It started raining last night. By this morning it was a full on downpour.

I didn’t mind, today was a rest day after the long day yesterday waiting in lines, waiting at gates, waiting on the plane and then driving from the airport. A little rain was actually nice. Napping was easy.
But by late afternoon the sun had come out. I felt like I should do something.

So I dragged the kayak out of storage and managed to get myself into it without capsizing. I headed out, staying near shore because, as on any weekend in mid-summer, the lake was busy with jet skies and boats and people paddling on boards.

As I left our little protected cove the wind picked up and I didn’t go much further. Too busy, too windy, too many waves for me.

So I turned around and let the wind push me back. I floated down to the end of our slough, where the cypress trees grow.

The sun was getting lower and the light was pretty.

I sat down there, gently turning and looking at all the trees for a good long time.

And then I slowly paddled home.

By the way, there’s a house down there for sale if you’re interested. Only $1.9M. Not a typical home on our street, it’s never been owner occupied, it’s being rented as an AB&B. The neighbors, who now have a monster house almost lot line to lot line, must hope for an owner to move in. It’s got to be quieter than the parties happening there now.
I doubt the boat is included in the price.

Life on the lake is changing. Sometimes change is hard.
August 2, 2026 at 5:37 am
I love an excuse of a rainy day to be lazy! But good for you for getting out there when it stopped.
Airbnb’s really can change a whole neighborhood/town. I know in Lake Placid and Key west (and probably many other places) they have enacted laws to reduce the impact. Whenever I rent one, I always try and be a good neighbor.
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August 2, 2026 at 8:56 am
Beautiful story.
Kathy Edmondson
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August 2, 2026 at 10:18 am
Very beautiful, but I will pass on the house.
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August 2, 2026 at 10:40 am
lovely. it seems so nice and peaceful.
change is hard – something similar happened on the lake i grew up on unfortunately. it is not the same now ……
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August 2, 2026 at 8:48 pm
That looks like a peaceful little trip you took. I’ve never been in a kayak because I never learned to swim and my luck, I’d capsize it.
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August 3, 2026 at 4:52 am
I see why you suggested kayaking to the end of your slough. A reflection with those cypress trees would be cool!
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August 3, 2026 at 10:19 am
That rain has made it here. All kinds of street flooding happening in the area. I haven’t kayaked at all this summer – nice to see your photos.
I agree with you about life in favorite places from our youth changing, and usually not for the better. Lots of similar stories about formerly quaint and quiet places no longer being that way .
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