Paddlin' in 2013, Adirondack Style

My first paddle of this very new year came about yesterday when I journeyed to Lake George (photo at left) in the Adirondack Region of New York State.  Getting there was an adventure, in its own surreal way, as I left home in the predawn hours to begin the drive to and along the Mohawk Trail.  I drove the first 37 miles without passing or being passed by another car (and I'm a slowpoke).  The first daybreak of 2013 found me cresting the Hoosac Range of mountains at Whitcomb's Summit (2272') and becoming increasingly concerned as gusty winds buffeted my little car and roof-mounted kayak.  Descending into North Adams and the Hoosic River valley, Route 2's Hairpin Turn had my full and utmost attention.  Next, I followed the course of the Hoosic River as it flowed through the small villages of North Pownal, Hoosick Falls, Valley Falls, and Schaghticoke on its way to the Hudson River near Mechanicville, NY.  In Maltaville, I picked up the Northway (Rt.87) and soon arrived in the Village of Lake George where I would rendezvous with a hardy band of Adirondack Pirate Paddlers undertaking their 10th annual New Year's Day Paddle.  Also on hand was fellow blogger, Sue P. (Water-Lily), who graciously stopped by to offer encouragement, and take some photos such as this one...

Our party included (left to right) Ellen (Smellie Ellie), yours truly, Paul (Capt'n V. Dangerous), John (Bonecrusher) and Gary (Jacquedeuxlames).  Sue stayed on land as we paddled away from the shore...

Shortly after getting underway, we encountered two other kayakers heading in the same direction...

At this spit of land where the Jolly Roger was proudly flying we turned about...

Heading south, with the wind at our back, we encountered the vessel Lac du Saint Sacrement heading uplake with passengers enjoying a New Year's Day champagne brunch...

Near a small island, this very vocal pileated woodpecker commanded our attention...

We reached the lake's south end just before the 2013 Lake George Polar Plunge was to begin.
Now, however nutty you may think us to be boating at this time of year, consider, if you will, the sanity of these folks going in for a refreshing dip...

 



and lingering too...

Brings to mind a particular "Seinfeld" episode about laundry.

The new year was officially under way and we began our paddle back to the takeout...

The day and paddle had turned out to be quite decent considering what had been forecast.
As usual, Lake George was neat as a pin and no trash was encountered...until just before I stepped out of my boat, and this one errant beer can was recovered bringing my 2013 YTD trash count to "1" ...

 

Happy 2013!