Leeches and Snakes and Turtles, Oh My!

It was one of those showers that felt extra good. Plenty of hot water. Nice stream. It flowed over me.

It came after this mornings kayak ride.

The shower wasn’t necessary from sweating. It was because when I first got into the kayak, I wasn’t centered. I bailed.

Our house backs onto a little waterway. It’s actually a man-made lagoon that was dug somewhere around the 1920s.

It leads to the lake through a small bridge over which the roadway travels. It’s scenic. Plenty of small fishing boats and personal water craft line the sides. Picturesque.

The lagoon has plenty of wildlife. On the surface birds of all kinds including the odd Blue Heron.

Beneath the surface, bass, perch, sunfish and the like. There is also the odd snapping turtle, water snakes and plenty of leeches and blood suckers.

The lagoon has a marsh bottom. Although the water is only about three feet deep, if one tries to stand in it, one is quickly in about five feet as your feet and legs sink into the bog.

There I was, beside our small floating dock that holds our Sea Doo. I am looking at it from a vantage point I hadn’t anticipated. The kayak listing full of water by my side.

So fast it happened and there I was.

I rememberd helping the neighbor get one of those water snakes out of his canoe last year. It was a good five footer. I wanted out.

Trying to jump onto the floating dock only landed my legs deeper in the bog. I lifted myself slowly, awkwardly onto the dock floor. Not a pretty sight, but effective. Somewhat of a beached whale, I thought.

Coming to the patio door, I called Arlene for a bucket to bail the water and right the kayak.

We shared a laugh.

The last time was a few years back when I was seated in the canoe and she entered too close to the bow. We had been here before.

We have two kayaks. The green one is a Loon. The orange/yellow one is a Pelican. The Pelican is more stable. It’s Arlene’s. I picked them up used before I knew much about them. I’ll be looking for another Pelican.

Bucket in hand, I emptied the kayak. Kayak righted, I was off again. Wet. Dirty. Determined.

It was a good paddle to the lake, around a bit and back.

Exiting the kayak was a bit of a scary endeavor. I managed.

First ride of the season. Next will be better. Hopefully in a Pelican.

The shower was epic.

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I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

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Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.