Paddling the rock bar.
When the lake is low
the rock bar pokes up above the waves,
a natural breakwater
to a high south wind.
So we paddle it’s long diagonal length
on still water
along the north edge of this
spit of piled boulders
to ride the big waves
in the middle of the bay.
A fine mist drifts off foam topped rollers
as they break on the haphazard wall of rock.
It cuts the heat a bit
as we pick our way along this narrow calm.
Down wind the neon blur
of sail boards and kites of all kinds flash,
cutting a parallel course,
reaching broad to the heavy wind,
buffeting off the big white caps.
Orange and white buoys mark the end.
Just past mid-way across the bay
huge black waves curl unimpeded around the rocky point.
the wind crashes water over the last few rocks
where we paddle quick into the spray between waves
and surf all the way back home.
LakeTown, USA 