Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

FINALLY – Something I can DO

Wednesday September 7, 2011
Apgar Campground
Glacier National Park


On Tuesday, we left Glacier Campground in West Glacier
and moved on to boon docking at the National Park
which we had originally intended to do much sooner. 
If I can’t do anything anyway, I guess can do it just as
well without electric & water and at less than half the price.

So here’s our very nice site.
B133 or was it B118?
The person who picked the site in the first place
and filled out at least 3 daily forms to renew
and shall remain nameless, put B133 on all the forms
but thinks the site was actually B118.
The campground hosts probably think he
isn’t playing with a full deck.
J

P1170159

You can see what I am doing
(notice foot raised higher than heart)
while David is preparing to do a Paul Dahl
roof caulk repair.
Before Winnona, I read about
100 books a year on average.
In the past 5 months I’ve read
about 5.  :-)

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That’s about all we did since David now
has to do both of our departure lists.
It takes a lot longer to move.

He has some pictures of the roofing repair
but, just before and after pictures.
Too boring.  J


Today was a different story.

Reading is certainly “doing” something but
we had a list of hikes and kayaks we had planned
for our time at Glacier.  So far I’ve done one hike
and one.8 mile ride and
David’s done three hikes and one “push”.

So this afternoon we decide to see if I could
go kayaking. 

The problem is not the paddling but it is
two fold.  Getting in and out in the water
and keeping my foot not iced or elevated for a time.
My ankle did not react well to the first wheelchair
day.  It was too long without ice and elevation.
The Trail of Cedars was only a couple of hours
and that was better.

So today we set out at about 4:00 for
the Quarter Circle Bridge take out
to leave a bike
for him, and a chair for me.  :-)

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But when we got there, David found he’d
left the bike lock key back at the rig.
So back we went for the key.
Second time’s the charm.
But good thing the sun doesn’t go down until 7:30.
Bike and chair secured to tree,

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we took the car to the Apgar Village shore
of Lake McDonald to paddle up
the outflow river which they
call McDonald “Creek”.

With David’s help, I got in the kayak
and started out from shore.
How about the scenery and my hood ornament?
Can’t get in or out without them.

Kayking McDonald Creek 001

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The man who made it possible giving himself
a shove from the shore.

Kayking McDonald Creek 003

At the head of McDonald Creek where
it joins the lake are these cute little
cottages…..if we didn’t have Winnona…….

Kayking McDonald Creek 010

Those of you who have been following us
know that I’ve discovered for the first time,
after getting to the southwest and Big Sky Country,
an extreme sensitivity to strong sunlight.
They say it’s the blue eyes.
But anyway, I didn’t bring a hat on this kayak
since it was so late in the day.  But as you can see, we
were paddling west, into the sun.
Kayking McDonald Creek 011
And you’ll see toward the end of the
paddle that Mr. Brown eyes graciously gave
up the paddling hat I had originally given him when
he didn’t have one and I had two.

With the twists and turns in the “creek”
I wasn’t always going into the sun

Kayking McDonald Creek 023


Kayking McDonald Creek 025

The water was clear and a gorgeous blue.
We went through quite a few little riffle rapids.
Class .5 or 1 I suspect.   
LOL
But lots of fun.

Kayking McDonald Creek 029

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Although one of them did turn me completely
around when I while I was using my
camera and not paying attention to the
direction of the kayak.
I usually use my rudder to keep myself in
place while using binoculars or camera.
Couldn’t use the foot pedals today. So no rudder.

But somehow David did get pictures of me
coming through a small one.
Wearing his hat.

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Here are some pictures of two of the
four Beaver Lodges we saw on the creek.
Here’s the very tidily built one
Kayking McDonald Creek 032





And the not so tidy. 
On this one we could see the
entrance under the water on one side
because the water was so clear.
But none of the inhabitants.
Kayking McDonald Creek 037






Mostly we didn’t have to paddle.
The creek took us right along.
But there were some side loops where the water
was still and this fellow was fishing in one.
Kayking McDonald Creek 044

And this group was preening.
Kayking McDonald Creek 048

It was a lovely paddle and
I was so glad to get out
and actually do something
in such a beautiful place.

Kayking McDonald Creek 056

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Toward the end I could hear loud rushing water
which I thought was an even bigger
”rapid” than we’d seen before.
But it turned out to be water rushing into
the creek from above.

Kayking McDonald Creek 060

Here’s the man who gave up his hat
with the take out bridge just behind him.

Kayking McDonald Creek 063

Normally we carry the kayaks,
one of us on either end,
up short take outs like this rather
than take the carts along.

But, not this time of course.
After helping me out of the kayak so I could
crutch it up the bank, he
carried them both up single handedly.
Kayking McDonald Creek 069

Mine weighs 55 pounds.
Kayking McDonald Creek 071

And then off he peddled on his bike back
to the Lake McDonald shore to get the car.
Kayking McDonald Creek 077

While I “amused” myself by the creek
until he got back to single handedly put
the bike and both boats and all the
gear back in and on the car.

It may look like a great life having
someone else do everything for you,
but, trust me, it isn’t.

Thanks David for everything!!
Kayking McDonald Creek 075

14 comments:

  1. It's good that you were able to get out and do something. I like that lounge chair that you were in to elevate your foot - what brand is it?

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  2. What a nice trip!! Glad to see you were able to get out on the water, but PLEASE be careful and let that ankle heal !!!!

    Also we hope David is careful...
    don't need a back injury for him!!

    We have been very busy at Cheraw and having a ball...

    The blog will not be done anytime soon...SORRY;o((

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  3. How about a recumbent wheelchair?

    Roxanne

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  4. Ducks pruning? ;) LOL! Love that. Isn't it preening?!

    Yeah Pops, be careful yourself - you truly are a rockstar making all that possible.

    Looks like it was a beautiful kayak - that was one of my favorite parts of my visit with you so I'm glad it is something you can still do even if not for long periods of time.

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  5. Pruning, no. Preaning, no. It's actually preening! :) There we got it!

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  6. Great to see you out and about in your kyack, your smile is priceless!

    I just knew that David would come up with a way to continue your adventures. Bravo!!! :c)

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  7. Glad you could get out and see the scenery. Looks like good scenery!
    Be careful of that ankle.

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  8. I see there are no pictures of you getting in or out of the kayak :) I'm able bodied and have difficulty doing that! :)
    David is truly the Rock Star for making it all happen. I identify with your last statement though. It is not wonderful to be waited on. Be good so it will heal quickly and you'll be back on your own 2 feet :)

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  9. Hey Gail, No one had any hands to handle a camera at the getting in or getting out stage. ;-)

    Usually I just walk out in the water and put in the right foot and then sit down in the seat and in comes the left. No problem. This works well when you are short!
    Tall folks have a much harder time getting their legs inside. Thus David often gets in mostly on shore and arms his way out like you saw him doing in here.

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  10. It's great seeing you out in the kayak again! Hats off to David for making it all happen. He's a gem!

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  11. So glad you got to get out on the water! Kudos to David for getting you out. He knows what life would be like if you DIDN'T...Not a pretty picture, lol!

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  12. It's hard to keep a good woman down for too long. David is an angel. That water is beautiful!
    Syl

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