Great day for a paddle

For the first time since WaterTribe's Everglades Challenge in early March, I paddled. Last night I was given a pass - the nursery's finished (well, still got to put those cupboard doors back on), the crib's up and the carry chair has been professionally fitted into the back seat of the car. Only 12 more days to go...

Scarpering off work early, I met Jane at Ebeneezer put in on Jordan Lake. We're incredibly lucky in North Carolina to have some marvelously huge man-made lakes without any foreshore development that twist and whirl to open up vistas that make a heart swell - just don't look east to the nuclear plant puffing away.

A good head wind for the first half of the trip as we steamed through the 'narrows' of New Hope Overlook, which is open for camping but only attainable by foot or by water, on our way to the dam. And nearly flew home on the following wind.

There were blue herons, American eagles high aloft (the lake is one of the largest summertime homes of the bald eagle), fish ajumping, fair winds and warm sun - what more could a paddler wish for?