***You go girl! How lucky were Bernie, Poochie, and I--then just Bernie and I--to live a stone's throw from this marvelous trail-filled forest? It is this forest and these trails where Bernie and I truly bonded. I loved being there, she loved being there, and we both loved being there with each other. Lake Tahoe, 1996***
Friday, though, was a special day in Rockport, Texas, for me anyway. I woke up bright and early (930), made some coffee, and started wandering around the Caruthers' compound grounds aimlessly, similar to a mob boss who is trying to make everyone believe he really is mentally ill so he doesn't have to stand trial for his alleged crimes. Still in my morning haze, I heard a duck honking (they really "honk," I don't know why it's called quack) madly, and I turned my eyes to the water. Long story short, a stupid seagull (stupid because they aren't supposed to do this) had plucked a baby duck--we call that a duckling in the business--from the water and had it on shore, hanging from it's mouth. Mama duck was pissed, Chad was pissed, duckling was pissed. I had to take action, because I love animals and this was not a natural predatory situation--if it would have been a mouse in a hawk's mouth, I would've been fine with that. If seagulls were supposed to pluck ducklings from the water, ducks would be extinct. Problem was, this was happening across the water, and I had no means to get there fast. So I clapped my hands, adding to the racket of the honking ducks and several loud seagulls that had gathered round, probably telling their buddy he is an idiot and to let the duckling go. The duckling, which was about the size of a closed fist, was flapping wildly while hanging from the seagull's mouth, and my loud clapping did nothing. I was seriously beginning to consider jumping in the water to swim across or throwing the kayak in quickly, alas, the seagull dropped the freaked-out duckling. I'm happy to report that I saw said family of ducks throughout the day, and none were physically injured from the morning's activity. Bernie would've been so proud of me for trying to help a member of her animal kingdom!
That's Good Karma Act Number 1.
Soon after all this, I decided to toss the kayak in and goof around in the canals and perhaps out into the bay, as I'd done on Tuesday. The water was calm and the winds low (which means less work), so it was a great idea. Sea kayaking, or any kayaking for that matter, on calm waters is very peaceful, and there are tons of birds in this area to watch. From time to time, you'll even catch a glimpse of a dolphin or two. Once, even, two dolphins "escorted" me through the channel out to the bay, swimming and curling out of the water no more than ten feet from my side till we reached the bay. This was a couple years ago, and it was a mesmerizing experience.
So, Thursday I slowly drifted and paddled through the canals toward the channel that leads out to Aransas Bay, along the way plucking two plastic grocery bags (dolphins mistake them for food, eat them, and die. Those bags are evil, evil, evil, my friends!) and a Styrofoam container from the water (traditional Styrofoam never degrades, so it's there forever. Evil!).
I'll lump those acts into one, so that was Good Karma Act Number 2.
Okay, so by now I was at the channel that leads to the bay, undecided whether I was going to continue or not, but again the waters were calm and it was about as easy of a paddle as you can get in that area, so I decided to forge ahead. A few fisherman dotted the sandy beach, and big beautiful pelicans lined the other side, just hanging out catching some rays. It was almost calm to the point of surreal, really placid and lake-like. Of course, this was the big bad sea, and you never know what will happen when traveling the high seas.
I'll have to leave it at that for now, for my mind, fingers and rest of me bod are tired. Do come back, next post will be the super-duper exciting karma conclusion!!!
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