At the lake
04/09/12 05:22
When I was a kid, I used to wander down by the river. There was a place where I would sit and watch the river go by where my troubles seemed to melt away. The sound and motion of the river was soothing. I felt like I was sheltered and secluded from the rush of everyday life. It was a good place to formulate ideas, to daydream and to simply enjoy the beauty of nature.
Ever since those days, I have sought out places of solitude. In Billings, I would hike up the rimrocks. In Chicago, I’d stroll along the lakeshore. In North Dakota I enjoyed drives through empty country. In Idaho, I’d head for the mountains. Here, I like to hang out at Sheridan Lake.
The lake is a reservoir, formed by a dam. By the shore of the lake, on highway 385, is a plaque that tells part of the story of the town of Sheridan. The community was formed in 1875 and was originally called “Golden City.” Later it was renamed in honor of General Phillip Sheridan. It was quickly filled with miners seeking to strike it rich in the Black Hills. It had churches, a school, stores and saloons. It was on the main stage line from Denver to Deadwood. When the railroad didn’t come through town and the big mines were located elsewhere, the town emptied out and it was pretty much a ghost town by the 1930’s when the Civilian Conservation Corps began building a dam on Spring Creek. Work on the dam was slowed by World War II, but it was completed in 1942.
These days the town site is under water and the lake reflects the hills. The 375 acre lake is a favorite place for fishing for trout, northerns, perch, bass and other pan fish. Along the south shore is the largest campground in the Black Hills National Forest. So the place can get busy.
I go there, in part because it is close to home. I like to say that when I get home from work, I’m halfway to the lake, which is practically true in physical distance. I live about ten miles from the church and about ten miles from the north shore boat launch.
What I have discovered is that even on a busy weekend like the one just past, I can find solitude on the lake by arriving early. At 6:30 in the morning there will be a couple of fishermen out on the lake, but there is plenty of room for me in a kayak or rowboat. I’ve been trying to row as much as possible this summer for the exercise. Yesterday was a good day to row, daydream and enjoy the beauty of the place.
The lake was nearly flat with just a few riffles blown by the breeze. The air was warm, so I didn’t need a jacket. My boat is small, so I can walk it down to the lake from the parking lot. There is a dock by the boat ramp, so I can launch without getting wet. A few pulls on the oars and I was headed toward the middle of the lake. I rowed towards the inlet at the northwest corner of the lake. That end of the lake is a “no wake” area for boats and there is some construction being done at the fisherman’s parking lot alongside the highway, so there were no boats in that end of the lake.
It was a lazy morning for me. I didn’t row hard. I didn’t raise a sweat. I simply glided through the water. A wooden boat with wooden oars doesn’t make much sound. I watched an eagle that was apparently sharing my lazy attitude. The bird soared above the lake looking for an easy fish, but soon retreated to a nearby treetop to continue looking.
I didn’t have any experience with rowboats before completing my little Chester Yawl this summer. For a canoeist who believes that the design of the canoe is about perfect for human-powered water travel, I expected the rowboat to feel a bit clunky and slow in the water. However, my little boat is nimble and easy to row at a good clip. The leverage of 7 ½ foot oars, combined with the ability to have two oars in the water at the same time as opposed to a single paddle, results in a smooth and quick trip through the water. This is, no doubt, enhanced by the natural shape of the little boat. It is only about ten inches wider than my beamiest canoe.
Rowing is better whole body exercise than paddling, which strengthens the arms and shoulders, but pretty much ignores the lower half of the body. When I row, I bend and straighten my knees, lean forward from the waist and pull with my whole body. They make fancy and expensive machines for this type of exercise, but I’ve never been much for staying in the same place when it is possible to be moving.
Yesterday, it was just a good way to clear my mind and prepare for the gradual shift in seasons. There will be a lot less people at the lake for the rest of the year – at least until the ice fishermen start arriving. The kids are back in school, the vacations are over and we will focus our attention on all of the activities that accompany the fall.
Still, it is nice to know that this won’t be my last trip to the lake this year. Autumn affords excellent opportunities to paddle and row. Even when it turns cold, I can stay warm in a kayak until the ice appears on the lake. I’d love to have an early winter with lots of snow in October, but that doesn’t appear to be in the forecast for this year. I suspect that I’ll still be able to sneak in a paddle in November.
Early in the morning, when I have a day off, you’ll frequently find me at the lake. It is familiar territory for me. I’ve explored every inch of the shoreline. I know the trees and the rocks. It is a place of peace that gives me an opportunity to gain perspective. The beauty of the place restores my soul.
I wouldn’t trade my little boat for the fastest jet ski or the most expensive yacht. Beauty is not the product of the boat you are in. It is the lake and the hills that surround it. And I’ve enough beauty close at hand to fill my heart and renew my spirit.
Ever since those days, I have sought out places of solitude. In Billings, I would hike up the rimrocks. In Chicago, I’d stroll along the lakeshore. In North Dakota I enjoyed drives through empty country. In Idaho, I’d head for the mountains. Here, I like to hang out at Sheridan Lake.
These days the town site is under water and the lake reflects the hills. The 375 acre lake is a favorite place for fishing for trout, northerns, perch, bass and other pan fish. Along the south shore is the largest campground in the Black Hills National Forest. So the place can get busy.
What I have discovered is that even on a busy weekend like the one just past, I can find solitude on the lake by arriving early. At 6:30 in the morning there will be a couple of fishermen out on the lake, but there is plenty of room for me in a kayak or rowboat. I’ve been trying to row as much as possible this summer for the exercise. Yesterday was a good day to row, daydream and enjoy the beauty of the place.
The lake was nearly flat with just a few riffles blown by the breeze. The air was warm, so I didn’t need a jacket. My boat is small, so I can walk it down to the lake from the parking lot. There is a dock by the boat ramp, so I can launch without getting wet. A few pulls on the oars and I was headed toward the middle of the lake. I rowed towards the inlet at the northwest corner of the lake. That end of the lake is a “no wake” area for boats and there is some construction being done at the fisherman’s parking lot alongside the highway, so there were no boats in that end of the lake.
It was a lazy morning for me. I didn’t row hard. I didn’t raise a sweat. I simply glided through the water. A wooden boat with wooden oars doesn’t make much sound. I watched an eagle that was apparently sharing my lazy attitude. The bird soared above the lake looking for an easy fish, but soon retreated to a nearby treetop to continue looking.
Rowing is better whole body exercise than paddling, which strengthens the arms and shoulders, but pretty much ignores the lower half of the body. When I row, I bend and straighten my knees, lean forward from the waist and pull with my whole body. They make fancy and expensive machines for this type of exercise, but I’ve never been much for staying in the same place when it is possible to be moving.
Yesterday, it was just a good way to clear my mind and prepare for the gradual shift in seasons. There will be a lot less people at the lake for the rest of the year – at least until the ice fishermen start arriving. The kids are back in school, the vacations are over and we will focus our attention on all of the activities that accompany the fall.
Still, it is nice to know that this won’t be my last trip to the lake this year. Autumn affords excellent opportunities to paddle and row. Even when it turns cold, I can stay warm in a kayak until the ice appears on the lake. I’d love to have an early winter with lots of snow in October, but that doesn’t appear to be in the forecast for this year. I suspect that I’ll still be able to sneak in a paddle in November.
I wouldn’t trade my little boat for the fastest jet ski or the most expensive yacht. Beauty is not the product of the boat you are in. It is the lake and the hills that surround it. And I’ve enough beauty close at hand to fill my heart and renew my spirit.