Robert Gardner - Chippewa Lake, Chippewa Lake, Ohio

A Paddlers Morning Chippewa Lake. I get to the lake while still dark pulling my kayak down Willow Wood on its homemade cart. While at the point I see the sun's rays hitting the tops of the trees as it climbs over the Ryan Road ridge line. Day is breaking. In my mind's eye I can see the light rolling down the hill to the lake waking the trees and flowers as it moves. The sun starts heating the air causing a gentle breeze barely felt unless standing absolutely still. The cold night air moving over the warmer lake picks up moisture and a familiar fog bank grows from the northern end moving south. I wonder will it be pinks and reds or yellows and golds this morning, for it is never the same. I put the kayak in the lake, it is smooth as glass, a paddlers dream. I dip my paddle into the glass and pull back, the kayak flies ahead gliding effortlessly over the smooth surface. I enter the cloud bank and within seconds I am disorientated as to which direction I am paddling; I am lost in a pink glowing cloud. With a start I think " My God can it get any better than this?".