“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” – Loren Eiseley, American philosopher, educator, anthropologist, ecologist.

July 11, 2022. Monday.

The oppressive days of 100+ degrees and extremely high humidity have finally given way for the time being to the more bearable 90s, and all in all, life is good here in the Ozarks. I haven’t seen anymore copperheads on my kayak, so that’s a plus.

I love kayaking, and it’s a blessing to be able to kayak whenever the mood strikes, which is around 5:30 a.m. these days. For weeks I’ve had a routine that I liked—an hour-long paddle, mainly along the shore—but which was becoming boring. So, on Saturday, I decided to go beyond my comfort zone and paddle over to the rocky islands directly across from the resort, not quite two hundred yards, with a maximum lake depth of 60 feet in between. Not “far” in the sense of distance, but if I got stuck over there somehow, I would be SOL…unless I swam back.

The water is magical in that it teems with life. Great blue heron are a very common sight here, but they are so intriguing to watch, I could never tire of seeing them. I see at least three or four individually every time I go out, stealthily stalking the water’s edge or patiently perched on the tip of a submerged branch, barely reaching above the water’s surface. But on Saturday it was as though herons were everywhere, on the shore and flying across the sky, often in pairs, which was thrilling enough, but at one point I saw three standing together!

All in all, I probably saw at least twenty great blue herons Saturday morning. I was a very happy camper and could have been satisfied with what I’d already seen, but I kept paddling. I’m glad I did, because the most unexpected discovery was yet to be made.

Once day breaks, the sun rises fast and soon the shade of craggy, limestone bluffs became very inviting. I paddled alongside them, just relishing the peace and quiet, when my eyes spotted something I initially thought was a color variation in the limestone. But as I got nearer, I saw they were the legs of an animal, and a good-sized one at that. And soon he came into view.

A mountain goat was the last thing I expected to see here on Table Rock Lake, and I think it’s funny that I’ve experienced the WILD at a resort, of all places. But as I think back to other times I’ve gone beyond my comfort zone—like living on a boat, or taking scuba diving lessons (as a non-swimmer) , or learning to drive an 18-wheeler and later, our motorhome—the outcomes were far more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. If I don’t take chances, I might miss out on something, and I don’t want to do that!

Until next time, take care and keep smiling! Much love and long, tight hugs…Maria