Ham Lake

Today was a beautiful summer day and I took full advantage of it by using both my motorcycle and my kayak.  This time I kayaked Ham Lake.  I would like to do a river but the rivers are running high around here and lakes seems to be a safer option. I have been on Ham Lake before. When Offspring #1 was in Cub Scouts I took the kids to an ice fishing contest on Ham Lake sponsored by the Scouts. My memory of that day has faded. I think we failed to win the contest.  I don't think we caught any fish at all.  People were catching fish today on Ham Lake. As I prepared to launch my kayak a county employee approached me for an invasive species inspection. She asked me to remove a blade of grass from inside by craft. She looked inside my storage compartment where I keep my rope, my bungee cord, and a pair of paddling gloves.  She said this lake had three invasive species. I asked which ones. She said Ham Lake had milfoil, curly leaf pond weed, and Chinese mystery snails. As I put in I could see Temptation Island in front of me. The lake was busy with pontoons and jet ski's so I went counter clockwise around Temptation Island. The watery path in this direction was thick with bullrushes and lily pads.  I asked a couple who were sitting in the sun fishing from their kayaks if I could get through this way.  They told me I could but they warned me the weeds are thick.  I went under the wooden bridge leading to the island.  I struggled to paddle through a choking display of lily pads. When I finally made it to open water I stayed there and followed the coast so I could spy on the people who own homes on this lake.  A loon called as I made my way around the lake. I saw many floating snail shells. These shells were pretty large; about the size of a quail egg.  All of them were floating pointy side up.  I wondered if these were the Chinese mystery snails but I later found out that they were a native snail. This lake is known to have a lot of native snails. After a little more than an hour I made it back to the public landing.  A man was fishing with three kids on the dock and they were catching tiny silver crappies and having a good time.  My boat was inspected again.  I was asked questions such as what lake did I kayak last time, what lake will I kayak next time, and how long has my boat been out of the water. She put all this information into her iPad.  I thought about how much I like my job but today, at this spot, her job seemed better than mine.  I asked her about suggestions on where to kayak next. She suggested Martin, Linwood, and Coon Lakes.  I might take her up on that!