw dozens of Red-Bellied Turtles soaking up the sunshine.  Many of the turtles were crowded 6 or more to a basking log.  Some were over 15 inches from head to tail.  Many dove into the water as we approached, but one or two stayed long enough for photos.

As we paddled up the creek, the cedar swamp surrounded us.  The water was moving quickly because of all the rain, which made navigating the many snags difficult.  The sound of the rushing water and chatter of the participants encouraging each other through obstacles was a delight to the senses.  After about an hour and a half of paddling upstream, we found a shady spot for lunch.

After lunch we headed back down the stream, allowing the current to guide us to the lake.  Going with the current actually made navigating the obstacles more difficult because we had less time to line up our kayaks properly, and the force of the water pushed us in directions we did not necessarily want to go.  For some folk's, this would have made for an unpleasant time, but with the folks we had, it made the trip all the better.  Some called encouragement to those that were struggling, some used their paddles to turn other folks kayaks into better position, others pulled beached kayaks off of logs.  It was great to see a group of people that, for many, had just met earlier that morning, banding together and helping one another!

Then all of a sudden, the creek widened and slowed and we were back in the lake.  Everyone just kind of floated there for a while, breathing.  Then, all at once, everyone was talking about how much fun the challenge had been!  As we paddled across the lake, a cheerful calmness seemed to overtake the group.

We loaded the kayaks and started our journey back to the Nature Center.  One the way, we stopped for ice-cream, because the group SO deserved it!

Thank you to those that joined us!  Hope to see you on the water again, soon.

by:  Mary O'Connor