Cool quick Thanksgiving paddle on beautiful Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis County, MO.

This trip was not my first choice for the day.  I had set out a few hours earlier to go to Horseshoe Lake, IL.   I thought it would be cool to paddle and see the St. Louis skyline on a kayak again.  Note to self: It is duck season and the lake is closed to duck hunters.  So I left there and drove up towards Alton.  I figured I would paddle the Mississippi River area on the Missouri side.  Note to self: It is duck season.....areas are closed and people are duck hunting.

So out of frustration and heading towards my house, I was debating not even getting in the water.  However, I figured that to be a self-defeating attitude, and very "counter productive" to the kayak "lifestyle" so I stopped at Creve Coeur Lake.

What an incredible paddle!  Almost the minute I hit the water, the sun came out, it warmed up a tad, and the paddle was on.  Was not my first choice.....sometimes you have to be grateful for the trip that you got :)

Paddle ON!

Mike

48 degrees....time to get the kayaks out! Paddeling Lake St. Louis, St. Charles County, MO. November 23rd, 2011

Sometimes the best kayak trips are the impromptu ones.  My friend Ray Schroeder lives right on Lake St. Louis in St. Charles County.  I just happened to have my kayak strapped to the top of my car.  I had left my sea bag in his van from our trip on the Meremac River a few days prior.  We had just enough time for a quick paddle before the sun went down.  Started with a light drizzle (it rained off and on all day) and a temperature of about 48 degrees.  It made me appreciate my spray skirt (I consider this a must have if you want to get out in the winter).  We paddled about 3 miles total.  Felt really good to get back out on the water.

Paddle ON!

Mike