The Lewey Lake camping trip had an exceptionally high turnout of 24 club members: Janice and Vic, Pam and Tim, Patti M., Greg, Aneta and Robert, David, Walt, Rick and Cindy, Roger and Anne, Gary, Kathy, Patti Y., Kim, Kim W., Bob, Tish and Gene with Noah, and Melanie.

The mountains showed their very best side as the fall colors were in peak. The scenery, with neon reds and yellows, was as beautiful as one could imagine. The weather cooperated partially, yet it was better than expected: from a heavy rain on Friday, the overcast but dry and warm Saturday, to equally overcast and dry Sunday morning. Then the skies opened again. It was just enough rain to soak all the gear, yet not enough to break the spirit of the CNY Kayakers. Fortunately the nights were warm.

Several people arrived at the park on Friday morning, and 11 paddlers made it for an early bird paddle on Indian Lake. It was a windy and rainy afternoon. The first half of the paddle was against the wind and through some chop, allowing for a mere 2.7 miles per hour. We stopped at a sandy beach where it was wet and cold. The paddle was much easier on the way back after the wind started to die down. We completed 6.5 miles.

Despite of the fact the potluck dinner wasn’t planned until Saturday, the festivities began on Friday. Everyone gathered for dinner at Patti’s campsite, where David built an intricate roof made of a huge piece of blue tarp, skillfully assembled rope, two painting extension poles, and two customized wood blocks. Luber Homes at its best, the shelter kept everybody dry and happy. That night all the paddlers stayed dry (thanks to Luber), full (thanks to everybody’s food contribution), and warm (thanks to shots of cherry vodka). It was a fun night.

Saturday morning looked promising with clearer and lighter skies and no rain. Some gathered up for breakfast at the Luber Dining Hall where Kim W. made fabulous apple pancakes. Another paddle on Indian Lake was scheduled for 10 o’clock and after hustling and bustling 20 paddlers managed to take off by 10:30. This time we paddled a U-shaped route to one of the ends of Indian Lake, which was a 15.5 mile round trip. The lake surface was flawlessly smooth, so paddling was easy. After an hour we stopped for lunch and enjoyed some caramel brownies and other goodies. Then we paddled to the end of the lake, where we encountered a camouflaged man with a rifle sitting on the shore and waiting for a bear. To his dismay 20 kayaks and a motor boat passed right by him making his wait much longer, if not futile. At the end of the lake several paddlers took out and hiked to the waterfalls, while others paddled back.

In the late afternoon the group gathered once again for an elaborate dinner. There were deviled eggs, macaroni salad, salt potatoes, hamburgers, hot-dogs, chili, shish kebabs, garden salad, cheese and crackers, potato chips, grapes, gummy pumpkins, key lime pie, raspberry chocolate pie, whipped cream, brownies, and other delicious and artery clogging items. The evening appeared to be a time capsule, as it was always much earlier than expected. Gradually everybody turned in, some in anticipation of a 6:30 in the morning paddle.

On Sunday several club members got up indecently early to paddle Lewey Lake surrounded by the thick morning mist. Some participants packed and left, and others stayed to enjoy one more paddle or one last hike. The wonderful camping and kayaking adventure came to an end, and it was time to go home and rescue the wet and muddy gear to prevent it from rotting.