Maggie

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Maggie Mae

15 1/2 years

4/27/1999 - 11/18/2014

Put In - Maggie and I started kayaking/camping on 6/12/2004. We did 230 outings during this time period. For Falls Lake and Jordan Lake we paddled 939 miles. Someday maybe I will add up the miles for the other places we paddled.
Distance/Time - 939 miles on Falls and Jordan Lake. A bunch for all the other areas. 10 years, 4 months, 4 days
Difficulty - Maggie had the uncanny ability to sense when bad weather or water conditions were going to get bad. She always would move from sitting on the floor of the kayak to my lap. And on really bad paddles in the wind and chop she would lick my face when it was all over at the take out. Basically I think she could sense my anxiety on what we were doing and my relief when we made it back.
Trip Directions - For Maggie the best time was arriving home as she knew she would get a special treat. So, first thing out of the car she would head for the mud room door and run in and sit by the treat cabinet in the kitchen.
Scenery - For me and I think for Maggie our favorite place was paddling on Philpott Lake in Virginia. Campsite 87 at Salthouse Branch was just perfect for exploring the woods around the campsite and then for various paddles on the lake. The wildlife was also diverse and Maggie was able to sniff them out as we paddled along the shore line.
Hazards - For all the trips we did the only really bad experience was when I tried to slide into a lake with both of us in the kayak. Once the bow of the kayak hit the water and the stern was on land, we flipped. I fell out but Maggie was caught in the front of the kayak. I had to quickly right the boat and pull her out. We never did that again.