CANOEING ON MOUNTAIN ISLAND LAKE

It's the beginning of Fall and such a wonderful day with blue skies and a cool breeze. I just bought a Pelican Explorer DLX canoe a few days ago and am very anxious to try it out. So today, going home from work I call up (or really text) my daughter to see if she wanted to get out on the water.  She has been studying all day and needed a break. We loaded up the canoe and drove to Latta Plantation at a favorite spot Bailey and I like to go for an afternoon swim ( Bailey swims and I watch ). We drop the canoe into the motionless water. I've seldom seen this lake so still and smooth. Cassie gets in the canoe first and then I get in but Bailey isn't convinced. After struggling with my dog to jump into the canoe and actually staying in the canoe, we shove off to deeper waters. Paddling around the first bend, we interrupt a fisherman out in his boat casting along the shoreline. Just pass the fisherman was a blue heron perched in some trees scouting for his dinner. Oops we got too close so he takes flight around the next bend. There are schools of fish jumping everywhere. Wish I had my fishing pole with me. The blue heron is taking advantage of this opportunity diving in the waters with great precision but then clumsily takes flight again. We paddle around the lake for a little while but then turn back toward the shoreline. Cassie has to get back to meet up with Brandon and Bailey was getting very anxious to get back as well. So we loaded back up and headed out of Latta Plantation. But before we left a huge hawk with beautiful markings swooped down across the road about 20 ft in front of us. This has been a great day for me just to do some kind of an outdoor activity with my daughter, even for just a few hours.

Help me! I'm lost

The Blue Heron in the trees over Cassie's right shoulder

The Blue Heron in flight